Indira Gandhi Era

1971 War

Challenge of Bangladesh

Immediately after 1971 elections, Politico-Military Crisis broke out in East Pakistan. Reasons were

• Difference between Punjabi speaking West Pakistan and Bengali Speaking East Pakistan
• Domination of West Pakistan elite in army, bureaucracy and polity resulted into feeling of relative deprivation
• In the absence of political democracy, there was no mechanism to remedy the situation. Hence, the movement was started for autonomy in East Pakistan. As a result, elections were announced and Awami League under Sheikh Mujibur Rehman won with absolute majority.

However, they were refused to form government and Civil Disobedience Movement was launched in East Pakistan. To contain the movement , Operation Searchlight was launched (military crackdown and political murders) . As a result, leaders of Awami League escaped to Eastern India and Civil Liberation Army known as Mukti Vahini was formed

India’s reaction

Although there was a strong wave of sympathy , but the leadership restrained itself from any intervension because

• They didn’t want to strengthen the Pakistan propaganda that the entire movement in East Pakistan for autonomy is an Indian conspiracy
• The leadership wanted to take some time so as to attack during winters making it impossible for China to intervene
• To ensure that Mukti Vahini has gained enough strength to counter Pakistani Forces
• To educate international opinion over the cause of Bangladesh and position of India wrt Refugee crisis and consequent burden on our limited resources

Hence our leadership followed the following approach

• To give place to the Bangladesh Government in exile
• Military training to Mukti Vahini
• Food , clothing and shelter to refugees
• To secure itself from US -China intervension, India signed Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation

=> Finally on 3rd Dec 1971, official war was declared and on 16th Dec Pakistan surrendered

It was followed by Shimla Declaration 1972

• India agreed to return the territories occupied except some strategic locations in Kashmir
• Pakistan agreed to respect Line of Control in Kashmir
• Both the countries agreed to settle disputes through Bilateral negotiations without mediation of Third party
• India agreed to return Prisoners of War provided Pakistan recognise Bangladesh

=> August 1973, Pakistan recognised Bangladesh .

Question: It has been argued that unlike the wars of 1962 and 1971, the war in 1965 was indecisive and brought neither victory nor peace to India. Critically analyse the statement and also highlight how the experience of 1965 was helpful in war of 1971.

Towards Emergency

Issues during 1973-77

These crisis created situation for Gujarat unrest where students protested and agitated on the issue of price rise of essential commodities . As a result , the Government was forced to suspend the assembly and announce fresh elections. Based on the success of Gujarat unrest, similar agitation was started by the students in Bihar. However, the Bihar unrest was characterised by two new features ie

• Leadership was taken over by JP Narayan who gave a call for total revolution ie struggle against the system which has compelled everyone to go corrupt and demanding the government to resign and setup people’s parallel government all over the state
• Firm refusal of Indira Gandhi to dissolve the Assembly

JP Movement

• Objective :
• • • • To raise voice against the corruption
      • To defend democracy against the authoritative practices of leadership

• Action repertoires
• • • • Protest + Band + Gherao
      • It was non-violent movement with purpose of crippling the government and forcing it to resign (Insurrection without Revolution)

• Social Constituency
• • • • Students movement led by Jaiprakash Narayan based on the ideology of total revolution
      • It failed to establish a connect with rural and urban poor

However , the movement lost vigour due to loss of student support. But was  revived due to Allahabad High Court’s Raj Narayan Judgement which declared the  election of Indira Gandhi as illegal due to corrupt practices

In the second phase of JP Movement , the objective was Anti-Congressism ie to topple Indira Gandhi’s Government at any cost. In later phases , it came to be governed by RSS & Jana Sangh which completely changed the political character of the movement. Moreover, the agitational methods adopted were also undemocratic. Finally, it lost it’s organisational structure and reduced to mere amalgamation of all opposition parties with incompatible ideologies

On 25th June 1975, JP Narayan conducted a rally in Delhi where he requested all the police personnels , army as well as Bureaucracy  to not to adhere to the diktats of Indira Gandhi as she has lost legitimacy to rule this nation. They also declared that from 29th June, they would start Civil Disobedience Movement throughout the nation  with an intension to topple the government.

=> On 26th June 1975, Indira Gandhi imposed emergency

Question : Critically analyse to what extent JP Movement was successful in meeting it’s objectives

Question : Discuss the factors which led to imposition of emergency in 1975. Why it is considered a dark period in India’s democracy ? Briefly discuss the initial response to the emergency.

