ABSTRACT
After Nehru’s death and Shasti’s short-lived premiership, India was still reeling from the effects of the two wars. When Indira Gandhi was elected Prime Minister, public expectations were running high. Morale was beginning to pick up after the Indo-Pak War of 1965 but the economic conditions were deteriorating. Under the circumstances, the Nehruvian dream of socialism was beginning to fade and the public’s restlessness was being reflected in the restlessness of the leaders. The syndicate (the old guard in the Congress Party) had “chosen” Indira Gandhi because they saw her as a “dumb doll” and had the notion that they would be able to control her. She defeated them decisively but the early days of her premiership were traumatic for the country’s pride. Indira Gandhi was elected because she was Nehru’s daughter, had an all-India appeal and a progressive image, and was not identified with any one state, region, caste, or religion (Chandra et al., 2000).
