Books

Indira Gandhi is fondly remembered as the Durga who won India its first decisive military victory in centuries and the strong stateswoman who courageously took on American bullying. Equally, she is remembered as the dictator who imposed the Emergency and tried to destroy institutions including her own party and the judiciary. Even so, for politicians Indira is the very definition of strong leader, and a role model on both sides of the aisle. In this spellbinding story of her life, journalist Sagarika Ghose has excavated not just Indira the iron lady and politician but also the flesh-and-blood woman. Growing up in a family home that was a hub of the national movement, Indira marinated in a political environment from an early age. But she also saw politics of another kind. Her sickly mother and she were the targets of her aunts unkind attacks. And she simply couldn't keep up with her celebrated father's expectations. Despite Nehru's dismissiveness, Indira rose to become the unquestioned high command of the Congress and, indeed, the most powerful prime minister India has ever had. This no-holds-barred biographical portrait of Indira looks for answers to lingering issues: from why Indira revoked the Emergency to her son Sanjay's curious grip over her; and from her bad marriage and love affairs to her dangerous religious politics. This is the only book you need to read about Indira Gandhi.