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Emergency Chronicles: Indira Gandhi and Democracy's Turning Point
The gripping story of an explosive turning point in the history of modern India
On the night of June 25, 1975, Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in India, suspending constitutional rights and rounding up her political opponents in midnight raids across the country. In the twenty-one harrowing months that followed, her regime unleashed a brutal campaign of coercion and intimidation, arresting and torturing people by the tens of thousands, razing slums, and imposing compulsory sterilization on the poor. Emergency Chronicles provides the first comprehensive account of this understudied episode in India's modern history. Gyan Prakash strips away the comfortable myth that the Emergency was an isolated event brought on solely by Gandhi's desire to cling to power, arguing that it was as much the product of Indian democracy's troubled relationship with popular politics.
Drawing on archival records, private papers and letters, published sources, film and literary materials, and interviews with victims and perpetrators, Prakash traces the Emergency's origins to the moment of India's independence in 1947, revealing how the unfulfilled promise of democratic transformation upset the fine balance between state power and civil rights. He vividly depicts the unfolding of a political crisis that culminated in widespread popular unrest, which Gandhi sought to crush by paradoxically using the law to suspend lawful rights. Her failure to preserve the existing political order had lasting and unforeseen repercussions, opening the door for caste politics and Hindu nationalism.
Placing the Emergency within the broader global history of democracy, this gripping book offers invaluable lessons for us today as the world once again confronts the dangers of rising authoritarianism and populist nationalism.
-- "Financial Express"
On the night of June 25, 1975, Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in India, suspending constitutional rights and rounding up her political opponents in midnight raids across the country. In the twenty-one harrowing months that followed, her regime unleashed a brutal campaign of coercion and intimidation, arresting and torturing people by the tens of thousands, razing slums, and imposing compulsory sterilization on the poor. Emergency Chronicles provides the first comprehensive account of this understudied episode in India's modern history. Gyan Prakash strips away the comfortable myth that the Emergency was an isolated event brought on solely by Gandhi's desire to cling to power, arguing that it was as much the product of Indian democracy's troubled relationship with popular politics.
Drawing on archival records, private papers and letters, published sources, film and literary materials, and interviews with victims and perpetrators, Prakash traces the Emergency's origins to the moment of India's independence in 1947, revealing how the unfulfilled promise of democratic transformation upset the fine balance between state power and civil rights. He vividly depicts the unfolding of a political crisis that culminated in widespread popular unrest, which Gandhi sought to crush by paradoxically using the law to suspend lawful rights. Her failure to preserve the existing political order had lasting and unforeseen repercussions, opening the door for caste politics and Hindu nationalism.
Placing the Emergency within the broader global history of democracy, this gripping book offers invaluable lessons for us today as the world once again confronts the dangers of rising authoritarianism and populist nationalism.
-- "Financial Express"
453 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2019
42 people are currently reading
553 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 8, 2018
Being the first reviewer of this book in goodreads I would like to congratulate the author for his indefatigable efforts to research meticulously this black spot period in Indian post independence history. He is particularly scathing of Sanjay Gandhi and his doting mother who was blinded by her maternal love, completely overlooking the disaster his son caused during the fateful emergency period.
The present political scenario is perilously close to the Emergency period and the author ends with a forewarning that we better pay heed to, lest the country is doomed to relive the horrific past.
The present political scenario is perilously close to the Emergency period and the author ends with a forewarning that we better pay heed to, lest the country is doomed to relive the horrific past.
March 22, 2019
Most books on the Emergency are basically books on Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi. This book is not. It spends relatively less time on Indira and Sanjay and their motivations, which, as the author points out, are speculative anyway considering that their private papers are not in the public domain. Instead, the book is an extended discussion on constitutional principles and popular revolt when the social contract based on these constitutional principles loses consensus, and the limits of democratic institutions in the face of such popular opposition. The author lays much emphasis on spelling out the exact social, political and historical context in which the events unfolded-- including in great detail all the specific clauses hard-coded into the Indian Constitution that made the Emergency possible (even inevitable), and the reasoning of the framers behind writing these back-doors into democracy and all the heated debates within the constituent assembly leading up to it.
This book, however, needed a little more editing. The narrative does get incoherent at times-- the author is ardent and authoritative on the subject, and he often rambles into tangent after tangent, with the text resembling a stream-of-consciousness monologue at times. There is a detailed chapter on the Indian automobile industry that feels like history and more whitepaper, that could have been easily summarised. Many of the initial few chapters lack focus, and could have done with more organising.