Emergency

• India’s stability, security , integrity and democracy was in danger due to disruptive character of JP Movemen
• The leadership accused opposition of inciting armed forces and police to rebel
• There was a need to implement rapid economic programs in the interest of poor
• The leadership feared against the intervension from the external forces with the aim to weaken and destabilise India

=> Hence, Emergency was declared on 26th June 1975

Why it was a dark period in Indian Democracy

• Suspension of federal provisions of Constitutions, Fundamental Rights, imposition of strict censorship on press , arrest of main leaders under MISA , internal democracy within the congress was crippled
• Youth congress led by Sanjay Gandhi emerged as alternate centre of power .
• Religious and cultural organisation like R.S.S., Jamait-E-Islami were banned on the apprehension of disturbance to social and communal harmony
• Torture and custodial deaths occurred during Emergency, arbitrary relocation of poor people, imposition of compulsory sterilisation to control population.
• The power of Judicial Review was undermined with the passage of 42nd Amendment Act

Public Response to emergency

There was a delayed reaction among the masses . In the initial phase of emergency it was popularly accepted because

• Return of normal life after so many disruptions was appreciated
• Action against Anti-Social Elements was applauded
• Efficiency in the administration was restored
• There was significant improvement in the economic situation and the prices of essential commodities reduced
• Most importantly , the 20 Point Program announced by Indira Gandhi for the upliftment of poor

However , towards the later stages , people became disillusioned because

• Economic growth was not sustained
• Congress failed to create new agencies of social change
• Abuse of power by bureaucracy and police
• No channel for redressal of grievances
• Fear of Authoritarianism began to be generated
• Forced sterlisation campaign led to large scale disenchantment

=> Hence, the surprised elections of 1977 were announced

• • • • Morarji Desai
      • Lal Bahadur Shastri

Shastri didn’t want to become PM and he advised that either Jaiprakash Narayan or Indira Gandhi should be made PM. On the other hand, Morarji Desai wasn’t enjoying backing of majority of Congress.

In 1963, Syndicate was formed (when No Confidence Motion was moved, Kamraj plan was prepared to make Congress strong again. Syndicate was part of that plan) . Syndicate supported the candidature of Shastri and he became PM.

Shastri’s Era

• Challenges when Shastri became PM
  • • • Official Language Issue
      • Punjabi Suba Issue
      • Goa’s merger with Maharashtra
      • Unrest created in Kashmir by Sheikh Abdullah
      • Economic Crisis when PL 480 was suspended resulting in food shortages
• Initially, Shastri wasn’t able to take major decisions to handle these crisis .
• It was only during 1965 war that he started to assert himself and took bold measures often bypassing the decision of Syndicate to won that war. But he suddenly died at Tashkant and wasn’t able to reap benefit .

Question : Lal Bahadur Shastri was criticised as suffering from lack of decision making abilities in the initial period . However, it was overturned in 1965 war.

Indo-Pak War , 1965

• It is misunderstood as neutrality. But in broad terms , it refers to the freedom to decide each issue on the basis of it’s merit and then to take a stand .

• World Peace
• Fighting against Social injustice and exploitation
• Economic growth and development
• To face the challenges confronting the world

• After World War 2, world was divided into two power blocks. According to Nehru , newly independent nations would gain nothing by allying with any  block. Hence, in order to restore peace and to symbolise the struggle of nations, to ensure sovereignty and independence, NAM was introduced

• NAM also served the purpose of democratization of International Relations

Nehru rebated the charge of Dulles, by saying that Non alignment meant having the freedom to decide each issue on its merits, to understand what was right or wrong, and then take a stand in favour of right.

• India was the first country to recognise People’s Republic of China and Nehru had great affliation with China due to common historical experiences and common problem of poverty and underdevelopment
• India’s support to China was evident in Korean war and also 1954 treaty in which India recognised China’s Right over Tibet and the two countries aggreed to be gòverned in their mutual relation by Panchsheel.

Indo-China Issues

• Border dispute wrt Aksai Chin and McMohan Line
• Revolt in Tibet in 1959 and asylum to Dalai Lama (however, he was denied to carry out any political activities)
• Forward Policy by India around McMohan Line (precipitating factor)

=> As a result, China attacked India and the war continued for One month . However, post that China declared unilateral ceasefire. But by that time, India lost the war in all the capacities.

Analysis of the war

• It was the biggest blow to India’s self respect which affected the dynamics of politics both within India and at global level. Eg : Nehru faced the first No-Confidence Motion in 1963 and India’s relation with other countries were also impacted
• Nehru was blamed for not being able to guard nation’s interest as against Communist betrayal . But for some , it was Nehru’s stubborness to not settle the border dispute with China and going ahead with forward policy which antagonised China.
• Resources for the economic development and third five year plan were diverted for defence
• However, later analysis believes that the cause of war was more related to China’s compulsion . Eg
• • • Impact global stature of India as a leader of Afro-Asian newly independent nations
    • Soviet support to India
    • Border disputes with India ,
    • To topple Nehru and discredit his NAM Policy and
    • more because of Sino-Soviet differences

• Kashmir Issue : Already studied

• Both the government worked together to restore the abducted women to their original families

• Long term dispute of river water sharing was resolved –with world Bank’s mediation and India-Pakistan Indus Water Treaty was signed by Nehru and General Ayub Khan in 1960.

