Emergency Chronicles

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On June 25, 1975, Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in India, suspending constitutional rights and conducting midnight raids to detain political opponents. The subsequent twenty-one months were marked by a brutal campaign of coercion, with widespread arrests, torture, slum demolitions, and forced sterilizations targeting the poor. This account provides a comprehensive examination of this critical yet often overlooked period in modern Indian history. Gyan Prakash challenges the notion that the Emergency was merely a result of Gandhi's desire for power, arguing instead that it stemmed from the complex relationship between Indian democracy and popular politics. Drawing on a wealth of archival materials, personal correspondence, and interviews, Prakash traces the Emergency's roots back to India's independence in 1947, highlighting how unmet promises of democratic change disrupted the balance between state authority and civil rights. He illustrates the political crisis that led to widespread unrest, which Gandhi attempted to quell by paradoxically suspending lawful rights. The repercussions of her actions reshaped the political landscape, paving the way for caste politics and Hindu nationalism. By situating the Emergency within the global context of democracy, this compelling narrative offers critical insights into the contemporary threats posed by authoritarianism and populist nationalism.