Having said that, the book is overall an amazing read. Ultimately the title is best read as a meditation on constitutional democracy and its limits, and whether authoritarianism or popular uprisings have a place in it. A very informative book, and unique in its category. Highly recommended!
This book, however, needed a little more editing. The narrative does get incoherent at times-- the author is ardent and authoritative on the subject, and he often rambles into tangent after tangent, with the text resembling a stream-of-consciousness monologue at times. There is a detailed chapter on the Indian automobile industry that feels like history and more whitepaper, that could have been easily summarised. Many of the initial few chapters lack focus, and could have done with more organising.
Having said that, the book is overall an amazing read. Ultimately the title is best read as a meditation on constitutional democracy and its limits, and whether authoritarianism or popular uprisings have a place in it. A very informative book, and unique in its category. Highly recommended!
April 9, 2019
Very well written. The author has gone to great lengths to explain what led to tge emergency, analysing the various social and political factors. He explains the economic climate at the time. The only issue is the political tone of the epilogue is mot befitting a book so well researched.
June 28, 2020
Great and refreshing reading that, apart from
recounting the events immediately before, during and after the emergency, situates the cause of emergency to the imperfections in the Indian society and its interplay with equality/inequality and politics. Especially insightful is the epilogue attempting to explain today’s political environment and middlemen as an offshoot of the imperfections from pre-colonial through to emergency days.
recounting the events immediately before, during and after the emergency, situates the cause of emergency to the imperfections in the Indian society and its interplay with equality/inequality and politics. Especially insightful is the epilogue attempting to explain today’s political environment and middlemen as an offshoot of the imperfections from pre-colonial through to emergency days.
September 14, 2019
This book was my first in Indian political literature and I have to say I’m very impressed. Gyan prakash’s passion for history and politics is telling in the copious amounts of notes and citations he has attached to all of the facts mentioned. The author balances his voice very well with facts and gives the viewers a detailed analysis of the emergency. It paints a really good picture of India pre-emergency and helps the readers understand why it was necessary in its time. The author does digress a lot in the middle when he talks about India’s auto industry but he makes up for it with a stellar epilogue in which he draws parallels between 1975 and the present.
Really recommend this book if you want to understand how the constitution in India was drafted and how politics played out during all of Indira Gandhi’s terms in office.
Really recommend this book if you want to understand how the constitution in India was drafted and how politics played out during all of Indira Gandhi’s terms in office.
September 17, 2020
"Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship." - B.R.Ambedkar
I have to admit that I am no expert in history and whatever I know of the previous dark era of Indian Democracy is from literary works, which definitely has its own limitations. But this book has been an excellent starting point to dig deep into various factors that lead to the constitutional emergency.
It is an essential read considering the times we live in. If anybody has problems with the political undertone of this book, keep your privilege in check.
I have to admit that I am no expert in history and whatever I know of the previous dark era of Indian Democracy is from literary works, which definitely has its own limitations. But this book has been an excellent starting point to dig deep into various factors that lead to the constitutional emergency.
It is an essential read considering the times we live in. If anybody has problems with the political undertone of this book, keep your privilege in check.
April 6, 2019
Wonderful book. Prakash's analyses of events of the past and how they culminated into the Emergency are excellent. Through this book, he breaks the popular that the Emergency was an isolated event in the postcolonial democratic India. This book is a must for all those who want to know about the Emergency.
July 27, 2019
One of the best political history books. It's deep research and 'connecting the dots' makes it a gripping read. It's important for the young India to understand it's past. This book does complete justice to present the dark era of Indian democracy (with a warning for the future)
August 26, 2019
If you've heard talk recently about democracy in India, you need to read this book! It will scare you but will also tell you a lot about what's currently going on in the US
March 20, 2022
I am definitely not going to achieve my Goodreads goal this year. This is only the first Goodreads-listed book I finished this year. I started this one back in November last year. The book is not of epic proportions (in volume). I just couldn’t find time to read much of late.
Whining accomplished, let’s now talk about the book. The only criticism from my end would be the prose at times seems disorganised. The writer’s attempt to weave an extra layer of humane narrative around the core historical one (which is driven by facts and data) is praiseworthy but poorly executed. One reason could be the choice of too many characters whose personal story got mingled unnecessarily. The other simpler explanation could be that as a historian Gyan Prakash’s expertise lies in non-fiction genre.
