Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi

Katherine Frank

Physical

In Circulation

The definitive and first non-partisan biography of one of the most formidable political figures of the twentieth century (voted Woman of the Millennium in a BBC poll, 2000)

Indira Gandhi’s life, from her birth in 1917, through partition and up to her assassination in 1984, was dominated by the politics of her country. Always directly involved in India’s turbulent twentieth-century history, once she accepted the mantle of power, she became one of the world’s most powerful and significant women. This biography, the first to be written by an unpartisan, Western woman, will focus on Gandhi’s role as a female leader of men in one of the most chauvinistic, complex and politicised cultures in the world.

Comprehensive, yet also personal, Frank’s biography will deal with power and how this often isolated woman handled it, alongside her family and her emotional life. It will be the definitive book on one of this century’s most powerful and important women.

What will you learn from this book

  1. Early Life and Family Background: The biography delves into Indira Gandhi's upbringing as the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, and her immersion in the political milieu of India's struggle for independence.

  2. Political Apprenticeship: Frank traces Gandhi's political apprenticeship under her father and her gradual emergence as a prominent political figure in her own right, particularly during Nehru's tenure as Prime Minister.

  3. Leadership Style: The book examines Gandhi's leadership style, including her authoritarian tendencies and her ability to navigate the complexities of Indian politics through shrewd maneuvering and pragmatism.

  4. Emergency Era: Frank provides insights into Gandhi's controversial decision to impose a state of emergency in India from 1975 to 1977, highlighting the political repression and human rights abuses that occurred during this period.

  5. Foreign Policy: The biography explores Gandhi's foreign policy initiatives, including her efforts to balance India's relationships with major powers such as the United States, the Soviet Union, and China, as well as her role in shaping the Non-Aligned Movement.

  6. Economic Policies: Frank discusses Gandhi's economic policies, including her emphasis on central planning and socialist principles, as well as her efforts to address poverty and inequality through initiatives such as the Green Revolution.

  7. Personal Life and Relationships: The book offers glimpses into Gandhi's personal life, including her marriage to Feroze Gandhi and her relationships with her children, as well as her interactions with other political figures and advisors.

  8. Assassination and Legacy: The biography addresses Gandhi's assassination in 1984 by her own bodyguards and the profound impact it had on Indian politics and society, as well as her enduring legacy as a transformative leader.

  9. Controversies and Criticisms: Frank examines the controversies surrounding Gandhi's political career, including allegations of corruption, authoritarianism, and human rights violations, as well as the criticisms leveled against her by political opponents and civil society activists.

  10. Gender and Power: Finally, the book explores the intersections of gender and power in Gandhi's life and career, examining how her gender influenced her leadership style and the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated political arena

Language English
ISBN-13 9780007259304
No of pages 504
Font Size Medium
Book Publisher Harper Perennial
Published Date 05 Mar 2007

About Author

Author : Katherine Frank

1 Books

Related Books