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Midnight’s Children to A Fine Balance, top 10 books to read on the Emergency

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In the years since 1975, a lot of literature has captured the political turmoil of the Emergency. Here’s what to read.

New Delhi: On this day, 43 years ago, then prime minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of Emergency in the country. Civil liberties were suspended, opposition leaders thrown into jails as an atmosphere of fear gripped the nation in what was perhaps the darkest phase in modern Indian history.

In the years since, a lot of literature has captured the social and political turmoil of the times, particularly in probing the role of Gandhi, her son Sanjay and the Congress party in the imposition of the Emergency. From journalists to academicians to authors, most have written about the most significant time in contemporary Indian history. Here are 10 books — from memoirs to novels — that deal with the Emergency.

Emergency Retold, Kuldip Nayar

The fourth estate carries an inherent responsibility to keep an eye on the powers that be. Unfortunately, it hasn’t always been up to the task. Senior journalist Kuldip Nayar was a notable exception. His Emergency Retold is a firsthand account of the period, starting with the 1975 Allahabad high court judgment which declared Indira Gandhi’s election null and void, leading to her decision to impose the Emergency.

The Dramatic Decade, Pranab Mukherjee

The first of former President Pranab Mukherjee’s memoirs, this book covers the Indira Gandhi years. A minister in her cabinet, Mukherjee had an insider’s view of what was going on in the government. Due to his political position, the book is a bit cryptic in nature and one will need to read between the lines to gather more than he says. An updated version may add great value.

Indira Gandhi, the ‘Emergency’ and Indian Democracy, P.N. Dhar

By virtue of being the principal secretary to then prime minister, P.N. Dhar was one of those few who had everyday access to Indira Gandhi. In fact, she trusted him as an intermediary in her clash with Jayaprakash Narayan, the stalwart politician. The book is an interesting account of the tussle between the PMO and the ‘de facto’ PMO of Sanjay Gandhi.

In the Name of Democracy: JP Movement and the Emergency, Bipan Chandra

Academicians, too, have contributed significantly to the literature on Emergency. Renowned historian Bipan Chandra has written a political account of those tumultuous years. The book is an in-depth analysis of how Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known as JP, instilled a sense of fear in the minds of one of the toughest women in Indian history.

India: The Crucial Years, T.V. Rajeswar

Former Intelligence Bureau chief T.V. Rajeswar’s account of the events of 70s and 80s provides enough insider glimpses into the period. Owing to his position in the IB, Rajewar’s feedback during the emergency days was something Indira Gandhi trusted and relied upon.

For Reasons of State: Delhi Under Emergency, Ajoy Bose and John Dayal

The latest to join the literature on the Emergency, this firsthand account by journalists Ajoy Bose and John Dayal is filled with anecdotes. Having witnessed the excesses of the Emergency, both made full use of their exposure as news daily Patriot’s staff writer.

The Sanjay Story, Vinod Mehta

No story on Emergency can hold without mentioning Sanjay Gandhi, son of Indira Gandhi and the de facto power centre during the phase. This biography of Sanjay Gandhi was published in 1978 and republished in 2012.

A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry

It really surprises one as to why there’s so little written about the emergency in popular fiction. Indian-Canadian writer Rohinton Mistry’s classic is an exception, though. Set in the backdrop of the emergency, this novel follows the life of four characters and captures the corruption and heroism in India.

Midnight’s Children, Salman Rushdie

An iconic novel that put Salman Rushdie on the map of literary writing, this Booker Prize winner has scathing remarks about the excesses of the Emergency told through its chief protagonist Saleem Sinai’s story. It is one of the landmarks in magical realist literature.

The Emergency: A Personal History, Coomi Kapoor

Journalist Coomi Kapoor had just started her career when the Emergency was declared. Kapoor, along with her husband Virendra Kapoor, and brother-in-law and politician Subramanian Swamy, faced the brunt of the ruling establishment at the time. Her memoir, published in 2015, long after she retired, is rich in anecdotes, making it an interesting read.

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1 COMMENT

  1. One of the darkest day in the history of post- independence India. The article brings out the famous books which covered the Emergency.

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