Indira Gandhi

1917- 1984

Indian Politician

Indira Gandhi was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, first Prime Minister of the Union of India. She was born on November 19, 1917. She was involved in India's independence movement. In 1942, she married Feroze Gandhi. Mrs. Gandhi rose through the ranks of the Congress Party and in 1964 she became Minister for Broadcasting and Information.

She was elected Prime Minister in 1966. Nearly a decade later, she assumed almost dictatorial powers. In 1977, her Congress Party was defeated. She was re-elected in 1980.

As a result of her controversial decision to send troops into the Golden Temple in Amristar, a site sacred to Sikhs, she was assasinated by Sikh extremists.