Contributions of Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi is the most controversial ruler India has had. Her positive contributions are as stunning as her negative contributions.

Contributions are mere contributions. They can be good ones and bad ones.

In my opinion, her contributions were Evolving and maturing Indian politics in geopolitics. The creation of Bangladesh was her finest contribution.

The 4 positive contributions of Indira Gandhi:

1. Winning the 1971 war with Pakistan at a time when USA, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and many other powers sided Pakistan. The abject surrender of Pakistani troops in mere 13 days to split the country into 2 and create Bangladesh is the biggest war victory any Indian has had in nearly 3 centuries.
2. Territorial expansion — acquisition of Sikkim and Siachen glacier without any big fuss.
3. Bringing India on the path to becoming a nuclear power with the first nuclear test at Pokhran.
4. Ending privy purse and other big expenditures India was doing to its former princes. The era of princely states and kingdoms was firmly shut.

The 3 negative contributions of Indira Gandhi:

1. Weakening Indian democracy with Emergency, unnecessary Constitutional amendments, and dismissal of states as well as the dynastic rule at Congress. Until Indira came to power, Congress was a reasonably meritocratic organization. There were a number of independent, smart leaders with integrity and self-respect. Indira split the party and made many of the great leaders of the party mute. The party that followed Indira was nothing similar to the party that won independence.
2. Weakening India with a spate of terror organizations. Her fomenting of trouble in Sri Lanka led to the formation of LTTE and the eventual death of her son. Her fomenting of trouble in Punjab for narrow political objectives led to the ugly rise of the Khalistani movement and eventually her demise.
3. A rule of economic misery by pushing India deep into failed socialism. By the 1970s China, Indonesia, Korea and many other countries understood the pitfalls of socialism and started opening up their economies to capitalism. Rather than reversing the gear, Indira stuck India deep into the mud. When Indira came to power in 60s, India had an economy comparable to many other Asian countries. By the end of Indira in 80s, India was deeply behind her peers.

She consistently and systematically destroyed institutions, made PMO unreasonably powerful and almost destroyed democracy by imposing an internal Emergency to save her political career.

Nationalized practically every industry and ended up creating white elephants of mammoth proportions.

Single-handedly destroyed a democratic Congress Party and created a dynasty-driven party.

Sikh terrorism was her gift to the nation again for her narrow political ends.

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