Remembering the Emergency: Dark Days of Free India

On June 25, 1976, then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, imposed Emergency and arrested many Opposition leaders. In this picture, Opposition leader George Fernandes is arrested and in shackles.

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency

The Indira Gandhi government imposed Emergency citing breakdown of the law and order situation of the country owing to massive protest by the opposition parties alleging corruption by the Congress regime. People say trains ran on time during the Emergency, the suspension of fundamental rights, however, is remembered with alarm by observers and constitutional experts.

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency

Indira Gandhi had then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed impose Emergency every six months for a period of 21 months from June 25, 1975 to March 21, 1977.

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency

During the Emergency, Indira Gandhi bestowed upon herself the power to rule by decree. She took decision in consultation with some close party members and her younger son Sanjay Gandhi.

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency

During the Emergency, Sanjay Gandhi gained prominence as a politician, advising his mother on all fronts. Sanjay Gandhi played an important role in the arrest of senior opposition leaders and during the subsequent General Elections in 1977.

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency

Opposition leaders Morarji Desai (in Gandhi cap, left) and Charan Singh (in Gandhi cap) seen during a rally.

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency

On March 21, 1977, Indira Gandhi withdrew the Emergency and announced General Elections. The Congress party was ousted and the Janata Party led by Morarji Desai gained absolute majority. Morarji Desai became the first non-Congress PM of India.

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency

Opposition leader George Fernandes before being arrested by the Indira Gandhi regime during the Emergency. Fernandes was instumental in organising protest marches against the government alleging election fraud in the 1971 General Elections and mass corruption.

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency

Serious charges were brought againt the government during the Emergency including detention of people without charges, torture of detainees and political prisoners and large scale and illegal enactment of laws. The Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) was the much-abused statute. Laloo Prasad Yadav named his first child Misa after the much-maligned law. MISA was repealed by the newly-elected Janata Party regime in 1977.

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency

Indira Gandhi mobbed by journalists after the declaration of Emergency in 1975.

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency

Sanjay Gandhi being escorted by the police during the Emergency. He attained a great deal of notoriety for forced sterilisations and moving people of the minority community out of New Delhi during this dark period of Indian history.

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency

During the Emergency, Sanjay Gandhi relied on a group of diehard loyalists, including Kamal Nath and Ambika Soni (both Cabinet ministers now).

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency

L.K. Advani, who was the Information and Broadcasting Minister in the Janata Party government, lambasted the media for supporting Indira Gandhi during the Emergency. He was quoted as saying, "When asked to bend, they were willing to crawl."

From the archives: Who's afraid of the Emergency