Her
road to power and politics
Started
when she turned twelve years of age.Time
of British imperialism,Indian National Congress from
Allahabadnot know when or if the British would search their homes.
some asserted that the Monkey Brigade was the idea of the Congress.
In any event, Indira became the leader of this children's group
whose purpose was to help end British control in India.One
of the most significant actions of the Monkey Brigade involved Indira.
The Congress party's top officials were organizing a civil disobedience
movement After meeting, the
documents containing the plans of movement were placed in trunk
of car with Indira in the back seat.a
police inspector stopped the car to
search it.However,
Indira pleaded him not to inspect the car because the delay would
cause her to arrive late at school. Fortunately, the inspector believed
her and car was not searched.
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In
1938, Indira finally joined the Indian National Congress Party,
something she always longed to do. Soon afterwards in 1942,
she married journalist Feroze Gandhi to whom she eventually bore
two sons. Soon after the couple was married, they were sent to prison
on charges of subversion by the British. Her first and only imprisonment
lasted from September 11, 1942 until May 13, 1943 at
the Naini Central Jail in Allahabad. Fortunately,
India won its independence from Britain in 1947. In that
same year, Indira's father Jawaharlal Nehru became prime minister.
Since her mother had died in 1936, Later in 1959,
Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri appointed Indira Gandhi as minister
of information and broadcasting. This position was the fourth highest
ranking position in the Cabinet As minister, she most importantly
encouraged the making of inexpensive radios and started a family
planning program.
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Indira
joined Congress in 1938
She
was imprisoned for 13 months in 1942 by the British. In that
year she married Feroze Gandhi, a journalist; they had two sons,
Rajiv and Sanjay. Indira, however, remained with her father, who
became Prime Minister after independence, and acted as his hostess
and close supporter from 1947 to 1964. Under Gandhi's instructions
she worked in the riot-affected areas of Delhi in 1947. Associated
with numerous organizations, she was Chairman of the Central Social
Welfare Board (1953-7), member of the Working Committee and
Central Election Committee from 1955 and the Central Parliamentary
Board from 1956, and President of the All India Youth Congress
from 1956 to 1960. On Nehru's death in 1964 she was
elected to Parliament in his place. After acting as Minister of
Information and Broadcasting (1964-6), Indira Gandhi became
Prime Minister on the death of Lal Shastri in 1966, having
toured India, drawing enormous crowds in her campaign, . In 1971
he called a general election to seek public support and won by an
enormous margin.
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