Indira Gandhi -Iron Lady of India: Critical analysis of her Policies, Achievement’s and Failure from 1966 to 1984

Indira Gandhi is admired globally as the most charismatic political leader of India. Elected four times as the Prime Minister of India. She was the first woman elected to lead a democracy and the world’s longest serving woman Prime Minister from 1966 to 1984 when she was assassinated. During her days as the Prime Minister, displaying extraordinary political skills and tenacity. Gandhi showed an ability to win elections and outmanoeuvre opponents. She introduced more left-wing economic policies and promoted agricultural productivity. Also, she was the only Indian Prime Minister to have declared a state of emergency in order to ‘rule by decree’ and the only Indian Prime Minister to have been imprisoned after holding that office. She had remarkable endurance and ambition whilst building a formidable international reputation. Thus, she was listed as one of the “Most Powerful Women of the Century”. Indira’s style of functioning was criticized much and she was also accused of not having “Principles or human approach”.