The assassination of Indira Gandhi refers to the tragic event that took place on October 31, 1984, when the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, was violently killed by her own bodyguards at her residence in New Delhi. This act reverberated globally, as Gandhi was a prominent and influential leader within Indian politics.
In her role as Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi faced immense criticism and controversy, particularly due to her declaration of a state of emergency in 1975 and the subsequent suspension of civil liberties. These incidents led to widespread discontent among certain sections of the population.
The assassination itself was carried out by two of Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh. Their act was purportedly in retaliation for the Prime Minister's approval of the Indian Army's military operation against Sikh militants, who had taken refuge in the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of Sikhism, earlier that year.
The assassination sent shockwaves throughout India, leading to a period of chaos and violence. It sparked widespread anti-Sikh riots in which thousands of innocent Sikhs were tragically killed. Indira Gandhi's assassination profoundly affected the political landscape of the country, leading to a wave of sympathy for her and her family, eventually paving the way for her son Rajiv Gandhi to assume power.
The assassination of Indira Gandhi remains a significant and tragic event in Indian history, remembered for its implications on national unity, the rights of minority communities, and the nature of political violence in the country.
