June 25, 2025: The Emergency, declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, ushered in one of the darkest periods of Indian democracy. As civil liberties were suspended, censorship throttled free speech, and political dissent was brutally crushed, a shadow regime emerged—led by her son Sanjay Gandhi and his close-knit inner circle.
Among the first casualties of this authoritarian rule were democratic institutions. Over 100,000 people were detained under draconian laws like MISA. Dissenters—be they journalists, students, or political opponents—were silenced. The media was brought to heel, and an atmosphere of fear settled over the nation.
The Tyranny of Sanjay Gandhi and His Coterie
Sanjay Gandhi, despite holding no elected office, became the de facto ruler. Backed by figures like:
- Vidya Charan Shukla, the propaganda chief
- Bansi Lal, the strongman enforcer
- Dhirendra Brahmachari, the mystic advisor
- Rukhsana Sultana, the face of forced sterilisation drives
Together, they created a parallel power structure that bypassed formal institutions. Forced sterilisation—cloaked under “population control”—was implemented with alarming cruelty. Demolitions in places like Delhi’s Turkman Gate further alienated the masses, particularly Muslims, stoking resentment and unrest.
Cracks Begin to Show
Even within the Congress, murmurs of discontent grew. Stalwarts like Jagjivan Ram and Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna started to question the party’s direction. Outside, underground resistance picked up pace. Leaflets were secretly distributed, opposition leaders covertly coordinated, and international media, particularly the BBC, kept India’s slide into autocracy in global focus.
A Surprise Announcement
On January 18, 1977, in a surprising move, Indira Gandhi announced general elections. Whether spurred by overconfidence, mounting pressure, or the need for legitimacy, the decision shocked both loyalists and critics. Opposition leaders were released, and by February, the Janata Party had formed—a fragile but determined alliance led by Jayaprakash Narayan, Morarji Desai, George Fernandes, and others.
The Fall of a Dynasty
In March 1977, the people of India spoke.
- Congress won only 154 seats, a humiliating defeat.
- Indira Gandhi lost Rae Bareli.
- Sanjay Gandhi lost Amethi.
The Janata Party secured 295 seats, and Morarji Desai became Prime Minister. For the first time since independence, the Congress was ousted from power.
Legacy of the Emergency
The 42nd Amendment, a legacy of the Emergency, was later rolled back by the 44th Amendment in 1978. The judiciary’s role was restored. While Indira Gandhi would return to power in 1980, the Emergency left deep scars.
Some of the key figures saw their fates sealed:
- Sanjay Gandhi died in a plane crash in 1980.
- Brahmachari, once all-powerful, faded into obscurity.
- Rukhsana Sultana vanished from public life.
A Nation Remembers
The Emergency was a chilling reminder that even the world’s largest democracy is vulnerable to authoritarianism. Yet, it also reaffirmed a powerful truth: democracy in India bends, but it does not break.
As LK Advani put it:
“The Emergency taught us that democracy is not a gift; it is a responsibility.”