• Congress emerged as the single dominant party in India but it was different from One Party Dominance in other countries like China , USSR etc where constitution allowed just one party.

Reasons why Congress emerged as Single Dominant Party within India

• Congress was the main party  fighting for freedom struggle movement . It had inherited the legacy of Indian National Congress Movements and their stalwart leaders.
• Due to their strong organizational network throughout the country, it reached out to the masses instantly . It was impossible for other political parties to organize themselves in such a short time .
• Congress was an ideological coalition. It accommodated the revolutionary and pacifist, conservative and radical, extremist and moderate and the right, left and all shades of the centre

=> Noted political scientist, Rajni Kothari termed this period of Indian Politics as “The Congress system”

Socialist Party

• Roots of Socialist Party lay in Congress Socialist Party formed in 1934
• Later after independence, the congress party had changed the rule regarding dual membership and barred the C.S.P members with congress’s membership. This situation compelled CSP leaders to form separate Socialist Party in 1948.
• Socialist party leaders criticized congress for favouring capitalists and landlord and ignoring teaming masses like workers, peasants.
• Socialist party was in big dilemma when the congress party in 1955 declared its goal to be the socialist pattern of society. In such scenario, their leader Ashok Mehta offered limited cooperation with the congress.  Many faction emerged from the split and union of the socialist party viz. Kisan Mazdoor Praja party, Praja Socialist party, Samyukta Socialist Party

Bhartiya Jan Sangh

• Formed in 1951  by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and trace its roots with RSS & Hindu Mahasabha
• Emphasised the idea of ‘ONE COUNTRY, ONE CULTURE AND ONE NATION‘
• BJP in traces its origin to BJS

Communist Party of India

• Took inspiration from Bolshevik Revolution . Communists believed in violent uprising, as they thought transfer of power was not genuine. Very few people believed in their ideology and they got crushed by the armed force. They later abandoned violent means and participated in general elections and emerged as second largest opposition party.
• It had well organized dedicated cadre and healthy machinery to run political party.
• stalwart leaders included A.K. Gopalan, S.A. Dange, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, P.C. Joshi, Ajay Ghosh and P. Sundarrya.

Swatantra Party

• Swatantra party was formed in August 1959 after Nagpur resolution of the Congress which called for
  • land ceilings,
  • takeover of food grain trade by the state,
  • adoption of cooperative farming.

They didn’t believe this resolution.

• The party believed lesser involvement of the government in economy. It opposed the development strategy of state intervention in economy, central planning, nationalization, Public sector. They opposed progressive tax regime, demanded dismantling of license Raj.
• It was critical of non-alignment policy and friendly relations with the Soviet Union and advocated closer ties with the U.S.A.
• The industrialist and big landlords had supported this party.
• This party has a very limited influence, lacked dedicated cadres, so it didn’t perform well.
• The stalwart of party were C. Rajagopalachari, K.M. Munshi, N.G. Ranga and Minoo Masani.

• By Verrier Elwin
• Just leave them on their own as they were before advent of British rule

• By GS Ghurye
• Tribals are just backward hindus who need to be assimilated in Hindu fold

• Envisaged in Tribal Panchsheel Policy by JL Nehru
• Nehru rejected both of the above approaches as isolation is not desirable and assimilation would lead to loss of social and cultural identity of tribals . Hence he gave the Panchsheel policy

1. Tribal should develop along the line of their own genious
2. Tribal rights in land and forest should be respected
3. Promotion of tribal languages
4. No over administration
5. Tribal assistance should be seeked in managing polity and administration

• To give effect to the Panchsheel policy, following provisions were introduced

1. Reservation of seats for Tribals
2. Setting up of Tribal Advisory Councils
3. Commissioner for STs was appointed to investigate whether the safeguards provided to them are properly observed or not
4. Provision of 5th and 6th Schedule
5. Article 46 : State should promote with special care the educational and economic interest of Tribal People and should protect them from social injustice and exploitation
6. PESA (Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act)
7. Forest Right Act , 2006

• The Committee was setup in 2013 to study socio-economic, health and educational status of tribals  and also to suggest policy initiatives and interventions for tribal upliftment
• Following are the suggestions
• • • Gram Sabha’s power needs to be increased wrt land alienation
    • Mining rights needs to be given to the tribal cooperatives (eg : Andra Model of Tribal Cooperatives for Mining)
    • Unused land should be acquired and used for tribal rehabilitation
    • Impose penalties on officials for delayed implementation of FRA or PESA
    • Appoint judicial commissions to investigate Naxal cases against tribals and their supporters
    • Instead of large dams, small sized water harvesting should be created