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Post emergency, a 'spiritual' Indira storms back to power

After losing power to the Janta Party in 1977 and facing several corruption charges, Indira Gandhi took the path of spirituality. Through spirituality, she conquered her fears and after three long years, came back to power.

Post emergency, a 'spiritual' Indira storms back to power

Post emergency, a 'spiritual' Indira storms back to power

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Published : Nov 2, 2019, 12:37 PM IST

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Updated : Nov 2, 2019, 3:13 PM IST

Haridwar (Uttarakhand): Indira Gandhi was one of the most powerful Prime Ministers India ever had.

Indira Gandhi emerged as a spiritual person after she faced criticism for imposing emergency in the country.

She was one of those people who no one dared to oppose. Her public meetings used to have large crowd gatherings.

But declaring emergency proved to be the biggest political blunder of her life.

After losing power to the Janata Party in 1977 and facing several corruption charges, Indira lost her confidence.

She had no courage to address the common people as there was tremendous anger amongst them against her.

Emergency in India

Emergency in India

For a very long time, she kept refusing the idea of public address.

These hard times somehow inspired her towards spirituality.

Sadhvi Maa Anandmayi was the spiritual teacher of Indira Gandhi.

Sadhvi's ashram was at Kankhal in Haridwar. The bond between the two gave Indira strength to deal with day-to-day stress.

The teachings of her spiritual guru helped her come out of her bad times.

Maa Anandmayi also gifted Indira a 'Rudraksha Mala' which made her more confident.

Finally, on September 5, 1977, Indira addressed a rally in Haridwar. She had 'tears of joy' when she saw a huge crowd gathered to hear her.

Three years after this rally Indira Gandhi returned back to power.

Also read: Really!! A man named 'Madhya Pradesh Singh' has a son- 'Bhopal'

Haridwar (Uttarakhand): Indira Gandhi was one of the most powerful Prime Ministers India ever had.

Indira Gandhi emerged as a spiritual person after she faced criticism for imposing emergency in the country.

She was one of those people who no one dared to oppose. Her public meetings used to have large crowd gatherings.

But declaring emergency proved to be the biggest political blunder of her life.

After losing power to the Janata Party in 1977 and facing several corruption charges, Indira lost her confidence.

She had no courage to address the common people as there was tremendous anger amongst them against her.

Emergency in India

Emergency in India

For a very long time, she kept refusing the idea of public address.

These hard times somehow inspired her towards spirituality.

Sadhvi Maa Anandmayi was the spiritual teacher of Indira Gandhi.

Sadhvi's ashram was at Kankhal in Haridwar. The bond between the two gave Indira strength to deal with day-to-day stress.

The teachings of her spiritual guru helped her come out of her bad times.

Maa Anandmayi also gifted Indira a 'Rudraksha Mala' which made her more confident.

Finally, on September 5, 1977, Indira addressed a rally in Haridwar. She had 'tears of joy' when she saw a huge crowd gathered to hear her.

Three years after this rally Indira Gandhi returned back to power.

Also read: Really!! A man named 'Madhya Pradesh Singh' has a son- 'Bhopal'

Dear team

Please find the translation below:

Indira Gandi was apprehensive of public gatherings post Emergency, Her luck changed after a rally in Haridwar

Haridwar: Indira Gandhi was one of the most powerful Prime Ministers India ever had. There was rarely an occasion when any minister, leader or officer dared to oppose her. Her public meetings used to have large crowd gatherings. But it is interesting to know that there was a time when Indira Gandhi had no courage left to face the people. This was the post emergency era. Indira took refuge in the religious city of Haridwar.

Congress leaders from Haridwar assured Indira, only after which she was ready to address a public gathering in Haridwar. Something so magical happened at the rally that not only did Indira got her self confidence back but after three years of the rally she returned as the Prime Minister of the country.

Indira regarded Anandmayi as mother

Whenever the pressure of politics and governance went beyond a point Indira used to seek refuge in spirituality. Indira often used to visit spiritual lady Sadhvi Maa Anandmayi at Kankhal in Haridwar. It was the bond between the two which not only gave Indira spiritual guidance but also energy to deal with the day to day stress of running the country.

In the electoral wave of Janta Party in 1977 Indira and her son Sanjay both lost their respective elections. After which they lost power at the centre also. After coming to power the Janta Party Government slapped a number of cases on Indira Gandhi. A dejected Indira reached out to her spiritual guide Maa Anandmayi at Haridwar. Accompanied with her son Sanjay, Indira met with Maa Anandmayi.

It is said that during this meeting Indira cried a lot in the lap of Maa Anandmayi. Her spiritual guru consoled her and gave assurance of a better future. It is probably this bond between the two which got Indira to Kankhal a number of times.

Swami Achyutanand of Maa Anandmayi’s ashram tells that during those days Indira often used to visit the Dehradun and Almora ashram's of Maa Anandmayi. A few days before her death Kamla Nehru had made Maa Anandmayi as the guardian for her daughter Indira at the Delhi ashram. She had requested Maa Anadmayi to consider Indira as her own daughter and take care of her. Since then, be it a personal issue or a political turmoil, Indira always sought refuge with Maa Anandmayi.

Maa Anadmayi had given Indira a mala made out of rudraksh beads, which she always used to wear. In 1982 when Maa Anadmayi left her human body, Indira came to Haridwar to pay her last respects. It was Indira who performed the rituals at the samadhi place of her spiritual guru.

Indira was disheartened post emergency

Indira Gandhi for a majority of her tenure ruled the country with great political acumen. Unfortunately, one decision during her tenure not only proved a political suicide for her but till date haunts the congress party. Indira Gandhi in 1975 had imposed emergency in the country, which proved to be the biggest political blunder of her life. In 1977 amidst immense pressure from all corners Indira had to remove emergency. In the continuing general elections she had to face a crushing defeat at the hands of a united opposition.

The post emergency era saw a different India. There was tremendous anger in the country for Indira and the Congress. Indira was very afraid of this changed dynamics and she had lost all confidence to face the people. In the midst of this Congress leaders from Haridwar expressed their will to organise a public rally in Haridwar. Ambrish Kumar the then President of the Youth Congress was associated with Indira since 1972.

Recollecting those days Ambrish tells “I have been a witness to ever rally of Indira Gandhi after 1972. After the removal of emergency, on 29 August 1977, some local leaders from Haridwar met Indira and requested her to address a public gathering. Hearing of a large gathering Indira refused instantly.”

Indira was afraid of facing the people at that time and she outrightly refused the idea of addressing any public gathering. Local Congress leader from Haridwar and a noted lawyer R K Garg tried reasoning with her and assured that nothing negative will happen. But Indira was adamant and said that she is ready for addressing party workers but not a public gathering.

Ambrish tells that “After a lot of persuasion and counselling Indira finally gave consent, but gave 5 September as the date for the rally, which for every possible reason was a nightmare from the point of view of organising such an event. In such short notice also we organised the rally. Looking at the crowd, not only did Indira Gandhi felt nice but also regained her lost confidence and got rid of her fears."

In the post emergency era Janta party had formed the government in Delhi. The political atmosphere in the country was against Indira Gandhi. In this scenario the local leaders from Haridwar had re-energised the cadre of the party by organising Indira Gandhi's public rally. In this gathering Indira was quoted as saying, that the present day Governemnt wants to hang me. If the people of the country wants the same she would be happy to oblige. Post this address and the rally party cadre regained its lost momentum. After three years of the rally, Indira Gandhi returned to power.

Ambuj Nautiyal

Managing Director

Last Updated : Nov 2, 2019, 3:13 PM IST

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