Glossary of Indian Politics

Emergency National Emergency, June 1975-Jan 1977. Imposed by the president Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad on recommendation of Indira Gandhi, the then PM; when a judge in Allahabad, Indira Gandhi’s home constituency, found her landslide victory in the 1971 elections invalid because civil servants had illegally aided her campaign. Amid demands for her resignation, Gandhi decreed a state of emergency on June 26 and ordered mass arrests of her critics.

Gandhi, Indira (1917-84), PM of India (1966-77, 1980-84). Daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru (the first PM of India). Assassinated in 1984 by two of her own security guards who were from the Sikh community. This led to massive riots against the community. (Also see Emergency)

Gandhi, Rajiv (1944-91), PM of India (1984-89), eldest son of Indira Gandhi. Flew for Indian Airlines until his brother died in 1981 and was drafted into politics by his mother. Succeeded her after her assassination in 1984 but was assassinated himself in 1991 by Tamil extremists during an election campaign.

Gandhi, Sonia (1946-) Present President of Congress, fifth of the Nehru family to take over this prestigious post. Widow of Rajiv Gandhi. Born Sonia Maino in Turin, Italy. Married Rajiv in 1968 and acquired Indian citizenship in the early 1980s.

Gaon Village

Gherao A way of industrial protesting by locking-in the employer.

Gowda, H. D. Deve (1933-), Former PM of India (1996-97) heading the United Front coalition govt. consisting of secular socialist and left parties. Elected to the Karnataka assembly in 1962, became the CM. At first an independent, later joined the Cong. Jailed during emergency. Important leader of Janata party and then of Janata Dal.

Gujaral, I. K. (1919-), Former PM of India (1997-98). Architect of the ‘Gujaral principle’ for India’s foreign policy; that it should look inwards and work on the principle of generosity with benign and accommodating bilateralism. Participated in the freedom struggle, jailed in 1942 during the Quit India Movement. Ambassador to USSR (1976-80). Union Minister of state (1967-76), Union Minister of External Affairs (1989-90 & 1997-98, as the PM).

Harijan Literal: People of God, a name given to the untouchables by Gandhiji.

Hartal Strike

HC High Court, the second in the hierarchy of Indian Judicial System.

Hindutva The ideology that presents ‘Hindu’-religion as the core organising principle of South Asian society and advocates that ‘Hindus’ should be organised into a strong, monolithic structure. Ideology presently propagated by the RSS.

HT Hindustan Times, a leading English daily.

IB Intelligence Bureau, Indian govt’s internal intelligence gathering agency.

IGI Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.

Jan Sangh A political party, predecessor of BJP. Formed in 1951 from RSS. Under the leadership of Slyama Prasad Mookherjee to gain political recognition and acceptance of the Indian masses. Renamed Bhartiya Jan Sangh in 1980 after the disintegration of Janata Party.

Janata Dal A political party formed in 1980 after the disintegration of Janata Party. A political bloc of different social segments, which formed a govt. in 1989 on the plank of corruption in the Congress govt.

Janata Literal meaning - People; the masses

Janata Party A political party in India, established before the 1977 elections comprising of many anti-Emergency political parties, Congress (O), Lok Dal, Jan Sangh, Socialist Party among others, under the leadership of JP. The first political party to establish a non-Congress government when it won the 1977 elections and Morarji Desai became the PM. A clear split occurred after JP’s death in 1978 between Morarji Desai’s supporters and Charan Singh’s supporters. Later on different constituents parted ways to form Bhartiya Janata Party, Janata Dal, Janata Party and others.

JD See Janata Dal.

JNU Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi

JP Movement A student’s non-violent movement under JP’s leadership, primarily in Bihar. Started in March 1974, as an outrage against increasing inflation, corruption and unemployment, biggest after the independence struggle. Considered a landmark for the Indian democracy. Led to certain constitutional amendments, converted to anti-emergency movement as Indira Gandhi imposed emergency in June 1975.

JP See Narayan, Jay Prakash.

JPC Joint Parliamentary Committee

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