ThePrint FirstPersonSecondDraft: On Indira Gandhi birth anniversary: Shekhar Gupta's two meetings with ex-PM,& her successes,failures
Nov 19, 2025
The discussion delves into Shekhar Gupta's two personal meetings with Indira Gandhi, highlighting her complex legacy. He recalls their 1979 encounter and her heated reaction to the Nellie massacre in 1983. Gupta underscores her national security achievements while confronting her failures in maintaining communal harmony and economic stability. Anecdotes reveal her acute awareness of public image, and the conversation examines her strategic decisions during turbulent times. The reflections draw parallels between Gandhi's era and today's political landscape.
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Close Airport Encounter In Chandigarh
- Shekhar Gupta recalled pushing through a crush at Chandigarh airport to briefly speak with Indira Gandhi in 1979.
- He preserved a black-and-white photo of that short conversation with prominent leaders listening nearby.
Nellie Visit: Confronting State Failure
- In February 1983 Shekhar Gupta witnessed Indira Gandhi's furious visit to the Nellie massacre site where thousands had been killed.
- He described her confronting state officials and reacting with visible anger and contempt for the scene's dust and horror.
Force Over Negotiation In Assam
- Indira Gandhi used forceful state power to restore authority in Assam during a mass movement that had blocked oil supplies.
- The 1983 elections and ensuing violence showed her preference for coercive state measures over negotiated solutions.
