All Things Policy Indira Gandhi - A Complex Legacy Pt.2
Jul 11, 2025
Srinath Raghavan, an esteemed author and historian, delves into Indira Gandhi's complex legacy. He discusses the surge of student activism that shaped Indian politics in the 60s and 70s. Raghavan highlights Gandhi's strategic decisions during the 1971 Bangladesh crisis, exploring her alliances and economic policies amidst global tensions. The conversation also examines the controversial Emergency era, revealing how political insecurities influenced her leadership and altered India's trajectory. This engaging dialogue challenges perspectives on a transformative period in Indian history.
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Significance of 1960s Student Politics
- Student involvement in Indian politics was significant in the 20th century, but the 1960s saw unprecedented scale and consciousness.
- The global 1968 wave of student revolts influenced India's student movements, shaping impactful political careers later on.
Indira Gandhi's Realist Foreign Policy
- Indira Gandhi's 1971 treaty with the Soviet Union marked a pragmatic shift from non-alignment to a security understanding.
- Her foreign policy was realist, balancing relationships amid Cold War pressures for India's stability.
Economic Legacy: From Statism to Welfare
- Indira Gandhi moved from a statist approach to a pro-business tilt by the mid-1970s, continuing till 1984.
- She shifted India's development model towards targeted welfare schemes, a legacy still visible in Indian politics.