New Delhi | Ramakant Chaudhary: After August 15, 1947 when India got freedom from the shackles of British Empire, June 25, 1975 could be seen as a landmark on the democratic landscape of the nation. The Emergency and its impact could be a wake-up call for those who tend to misuse constitutionally enshrined power to run the government. The aftermath of Emergency characterizes that democracy is ‘of-for-by’ the people. At the stroke of midnight, August 15, 1947, India had a tryst with destiny of dawn of democracy under the leadership of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
On June 25, 1975, India had, after the stroke of midnight, entered into the darkness of democracy under the premiership of Indira Gandhi who declared Emergency which remained in force for a period of 21 months. The two diametrically opposite political phenomena happened on the canvas of Congress that witnessed father Nehru, on the one hand, taking India to the sovereignty of democracy while daughter Indira, on the other hand, pushing the country into the slavery of dictatorship.
15 August is celebrated as an Independence Day while June 25 is marked as Darkest Day. The former reminds us of the people’s patriotism for achieving democracy while the later teaches us a lesson about people’s power in democracy. Three grounds were given for the promulgation of Emergency. The somber saga of Emergency and its socio- democratic impacts give scores of lessons that will remain relevant for all political weather and electoral climate.
Indira Gandhi justified the Emergency saying that it could control internal disturbance. She said India’s security and democracy was in danger owing to the movement launched by Jayaprakash Narayan. The lesson should be learnt here: any movement or social unrest should not be hammered down. The elected government has a bounden duty to hear the voice of the public. In democracy the voice of dissenters must be dealt with tenderly rather than stripping people of constitutional rights and freedom of speech and the press.
Indira Gandhi cited another ground of clamping Emergency that there was a need of rapid economic development in the country. The lesson must be learnt here: that development work should not follow the way that could demolish human rights and civil liberty. If any development requires this sort of Emergency, no way could it uplift the poor and downtrodden.
The third ground for declaring Emergency she gave that India was under threat of foreign powers’ intervention which could destabilise and weaken the country. The lesson must be learnt here: that the constitutional power of Emergency should not be misused on frivolous ground. In democracy a government runs successfully with the help of constructive Opposition. When foreign aggression erupts, all of us stand united to battle with it. Only important thing is that there should be no trust deficit between the government and Opposition.
Had Indira Gandhi and her coterie learnt the lessons well, the black chapter of Emergency would not have been the part of political history of India. The travesty of 21-month Emergency and subsequently the defeat of Indira-led Congress in 1977 Lok Sabha elections would remain a guiding force for those who play with power riding the waves of movement and people’s resentment.
The Emergency is often regarded as a dark phase of Indian democracy because this period was marked by trampling of democratic ethos, suspending all fundamental rights, putting opposition leaders in jails, imposing censorship on the media, human rights violation and erosion of civil liberties.
On the 46th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The dark days of Emergency can never be forgotten. The period from 1975 to 1977 witnessed the systematic destruction of institutions. Let us pledge to do everything possible to strengthen India’s democratic spirit, and live up to the values enshrined in our Constitution.”
The court verdict that triggered the Emergency
While opposition parties, trade unions and students were protesting against the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, a new threat surfaced that Allahabad High Court convicted her of electoral malpractices and debarring her from holding any elected post on June 12, 1975. The judgments added spin to the JP movement convincing them of their demand for the resignation of the prime minister.
On June 24, the Supreme Court put a conditional stay on the high court order: Gandhi could attend Parliament but would not be allowed to vote. Interestingly, the very next day Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency suspending all fundamental rights, putting opposition leaders in jails, and imposing censorship on the media.
The Emergency was issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and lasted 21-long months beginning from June 25 1975 to March 21, 1977.
Indira Gandhi had won the 1971 Lok Sabha election from Rae Bareli parliamentary seat in Uttar Pradesh defeating socialist leader Raj Narain, who later challenged her election alleging that she spent more money than was allowed and further that her campaign was carried out by government officials. On March 19, 1975, Gandhi became the first Indian prime minister to testify in court.
According to some reports emanating from the political grapevine, huge pressure was mounted on the judge to pass favourable judgement, but to no avail. It is also a great lesson for all how the gravitas of a constitutional post is respected.
When the state of Emergency was lifted and new elections called in 1977, Raj Narain once again stood against Indira Gandhi from the Rae Bareli constituency. He defeated her with a margin of more than fifty thousand votes. The Janata Party dislodged the Congress nationally and formed the majority in the parliament under the premiership of Morarji Desai.
Democracy becomes vibrant when the trust between government and people builds through transparency that shares information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. But when there is dictatorship, there is always destruction that dismantles the elected establishments in Democracy. This is the lesson of Emergency that must be learnt by all.
(Ramakant Chaudhary is a journalist, political and social commentator. The views expressed are personal.)