That aside this a very important piece of work. Specially for people like me who are keenly interested in post-colonial history of India, unravelling of its present-day Hindutva-oriented politics, this books serves as a ready guide. The depth of analysis is astounding and the butterfly effect almost unreal. It’s a really great read.
Whining accomplished, let’s now talk about the book. The only criticism from my end would be the prose at times seems disorganised. The writer’s attempt to weave an extra layer of humane narrative around the core historical one (which is driven by facts and data) is praiseworthy but poorly executed. One reason could be the choice of too many characters whose personal story got mingled unnecessarily. The other simpler explanation could be that as a historian Gyan Prakash’s expertise lies in non-fiction genre.
That aside this a very important piece of work. Specially for people like me who are keenly interested in post-colonial history of India, unravelling of its present-day Hindutva-oriented politics, this books serves as a ready guide. The depth of analysis is astounding and the butterfly effect almost unreal. It’s a really great read.
October 11, 2022
Loved it. One more that must be compulsory reading in our curriculum when we were studying about our History.
The insights on Indira Gandhi's persona, the Sanjay Gandhi maruti initiative and context of how a PM could declare emergency were my favourite bits about the book
The insights on Indira Gandhi's persona, the Sanjay Gandhi maruti initiative and context of how a PM could declare emergency were my favourite bits about the book
July 22, 2020
If all told history was as engaging and informing as this book, then we couldn't have fools in our midst.
I expected a concise reportage of things leading to The Emergency, during it and the impact of it. I was banking on my interest in Indian Political history to read through it. What is given here is the portrayal of India of that era. Prakash goes back to the drafting of the constitution to explore why these powers were included in it. How the RSS was politically legitimised by JP's movement. How Indira Gandhi entered the mindset of an authoritarian ruler. Most significantly, how India reacted to The Emergency. Prakesh outlines some of the literature to come out of that dark period, positing how farreaching the influence of The Emergency was.
I expected a concise reportage of things leading to The Emergency, during it and the impact of it. I was banking on my interest in Indian Political history to read through it. What is given here is the portrayal of India of that era. Prakash goes back to the drafting of the constitution to explore why these powers were included in it. How the RSS was politically legitimised by JP's movement. How Indira Gandhi entered the mindset of an authoritarian ruler. Most significantly, how India reacted to The Emergency. Prakesh outlines some of the literature to come out of that dark period, positing how farreaching the influence of The Emergency was.
March 25, 2020
An honest South Asian intellectual is as rare as rocking horse turd .
Gyan Prakash isn’t rare.
In his book, Emergency Chronicles: Indira Gandhi and Democracy’s Turning Point (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2019), he says: “The turn in the current political landscape is related to shifts associated with neoliberal capitalism (p 4)".
There follows a harangue against capitalism, the market principle, competition....
He mentions Donald Trump (along with Modi, Orban, Erdogan, Duterte, the European Far Right....).
He ignores every study explaining the rise of Donald Trump by non-economic, extra-rational factors.
He ignores the millions lifted out of poverty under Manmohan Singh, who complied with the IMF’s market-opening suggestions.
He ignores the fact that Hindu nationalism is a nineteenth-century construct resurrected as a vote-winning strategy.
(In fact, democracy's turning point came in 1962, when Nehru did not resign after losing the Sino-Indian war; nor did anyone ask him to resign. His biographer, Michael Edwards, wrote: “It is a tribute to Nehru’s towering position both in the Congress and the country that he neither suggested that he should resign nor was his resignation ever called for – even by the opposition. It is difficult to believe that in any other democratic state he and his cabinet could have survived (Nehru: A Political Biography (Harmondsworth: Pelican, 1973), p 314)”.)
In short, according to Prakash, all this is a RATIONAL response to capitalism, not a deviant love of toxicity fanned by democratic competition.
Democracy can never be at fault.
Rational people respond rationally to stimuli.
Exactly like the economics textbooks say.
Gyan Prakash isn’t rare.
In his book, Emergency Chronicles: Indira Gandhi and Democracy’s Turning Point (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2019), he says: “The turn in the current political landscape is related to shifts associated with neoliberal capitalism (p 4)".
There follows a harangue against capitalism, the market principle, competition....
He mentions Donald Trump (along with Modi, Orban, Erdogan, Duterte, the European Far Right....).
He ignores every study explaining the rise of Donald Trump by non-economic, extra-rational factors.
He ignores the millions lifted out of poverty under Manmohan Singh, who complied with the IMF’s market-opening suggestions.
