The Life and Political Career of Indira Gandhi Essay Example
The Life and Political Career of Indira Gandhi Essay Example

The Life and Political Career of Indira Gandhi Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (868 words)
  • Published: July 1, 2022
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Indira Gandhi was a women of courage and strength in a country that has been known to be very repressive toward women. In this society like most of the world for its time, women were only seen as wives, sisters, and mothers. Women had a social status that was below men. In India's society is blood tries are passed down through the male side of the family or patrilinear.

Women in India were often forced to live in seclusion, having limited mobility. In India there are many different religions; Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Muslim etc., and a caste system (social class system) in which you are born into for life. Many women had little or no rights and were taught to be submissive to their husbands. There is a high rate of female infanticide, because many of the families in India didn't want to have femal

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e children; males; would continue their family name, could vote or be elected to office, men had a social acceptance. Economically this huge county was being savagely stripped of its natural resources (iron, coal, bauxite, lead, and tin) and agricultural resources (grain, rice, wheat, sugar, cotton, tea) by the imperialistic England.

During World War II England enlisted thousands of men from India, to help fight the war in Africa. Many patriotic men who opposed English control, began to organize themselves in order to fight for their independence. In 1947 India would gain their independence for England. The true test was yet to come, because gaining independence was only the first step.

India would have to take several more steps, all in which would be very difficult. India's new government would

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be very similar to England's, both having a democratic government, parliament, and a prime minister. Indira's father Jawarharlal Nehru, was a political leader who fought to cease British control over India (BBC). Indira's home was a meeting place for political leaders to gather. As a small child she would be greatly influenced by many of the political leaders who had met in her house.

I felt that this had a major impact on Indira's life, because it helped her to better understand patriotism, the reasons for which so many had been fighting imperialism, and why Independence was so important. She organized the monkey brigade, in which many other children would take part in the struggle for independence by; writing and delivering notices, making flags, cooking food, and spying on the police (Kings). Indira was a very educated women who was a graduate of Visva Bharati University in Bengal, continuing her education she studied at Oxford University in England (BBC). In 1938, Indira joined the National congress Party, and was a big influence in facilitating India's Independence in 1947. Indira's father Nehru was elected the first prime minister of India, because Nehru was a widower Indira was his hostess/first lady (Kings). She was elected the first female prime minister in 1966, and would serve four terms in office.

She would later be elected to the executive body of the congress party, while fours years later being elected president of her party. As a political leader Indira helped to improve the quality of education in her country by approving a television programs in family planning. Indira fought imperialism at every border of her

country. She helped in gaining her countries independence from England, and by maintaining their freedom in war with Pakistan. She Helped to form Bangladesh, formally know as east Pakistan; by freeing this nation from Pakistan (BBC).

Indira helped to expand food production and the development of industries in her country. Indira nationalized major banks, and signed a twelve year peace treaty with Russia. Indira married Feroze Gandhi, but they both were on two different levels in their caste system. Indira who was a Brahmin or high priestly class and her husband was a parsee which was lower. Even though she had received public criticism, Indira still married Feroze.

Indira gave birth to two sons Rajov and Sanjay, both of her two sons would become political leader and would help Indira in her time of need. Indira was voted the greatest women of the past thousand years by BBC news succeeding Elizabeth I and Mother Teresa. Indira, I felt was very important because during her political campaign she led her people and government at a time of rocky and harsh times. Helping to pass on the knowledge and understanding she had of what the Indian government should be. She showed the world that if given the opportunity to women could do any task just as good as men. Indira was a symbol of not only courage but a symbol for women's rights.

Indira Gandhi contributed to the women's movement that not only effected her country, but the entire world. Even though she was assinated by Sikh extremists in 1984 she had planted a seed of feminism that would grow all over

the world and effect life as we live it today. I am very glad I did my paper on this incredible women who never gave up, especially when faced with adversity. Indira Gandhi was a women who dedicated her life to the progress of her country.

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