It has been five decades since the imposition of Internal Emergency in India by the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This period, spanning from June 25th, 1975 to March 21st, 1977, is often remembered as one of the darkest chapters in independent India's history. During the entire 21 months period, democracy was suspended, and over 100,000 citizens were arrested and detained without due cause or trial. Civil rights were suspended, and freedom of speech and expression were severely curtailed. The imposition of Emergency was akin to the murder of democracy. Democracy thrives on the principles of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. By suspending civil liberties, muzzling dissent, and centralizing power under her regime, Indira Gandhi undermined these fundamental tenets of democracy. The suspension of habeas corpus meant that citizens could be detained without trial, depriving them of their basic right to due process. Freedom of speech and expression were stifled, with censorship imposed on the press and political opponents silenced through intimidation and imprisonment. Such actions infringed upon the rights of individuals and also eroded the very essence of democracy.
Many more faced intimidation and harassment from both police and extrajudicial actors acting in the government's interest. The severe infringement of civil liberties and human rights during the Emergency, wherein several individuals from various backgrounds were subjected to intimidation and torture merely for their ideological beliefs or perceived affiliations. Hon’ble Governor of Haryana, Shri Bandaru Dattatraya shared a tryst, quoting him, “In jail, I met people of different ideologies and even Naxalites, who had been arrested under the MISA. Former Union Ministers Bangaru Laxman, A Narendra, N Narasimha Reddy, former Labour Minister of Telangana, Mohammad Abdul Aziz, chief of Andhra Pradesh unit of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Cherabanda Raju and Varavara Rao were also in our jail. There were many others as well belonging to different ideologies and outfits including Anand Marg but all united in protesting against the Emergency,”.
“The police were not ready to give up in my case. They continued questioning and torturing me, disclosing my identity and sharing information about others. Police wanted to know: How many more friends were in my group? Where were their hideouts? Where is your printing press? What is the source of finances? What is your communication network? These were the questions the police were putting to me quite often. For three days, I did not share anything with them,” Bandaru Dattatraya mentioned in his tryst.
“I used to wear kurta and pyjamas but had to go to pant, shirt, coat and tie. I did not go for any haircut. Being a full-time worker of the RSS, I was very particular about my dress code but adopted the western dress out of sheer compulsion. I changed my name to Dharmendra and went underground and kept mobilizing the people for agitation against the Emergency. That time all newspapers were censored and only government news was published. People were not able to know what was happening outside. So, we started a bulletin with facts and distributed them among the people secretly.” he mentioned
The government heavily censored and controlled the national press, while also exerted substantial influence over foreign media outlets. The primary tool for enforcing this totalitarian control was information and communication technologies (ICTs), including radio, television, cinema, and public notices. With government ownership of radio and television, these platforms were utilized to propagate the government's narrative efficiently. Other forms of media, such as cinema and popular music, were either restricted, co-opted, or coerced into serving as instruments of government propaganda. The government leveraged these technologies to disseminate official propaganda, often accompanied by thinly veiled threats to ensure compliance. Dissent was swiftly suppressed, sometimes through violent means. New laws and amendments further augmented government control over the media, enabling surveillance, censorship, and the dissemination of government-approved viewpoints. By monopolizing radio waves, cinema, and telecommunication media, the government rapidly transformed a democratic state into a totalitarian regime.
The culmination of events leading to the declaration of the Emergency began on June 12, 1975, when the Allahabad High Court found Prime Minister Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices during the 1971 elections. In response, opposition parties and the media demanded her resignation. However, Mrs. Gandhi appealed the verdict in the Supreme Court, which granted a conditional stay, allowing her to retain her position as Prime Minister but barring her from voting in Parliament until the case concluded. Following this ruling, Indira Gandhi and her close advisors swiftly devised plans to ensure her continued hold on power. On June 18, members of the Congress party pledged unwavering loyalty to Mrs. Gandhi's leadership, with party president D.K. Barooah famously proclaiming, "Indira is India and India is Indira," reminiscent of totalitarian declarations from history. Siddhartha Shankar Ray, a key member of Mrs. Gandhi's inner circle and Chief Minister of West Bengal, circulated detailed strategies for declaring an "Internal Emergency." Justification for this drastic measure cantered on alleged threats to India's national security and destabilization efforts by external and internal adversaries. Lists were compiled identifying opposition leaders, union activists, and media personnel for potential arrest at short notice. Detailed plans for media censorship were meticulously crafted, with loyalists of Mrs. Gandhi's party and state chief ministers being summoned to meetings in New Delhi to inform them of forthcoming actions under the guise of national security. By June 25, arrangements for the mass arrests of political figures and others deemed as threats to stability were finalized, with final discussions taking place at Mrs. Gandhi's aide, R.K. Dhawan's office. On the night of June 25, Mrs. Gandhi, accompanied by Siddhartha Shankar Ray, met with President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and urged him to declare an "Internal Emergency," citing supposed threats to India's national security and stability. President Ahmed, who owed his position to Mrs. Gandhi's influence, consented and signed the proclamation of internal emergency under Article 352(1)2 of the Constitution around 11:45 PM, June 25, 1975.
This period witnessed a sharp deviation from democratic norms. The fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution were suspended, and existing laws were amended to consolidate control within a small circle loyal to Indira Gandhi, suppressing dissent. Media and communication technologies were exploited to perpetuate the Emergency, mirroring strategies utilized by authoritarian regimes worldwide. The democratic system, which had operated relatively successfully for more than 25 years, was eclipsed. India faced two unprecedented political crises: one marked by deterioration and another concerning democracy. The initial crisis was temporarily halted by the events that triggered the subsequent crisis focused on democratic values.
The scars left by the suspension of democracy ran deep, prompting a collective introspection on the fragility of democratic institutions and the importance of safeguarding civil liberties. Indira Gandhi's ruthless suspension of democracy was nothing short of a betrayal of the very ideals that the nation was built upon. The Indian populace suffered under the iron fist of a regime that cared little for human rights, civil liberties, or basic decency. Dissent was crushed, opposition silenced, and the voices of the people were drowned out by the roar of government propaganda. Under the guise of national security, Indira Gandhi and her cronies trampled over the Constitution, dismantled democratic institutions, and turned India into a totalitarian state. The arrest and torture of countless individuals, the suppression of free speech, and the manipulation of the media were all tactics employed to maintain an oppressive grip on power. Lives were destroyed, families torn apart, and the very soul of the nation was bruised and battered. The youth of India are eager to understand whether the imposition of the Emergency in 1975 was justified or not. To enlighten the younger generation, including college and university students, it is imperative to organize seminars and conferences where individuals who experienced the effects of the Emergency can share their experiences and insights. These events will help raise awareness, much like the Center for Narendra Modi Studies, a think tank for global research that will host a national conclave on the 50th anniversary of the Dark Emergency in India on June 26, 2024 at India International Centre, New Delhi. Overall, Imposing emergency was not a noble act; rather, Indira Gandhi's motives were driven by self-interest rather than the welfare of the nation. She prioritized her own power over the rights and freedoms of the Indian people. This entire period of Emergency is a dark stain in the history of India and every time reminding us of the dangers of unchecked power and the erosion of democratic principles.

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