Indira Gandhi Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth, Lifestyle & Facts

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Real Name: Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi

Profession: Former Indian Politician

Date of Birth: 19 November 1917

Age (as on 31 October 1984): 66 Years

Zodiac sign/Sun sign: Scorpio

Nationality: Indian

Hometown: Allahabad, United Provinces, British India

Religion: Hinduism

Caste: Brahmin

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EDUCATION

School: Modern School, Delhi St. Cecilia’s Public School, Delhi St Mary’s Christian Convent School, Allahabad International School of Geneva École nouvelle de la Suisse romande, Lausanne, Switzerland Pupils’ Own School in Poona and Bombay

College/ University: Visva-Bharati University (dropout) Somerville College, Oxford (dropout) Badminton School, Bristol, England

Educational Qualifications: College dropout

PHYSICAL STATISTICS

Height (approx.): in centimeters- 163 cm in meters- 1.63 m in Feet Inches- 5’ 4”

Eye Colour: Black

Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Family: Father – Jawaharlal Nehru (Former Indian Politician & First PM of India) Mother – Kamala Nehru (Freedom Fighter) Brother – N/A Sisters – N/A

Marital Status: Widow at the time of death

Affairs/Boyfriends: M.O. Mathai Dhirendra Brahmachari Dinesh Singh Mohammad Yunus Feroze Gandhi

Husband: Feroze Gandhi (Former Indian Politician & Journalist)

Children: Son – Rajiv Gandhi (Former Indian Politician) Sanjay Gandhi (Former Indian Politician) Daughter – N/A

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Debut: She made it to the politics in 1950s as a personal assistant to her father, Late Jawaharlal Nehru, while he served as the Prime Minister of India post independence.

OTHER INFORMATION

Political Party: Indian National Congress

Political Journey: • She served her father unofficially as a personal assistant during his tenure as the first Prime Minister of India in the 1950s. • In the late 1950s, she served as the President of Indian National Congress. • She was appointed as a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1964 and became a member of Lal Bahadur Shastri’s cabinet as Minister of Information and Broadcasting. • After the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966, she was named the party leader over Morarji Desai. • She served as the Prime Minister of India from January 1966 to March 1977. • Gandhi again became the Prime Minister of India in 1980 and served until October 1984 before she was assassinated by two of her security guards.

Place of Birth: Allahabad, United Provinces, British India

Date of Death: 31 October 1984

Place of Death: 1 Safdarjung Road, New Delhi

Cause of Death: Assassination

Blood Group: O-negative [1] India Today

INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Indira Gandhi’s early life was marked by a mix of ambition and adversity. Despite her aspirations to join the Indian National Congress at the tender age of 12, she was hindered by the age requirement of 18. Undeterred, she harnessed her creativity and formed a group called the “Monkey Brigade” with her friends, inspired by an ancient Indian epic poem in which monkeys aided Lord Rama in his quest. The brigade’s mission was to spy on police officials, a testament to her early political instincts. As she officially entered the political arena in the 1950s, serving as a personal assistant to her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, she was often dismissed as a “dumb doll” in a male-dominated sphere. However, her political journey began to take shape as she navigated this challenging landscape.

Gandhi’s formative years included a significant period in Europe, where her health woes plagued her amidst the backdrop of World War II. While undergoing treatment in Switzerland during the 1940s, she found herself trapped as Nazi forces rapidly advanced across Europe. Her attempts to return to England were thwarted, leading to a two-month delay before she finally made it back. Ultimately, she left her studies at Oxford, but the university later recognized her accomplishments by awarding her an honorary degree. In 2010, she was honored again when Oxford named her one of the ten “Oxasians,” celebrating her as one of the illustrious Asian graduates of the institution.

Following her father’s death in 1966, Indira Gandhi stepped into the role of Prime Minister, making history as the first woman to hold this significant position in India. Her leadership was pivotal during the Green Revolution in the 1960s, a transformative era that saw a remarkable surge in agricultural production driven by innovative agronomic techniques. States like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh reaped the rewards early on, as the nation’s food security and agricultural sustainability improved dramatically under her guidance.

However, her tenure was not without challenges. In 1971, she faced a critical test as she supported the Bengali Movement, advocating for the liberation of East Pakistan, which culminated in the swift victory of Indian and Soviet forces over the Pakistani military, resulting in the creation of Bangladesh. This brief yet intense conflict marked a turning point in her leadership, transforming her image from a relatively inexperienced politician to the formidable “Iron Lady” of India. Yet, challenges persisted, and in 1975, amidst internal disturbances and economic turmoil following the Bangladesh Liberation War and the 1973 oil crisis, a state of emergency was declared. This period of heightened political tension raised questions about her governance and approach.

The latter part of her tenure was marked by profound and controversial decisions. In June 1984, Indira Gandhi ordered “Operation Blue Star,” a military action aimed at removing Sikh leaders advocating for a separate nation in Punjab and regaining control of the Harmandir Sahib Complex in Amritsar. The operation resulted in significant loss of life and property, further complicating her already tumultuous political landscape. Tragically, her life came to an abrupt end in October 1984 when her bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, assassinated her. The attack was driven by a desire for retribution for the violence inflicted during Operation Blue Star and the suffering of the Sikh community. As she was on her way to an interview, her assassination marked a haunting conclusion to the life of a leader who had profoundly shaped the course of modern India.

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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.