Indira Nehru Gandhi Biography

Birth of Indira Nehru Gandhi, daughter of Nehru

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

Arrested by the British

Attends the London Conference in a loin cloth

Released from prison to have discussions with the British

The National Congress of India is declared illegal

Imprisoned for political actions during the war

Joins the Congress Party

Marries Feroze Gandhi.

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

Serves her father, the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Appointed Party President of the Congress Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indira Gandhi's government nationalises fourteen major commercial banks.

Parliament enacts legislation to regulate monopolistic and restrictive trade practices.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

India formally recognises Bangladesh as an independent state.

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

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

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

India and Pakistan convert the 1971 ceasefire line in Jammu and Kashmir into the Line of Control under the Simla framework.

Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto sign the Simla Agreement after the 1971 war.

Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto sign the Simla Agreement after the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

Indira Gandhi's government launches Project Tiger to protect India's remaining wild tiger populations and their habitats.

India conducts its first nuclear test at Pokhran during Indira Gandhi's premiership.

India detonates a nuclear device underground at Pokhran in the test later known as Smiling Buddha.

India conducts its first nuclear explosive test at Pokhran under the code name Smiling Buddha.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group emerges in response to concerns raised by India's 1974 nuclear test.

A referendum in Sikkim produces overwhelming support for ending the monarchy and joining India as a state.

Sikkim becomes India's twenty-second state.

The Thirty-sixth Amendment completes Sikkim's admission as a full state of India.

The Allahabad High Court invalidates Indira Gandhi's 1971 election for electoral malpractice, triggering a major political crisis.

A judge rules the 1971 election victory invalid because of aid by civil servants.

The Allahabad High Court invalidates Indira Gandhi's 1971 election, intensifying the political confrontation that precedes the Emergency.

Indira Gandhi's government begins the Emergency period, during which civil liberties and political opposition are sharply restricted.

Opposition leaders and activists are arrested in nationwide raids following the declaration of Emergency.

Parliament passes measures that strengthen executive authority during the Emergency.

The Forty-second Amendment adds the words socialist and secular to the Constitution's Preamble and makes wide-ranging constitutional changes.

India and Pakistan restore full diplomatic relations after the disruption caused by the 1971 war.

A coercive sterilisation campaign expands during the Emergency as the government pursues aggressive population-control targets.

Parliament extends its term during the Emergency and national elections are postponed.

Parliamentary elections are postponed during the Emergency.

Indira Gandhi addresses the Pugwash Conference in Madras and defends India's peaceful nuclear programme.

Indira Gandhi defends India's 1974 nuclear test and maintains that the programme serves national scientific and security objectives.

The Forty-second Amendment adds a constitutional list of Fundamental Duties for citizens.

The Forty-second Amendment adds socialist, secular and integrity to the Constitution's Preamble.

The Janata Party defeats Congress in the 1977 general election, ending the Emergency-era government.

Opposition parties unite in the Janata Party to challenge Congress in the 1977 general election.

The Emergency formally ends before the transfer of power to the Janata Party.

Indira Gandhi leaves office after Congress loses the 1977 general election.

Leads to a sympathetic upturn in her political fortunes. Imprisoned for 1 week for breach of Parliamentary privilege

Leads the Congress Party to electoral victory at the 7th General Election

Parliament enacts the Forest Conservation Act to restrict diversion of forest land without central approval.

Indira Gandhi's government begins the Sixth Five-Year Plan with renewed emphasis on growth, poverty reduction and infrastructure.

Congress wins the seventh general election and Indira Gandhi returns to national office.

Indira Gandhi returns as Prime Minister after Congress wins the 1980 general election.

New Delhi hosts the Asian Games, prompting major investment in sporting and urban infrastructure.

India hosts the seventh Non-Aligned Movement summit and Indira Gandhi becomes chair of the movement.

Indira Gandhi's government rejects demands for an independent Sikh state while security tensions intensify in Punjab.

Rakesh Sharma becomes the first Indian citizen to travel into space aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 mission.

India launches Operation Meghdoot and deploys troops to secure strategic positions on the Siachen Glacier.

Indira Gandhi orders Operation Blue Star against armed Sikh militants inside the Golden Temple complex.

Indian forces assault the Golden Temple complex during Operation Blue Star against armed Sikh militants.

Anti-Sikh violence erupts in Delhi and other cities after Indira Gandhi's assassination.

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is assassinated in New Delhi by two of her Sikh bodyguards.

Three men are convicted in connection with the assassination of Indira Gandhi.