Indira Nehru Gandhi Biography and Timeline

Birth of Indira Nehru Gandhi

Birth of Indira Nehru Gandhi, daughter of Nehru

Arrest of Indira Nehru Gandhi

Arrested by the British

Demonstrations

Leads the salt march 240 miles to the coast in defiance of the salt tax

Independence of India

Released from prison to have discussions with the British

Conference of London

Attends the London Conference in a loin cloth

Indian National Congress

The National Congress of India is declared illegal

Arrest of Indira Nehru Gandhi

Imprisoned for political actions during the war

Congress Party

Joins the Congress Party

Marriage

Marries Feroze Gandhi.

Quit India Movement

Indira Gandhi participates in Congress politics as the Quit India Movement challenges British rule.

Hostess

Serves her father, the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Role range: 1947-1964

Party President

Appointed Party President of the Congress Party

Role range: 1959-1960

Minister of Information and Broadcasting

Indira Gandhi joins the Union cabinet as Minister of Information and Broadcasting.

Role range: 1964-1966

Election

A broad Congress Party election opts for Indira Gandhi, Nehrus daughter, over the right-wing, conservative Morarji Desai

Indian National Congress

A broad Congress Party election opts for Indira Gandhi, Nehrus daughter, over the right-wing, conservative Morarji Desai

Prime Minister of India

Indira Gandhi becomes Prime Minister of India for the first time.

Role range: 1966-1971

Rupee Devaluation

Indira Gandhi's government devalues the rupee as part of a broader response to severe balance-of-payments pressures.

Role range: 1966-1977

Election

A broad Congress Party election opts for Indira Gandhi, Nehrus daughter, over the right-wing, conservative Morarji Desai

President of India

A broad Congress Party election opts for Indira Gandhi, Nehrus daughter, over the right-wing, conservative Morarji Desai

Election

Congress remains the largest party in the 1967 general election but suffers major losses nationally and in several states.

Role range: 1966-1971

Fourth General Election

India holds its fourth general election; Congress retains national power but loses ground across many states.

Role range: 1966-1977

Bank Nationalisation

Indira Gandhi's government nationalises fourteen major commercial banks.

Role range: 1966-1977

Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act

Parliament enacts legislation to regulate monopolistic and restrictive trade practices.

Role range: 1966-1977

Congress Party Split

The Indian National Congress splits amid conflict between Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the party organisation.

Role range: 1966-1971

Lok Sabha Dissolved

The Lok Sabha is dissolved early, paving the way for the 1971 general election.

Role range: 1966-1977

Election

Indira Gandhi leads Congress to a decisive victory in the 1971 general election.

Role range: 1971-1977

Indo-Soviet Treaty

India and the Soviet Union sign the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation.

Role range: 1971-1977

Bombing of India

Pakistan launches air strikes against Indian airfields, beginning full-scale war between India and Pakistan.

Role range: 1971-1977

War Response

Indira Gandhi directs India's response after Pakistan launches pre-emptive air strikes, bringing India formally into the war.

Role range: 1971-1971 – 1971-1977

Declaration of War

War begins after Pakistan launches pre-emptive air strikes against Indian airfields.

Role range: 1971-1977

Independence of Bangladesh

Pakistan strikes Indian airfields, and Indira Gandhi's government responds by entering the war that ends with Bangladesh's independence.

Role range: 1971-1971 – 1971-1977

Independence of Bangladesh

India formally recognises Bangladesh as an independent state.

Role range: 1971-1977

Independence of Bangladesh

Pakistan's Eastern Command surrenders in Dhaka, confirming Bangladesh's independence after India's military victory.

Role range: 1971-1977

Ceasefire

India accepts the Pakistani surrender in the eastern theatre and announces a ceasefire on the western front.

Role range: 1971-1977

Independence of Bangladesh

The surrender at Dhaka ends the eastern campaign and secures the emergence of independent Bangladesh.

Role range: 1971-1977

Twenty-sixth Amendment

The Twenty-sixth Amendment ends official recognition and privy-purse payments for former princely rulers.

Role range: 1971-1977

Bangladesh Crisis

Indira Gandhi's government supports the Bengali nationalist cause as millions of refugees enter India from East Pakistan.

Role range: 1966-1971

Prime Minister of India

Indira Gandhi begins a new term as Prime Minister after the Congress victory in the 1971 general election.

Role range: 1971-1977

Refugees

India shelters millions of refugees fleeing the conflict in East Pakistan.

Role range: 1971-1977

Alliance Indira Nehru Gandhi and Mukti Bahini

Indira Gandhi's government supports the Mukti Bahini before open war begins between India and Pakistan.

Role range: 1971-1977