He ignores the fact that Hindu nationalism is a nineteenth-century construct resurrected as a vote-winning strategy.
(In fact, democracy's turning point came in 1962, when Nehru did not resign after losing the Sino-Indian war; nor did anyone ask him to resign. His biographer, Michael Edwards, wrote: “It is a tribute to Nehru’s towering position both in the Congress and the country that he neither suggested that he should resign nor was his resignation ever called for – even by the opposition. It is difficult to believe that in any other democratic state he and his cabinet could have survived (Nehru: A Political Biography (Harmondsworth: Pelican, 1973), p 314)”.)
In short, according to Prakash, all this is a RATIONAL response to capitalism, not a deviant love of toxicity fanned by democratic competition.
Democracy can never be at fault.
Rational people respond rationally to stimuli.
Exactly like the economics textbooks say.
November 28, 2024
Having never delved into a detailed account of India’s Emergency, this book illuminates a dark chapter in Indian history with remarkable depth. It brought to light the fragility of democracy and underscored the critical importance of safeguarding civil liberties. The enduring impact of the Emergency is evident in contemporary Indian polity, shaping both politics and society. At the same time, the narrative reinforces a deeper appreciation for democratic values and a stronger commitment to the human rights on which the Constitution was built.
The author has skillfully connected the dots, examining the Emergency through political, social, and economic lenses while providing a broader historical perspective. This revises the notion that the Emergency was merely a sudden eruption of tyranny. Instead, it portrays Indira Gandhi’s consolidation of power as a calculated move when constitutional democracy failed to yield to her will. By wielding the state machinery to suppress opposition, she demonstrated how power and ambition could override democratic principles.
Amidst the complex interplay of party ideologies, caste conflicts, factional rivalries, and personal ambitions, that has played out on Indian scene, one figure stands out: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. His prescient observations remain relevant today:
1. Democracy, he argued, was merely a "top dressing on the Indian soil." For him, it was not just about procedures but a daily exercise of equality and respect for human dignity.
2. He warned that Indians were particularly susceptible to bhakti or devotion, which, while admirable in religion, was “a sure road to degradation and eventual dictatorship” in politics.
The Indian elite have succeeded in perpetuating many of these vulnerabilities within India’s democratic framework.
August 20, 2023
I'd like to give this book 4.5 stars.
This books goes beyond the 1975-1977 period of the Emergency and speaks volumns about the making of the constitution and how it allowed for such a state of a State to occur. The detailed, well-researched account of the history helps critically think the then present that enabled Indira and her son, Sanjay to wreck havoc. This book is BRUTAL to Sanjay and his short-sighted vision for projects he devised and executed. It also speaks in detail about the power, brutality and politics of the Delhi police force that was intentionally ignored by the Indira, Sanjay and their side-kicks.
This was a good reminder of the big idea that whatever we do today is shaped by our yesterday and if not addressed from the roots will also dictate the future. I loved the last chapter that also forces one to reflect on the state of affairs in the current political environment and the government machinery.
This books goes beyond the 1975-1977 period of the Emergency and speaks volumns about the making of the constitution and how it allowed for such a state of a State to occur. The detailed, well-researched account of the history helps critically think the then present that enabled Indira and her son, Sanjay to wreck havoc. This book is BRUTAL to Sanjay and his short-sighted vision for projects he devised and executed. It also speaks in detail about the power, brutality and politics of the Delhi police force that was intentionally ignored by the Indira, Sanjay and their side-kicks.
This was a good reminder of the big idea that whatever we do today is shaped by our yesterday and if not addressed from the roots will also dictate the future. I loved the last chapter that also forces one to reflect on the state of affairs in the current political environment and the government machinery.
May 25, 2022
The author exudes a particular kind of hatred towards BJP and current PM that even in a book describing events that had nothing to do with the present govt, he doesn't leave any chance in criticizing the party. He gleefully interjected his opinions about the party while describing events that led to emergency and actions of various leaders following its conclusion. In this book, words such as Hindutva, Hindu nationalism appear many times, stating the stand of Congress Party that Muslims are in danger. However the author didn't back these claims/opinions with any evidence. There is not a single mention about Islamic fundamentalism erupted in 90s that resulted in genocide of Kashmiri Pandits even though Babri demolition is mentioned multiple time. I would be happy if in future the author doesn't let his biases creep into any book that he would write on historical events.
January 6, 2023
The book tries to narrate the events of the emergency along with the pre-emergency causes and post-emergency effects in the form of stories. It lets history be more than dates and numbers for the reader and gives a sense of what the emergency must have felt to a person, in hindsight of course.
