Indira Gandhi

Key facts

Born

19 November 1917, Prayagraj

Died

31 October 1984, New Delhi

State of birth

Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

Sector

Politics & governance

Profession

Prime Minister of India (1966-1977; 1980-1984)

Gender

Female

Biography

Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi was an Indian stateswoman who twice served as the Prime Minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. She was India's first and only female prime minister, and a central figure in Indian politics as the leader of the Indian National Congress (INC). Gandhi also served as chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) from 1983 to 1984, becoming the first Indian to hold the position. She was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, and the mother of Rajiv Gandhi, who succeeded her as prime minister. Her cumulative tenure of 15 years and 350 days, spanning four terms, makes her the second-longest-serving Indian prime minister after her father and the longest-serving female head of government at the time of her death.

Summary based on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), reviewed by the RochakDuniya editorial team.

Timeline

1. 1917Born in Prayagraj
2. 1964Becomes member of Rajya Sabha
3. 1964Becomes Minister of Information and Broadcasting
4. 1966Becomes Prime Minister of India
5. 1967Becomes Minister of External Affairs
6. 1969Becomes Minister of Finance
7. 1970Becomes Minister of Home Affairs
8. 1971Awarded the Bharat Ratna
9. 1975Becomes Minister of Defence
10. 1980Becomes Prime Minister of India
11. 1980Becomes Minister of Defence
12. 1981Awarded the honorary doctor of the Sorbonne Nouvelle University
13. 1983Awarded the Gold Olympic Order
14. 1984Becomes Minister of External Affairs
15. 1984Awarded the Lenin Peace Prize
16. 1984Awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding
17. 1984Dies in New Delhi
18. 1985Awarded the Order of José Martí