'Indira’s Emergency Was the Most Traumatic Experience in Indian Political History': Srinath Raghavan

At the time many people felt, as L. K. Advani wrote in his diary, that Indian democracy was over and done with.

Karan Thapar

At the time many people felt, as L. K. Advani wrote in his diary, that Indian democracy was over and done with.

indira’s emergency was the most traumatic experience in indian political history srinath raghavan

In a comprehensive discussion on the Emergency, whose 50th anniversary is on the 25th of June, scholar Srinath Raghavan says that it was the single most traumatic experience in independent India’s political history, particularly if you exclude the Partition of 1947. Nearly 35,000 people were detained under MISA and 75,818 arrested under Defence of India rules; practically the entire opposition was jailed; the press was censored; the Constitution brutally amended; even the judiciary accepted that the right to life had been suspended and Indira Gandhi became the dictator of the country. At the time many people felt, as L. K. Advani wrote in his diary, that Indian democracy was over and done with.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.