Transcript

Topic

Iron Lady of India: Indira Gandhi

Interviewer:

Shirley Kabir

Interviewee:

Asha Shukla

Interview Format:

E-Mail

Interview Date:

25 February, 2015

INTERVIEWER:

Was Indira Gandhi Prime Minister of India during your lifetime?

INTERVIEWEE:

Yes.

INTERVIEWER:

An iron lady can be defined as a female head of a government or a strong

willed woman. Would you apply this term to Indira? Why or why not?
INTERVIEWEE: Yes,

she was a strong willed woman because she had the ability to take strong
decisions like Nationalization of Banks, supporting democratic rights of Bengalis of Pakistan etc.
INTERVIEWER:

Do you think Indira Gandhi made the right decision by intervening into the
Pakistani Civil War? Why?
INTERVIEWEE:

Yes, because she believed in Democracy and the existing Awami League headed
by Mujibur Rahman who got the majority was deprived from forming the Government by
Pakistani rulers.
INTERVIEWER:

Do you think her efforts to help the Bengali cause were successful? Did she
prevent the war from becoming any worse than it was before she intervened?
INTERVIEWEE:

Yes, she was successful because she saved Bangladesh from the riots between
Pakistanis and Bengalis which might have resulted in long lasting bloodshed and she prevented
that.
INTERVIEWER:

Indira Gandhis legacy was left in a bitter state after the attack of the Golden
Temple of Amritsar. Do you believe that her legacy should be based on this event? Or should it
be established on the accomplishments that shes achieved in her lifetime?
INTERVIEWEE:

According to my views life time achievements.

INTERVIEWER:

Was Indiras name a household name growing up? (i.e. was she mention
regularly during your childhood or adulthood?)

INTERVIEWEE:

Yes, because she was a popular leader and was liked by every individual as a
strong leader of India. At that time there was saying, 'Indira is India as India is Indira.'
INTERVIEWER:

When Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency and became authoritarian did
your view of her change? How did you feel about her before and after she changed her policies?
INTERVIEWEE:

I think she was wrong in taking that authoritative decision to declare emergency
that curtailed the fundamental human rights. It was a big mistake.
INTERVIEWER:

Indira Gandhi believed that she had a divine mission to save her country, similar
to the heroine Joan of Arc. Do you think that during the time period she served as prime minister
that she accomplished her mission?
INTERVIEWEE:

Yes she did. India and Indira were shining all over the world at her time period
due to her statesmanship.
INTERVIEWER:

In your opinion, whats the most memorable contribution of Indira Gandhi?

Why?
INTERVIEWEE:

Liberation of Bangladesh because she believed in democratic rights of human

being.
INTERVIEWER:

What qualities did you find most fascinating about Indira Gandhi?

INTERVIEWEE:

Strong will power, ability to take strong Decisions, dedication to uplift the life of a
common human being and to make the country strong, her strong faith in Democracy
and of course her charming personality.