I think this is a must-read for any student of Indian Politics and a wonderful way to get introduced to a populist leader and the ambiguities of independent nations working with a top-down approach to social change that allow for such leaders to survive and even thrive. Great start to understanding the present political while keeping in mind what has happened to India's democracy in the 20th century.
The most important takeaway from this book seems to be the fact that the political terrain of India misuses the word 'development', mistaking it to mean 'growth'.
I think this is a must-read for any student of Indian Politics and a wonderful way to get introduced to a populist leader and the ambiguities of independent nations working with a top-down approach to social change that allow for such leaders to survive and even thrive. Great start to understanding the present political while keeping in mind what has happened to India's democracy in the 20th century.
The most important takeaway from this book seems to be the fact that the political terrain of India misuses the word 'development', mistaking it to mean 'growth'.
January 4, 2024
Gyan Parakash does a beautiful job of contextualizing the history of the emergency and the constitutional origins of state power. Substantively the book is well researched and provides a nice description of Indira's authoritarian turn. I particularly like the substantiation with background on Sanjay and the stories of everyday activists.
However, narratively this was less than ideal to me. I think the skipping around in terms of timeline and the excessive background information in each chapter felt disconnected. For example the chapter about Sanjay Gandhi's automobile company was interesting but I got a little lost in the 70 year automobile history of India. It was interesting of course but I was personally looking for just the details of the emergency.
However, narratively this was less than ideal to me. I think the skipping around in terms of timeline and the excessive background information in each chapter felt disconnected. For example the chapter about Sanjay Gandhi's automobile company was interesting but I got a little lost in the 70 year automobile history of India. It was interesting of course but I was personally looking for just the details of the emergency.
March 1, 2021
I kept away from this book since the Emergency was a topic that I was relatively familiar with. Or so I assumed.
Gyan Prakash sets the context of the Emergency by covering the global unrest that was a hallmark of the late 60s, the Constitutional Debates of our Constituent Assembly on the nature of rights and the powers of the State and finally the sheer incompetence (and malice) of Sanjay Gandhi and his coterie. The chapter charting out the history of the automobile sector in India to place the fiasco of Sanjay's Maruti experiment was a delight!
Gyan Prakash sets the context of the Emergency by covering the global unrest that was a hallmark of the late 60s, the Constitutional Debates of our Constituent Assembly on the nature of rights and the powers of the State and finally the sheer incompetence (and malice) of Sanjay Gandhi and his coterie. The chapter charting out the history of the automobile sector in India to place the fiasco of Sanjay's Maruti experiment was a delight!
May 2, 2022
Worth a read...
Do not read this book for a straight up historical record. The writer has plenty of contempt for the Gandhi's and it shows.
But the book provides some good insights into the failings of the Indian democracy, the socio-economic landscape before and after the Emergency, and the incredible insight of our lawmakers in anticipating the failures of Indian democracy. Individual accounts mingled with references to books and cinema about the time add the human touch.
Do not read this book for a straight up historical record. The writer has plenty of contempt for the Gandhi's and it shows.
But the book provides some good insights into the failings of the Indian democracy, the socio-economic landscape before and after the Emergency, and the incredible insight of our lawmakers in anticipating the failures of Indian democracy. Individual accounts mingled with references to books and cinema about the time add the human touch.
March 28, 2023
The book is in-depth about the emergency time, including before and after era. For me it was a bit too lengthy and sometimes was focusing on things which were not too relevant to the topic. Like the time spent on Sanjay Gandhis Maruti story. Other than this I enjoyed the book and found it a interesting read.
August 19, 2020
The Final Quote in the book from Dr. B.R.Ambedkar summarises the book and the Political Legacy very well, and it also seems to be the Eternal Truth.
"In Politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship"
"In Politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship"
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November 10, 2023Completed reading #EmergencyChronicles by #GyanPrakash.
A must read book for every Indian; and cannot miss the striking similarities with certain happenings in these times.
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I get a feeling, #IndiraGandhi & Sons faced some curse due to acts of #SanjayGandhi during "Emergency"
A must read book for every Indian; and cannot miss the striking similarities with certain happenings in these times.
----
I get a feeling, #IndiraGandhi & Sons faced some curse due to acts of #SanjayGandhi during "Emergency"
May 21, 2020
Very mainstream history for Prakash
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April 16, 2023read for modern india reading colloquium
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