Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • Leaders

Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was an Indian politician who served as prime minister of India and became the country's first female head of government.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Indira Gandhi was India's first female prime minister. She held office from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination.

Early life and family

Indira Gandhi was born in Allahabad in 1917 as Indira Priyadarshini Nehru. She was the only child of Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru, and grew up in a prominent political family.

Political career and major events

Gandhi became prime minister in 1966 and served three consecutive terms. Her government was associated with centralisation of power, economic intervention, and the 1975–1977 Emergency. She lost power in 1977 but returned in 1980.

Assassination and legacy

Gandhi was assassinated by two Sikh bodyguards on 31 October 1984, following Operation Blue Star. She remains one of the most influential and debated figures in modern Indian history.

In short

  • First woman to serve as prime minister of India
  • Daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru
  • Assassinated in 1984
  • Declared a state of emergency from 1975–1977
Canadian angle

Indira Gandhi is studied in Canada in the context of Commonwealth history, postcolonial politics, and South Asian diaspora communities.

Quick questions

Who was Indira Gandhi?
Indira Gandhi was an Indian politician and the first female prime minister of India.
How long was she prime minister?
She served from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until 1984.
How did Indira Gandhi die?
She was assassinated on 31 October 1984 in New Delhi by two Sikh bodyguards.

Sources

  1. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Indira-Gandhi
    Supports: Birth, death, family background, prime ministerial terms, and assassination
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/summary/Indira-Gandhi
    Supports: Concise biographical overview and office tenure
  3. Prime Minister of India — https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/smt-indira-gandhi/
    Supports: Official office tenure and basic biographical details
  4. HISTORY — https://www.history.com/articles/indira-gandhi
    Supports: Birth details and assassination context
  5. EBSCO — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/indira-gandhi
    Supports: Political career, Emergency, return to power, and broader historical significance