The word ‘emergency’ evokes an intense sense of unease, often associated with the suspension of established norms and procedures in pursuit of a perceived larger objective. Different forms of emergencies command our attention in different ways. The emergency services of hospitals, for instance, are a lifeline that provide immediate medical assistance and save countless lives.
At the global level, geopolitical conflicts, climate change, and the depletion of natural resources present another set of emergencies, calling for coordinated global actions that transcend narrow and binary perspectives. Modern society, too, appears to be navigating an era of perpetual urgency. Driven by the desire for instant results, quick judgments, and immediate outcomes, many seem to be living through a state of undeclared and invisible emergency. In contrast, the recently observed International Day of Yoga underscored the importance of calmness, balance, stillness and mindfulness. Indeed, throughout history, humanity has encountered one form of emergency or another as an inevitable part of life.
Yet, for India as a civilised and democratic nation, no emergency has cast a deeper shadow on the national consciousness than the politically motivated “National Emergency” of 1975 – a chapter that continues to serve as a reminder to protect democratic freedoms. The Nation is observing “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” today. The imposition of the Emergency remains a permanent blot on the democratic history of the nation. Its impact continues to haunt the ‘Mother of Democracy’ even after half a century. It serves as a reminder for citizens to remain vigilant guardians of democracy and reinforces the value of our hard-earned freedoms, as well as the price paid to secure them, by learning from one of the darkest periods in our history.
A nation with a proud civilizational legacy of democratic traditions, nurtured through customs of debate, dialogue, and deliberation, has long upheld participatory governance as a way of life. Ancient institutions such as the Sabha and Samiti, and later the 12th-century Anubhav Mantapa, exemplified structured evolution of democratic institutions. Our Constitution stands as a living document that embodies and upholds those timeless principles. Dr. Ambedkar expressed this sentiment by describing the Constitution as a vehicle of life, loaded with the spirit of the ages. The imposition of the Emergency, bypassing these intrinsic democratic values, was a systemic dent to that sacred vehicle. The National Emergency of 1975 was not merely a political episode; it fundamentally altered the democratic discourse and the functioning of public life in India.
The power-hungry and self-centric dispensation of Indra Gandhi brutally bypassed the constitutional spirit and eroded the delicate strand of ethical governance in a very abrasive manner. The election irregularities of the 1971 Lok Sabha election, the judgment of the Allahabad High Court, and the rising popular pressure to quit , were not an internal disturbance; rather, they were an ‘internal disturbance’ for Indira Gandhi herself, who had long enjoyed a political inheritance rooted in ‘Parivarvaad’ as a matter of entitlement. To manage this ‘inner disturbance’ of self, the adoption of measures meant for handling an ‘internal disturbance’ of the nation was a grave miscalculation.
The chain of events presents a clear picture of Indira Gandhi’s anti-democratic mindset. During the election case pending before the Allahabad High Court, she became the first Indian Prime Minister to testify before a court on 19 March 1975. The judgment, delivered on 12 June 1975, from Court No. 24 of the Allahabad High C o ur t had far-reaching consequences. Her election was declared void , and she was disqualified from holding elected office for six years. On June 24, the Supreme Court, while hearing her appeal, granted a conditional stay on the High Court verdict, permitting her to continue attending Parliament but denying her the right to vote or draw a salary until the matter was decided by a larger bench.
Meanwhile, the massive public rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on 25 June 1975, led by Jayaprakash Narayan, intensified popular pressure, and demands for her resignation resonated across the political spectrum. Disturbed by the rulings of constitutional institutions – the Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court – Indira Gandhi resorted to the proclamation of Emergency under Article 352. On the midnight of 25 June, she advised President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed to declare the Emergency without prior approval of the Union Cabinet, through a communication on plain paper. The Cabinet was convened only at 6 a.m. on June 26, merely as a post facto formality. Thus, she dealt a severe blow to the constitutional framework by sidelining the judiciary and undermining the collective responsibility of the Cabinet.
The episode reflected a profound erosion of institutional integrity at the highest levels of governance and the use of authoritarian methods to preserve political power. The curtailment of press freedom not only silenced journalists and opinion-makers but also deprived millions of citizens of access to truth, transparency, and accountability. It was a moment when the nation’s conscience was shaken, and the sacrifices of freedom fighters, the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly, and the democratic ideals that shaped the Republic were pushed aside in favour of authoritarian impulses emanating from an anti-democratic mindset. In all spheres of governance, the principle of “Chair First” appeared to overshadow the principle of “Nation First.”
Fundamental rights of citizens were curbed, and the spirit of the ages was crushed. Freedoms of speech, association, and movement under Article 19 were suspended with a mere stroke of the pen. The protection of life and personal liberty under Article 21 became a nullity, and worst of all, citizens lost access to courts under Article 32, which was referred to as the “heart and soul” of the Constitution. The draconian implementation of the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and the Defence of India Rules (DIR) resulted in thousands of people being imprisoned. Ultimately, every citizen bore the scars of this dark and oppressive chapter. Ironically, today, the successors of the same Gandhi family continue to play a hollow and contradictory role, waving a red-coloured pocket Constitution for political gains.
Acknowledging the wounds of the past, the Modi Government, through a Gazette Notification dated 11 July 2024, declared June 25 as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas.’ It is a moment to remember and honour the contributions of all those who resisted the National Emergency and stood firm in protecting democracy. The time has passed when dissent was silenced and reasoned voices were crushed through the misuse of state machinery. The 21st-century outlook demonstrates that the best way forward is to discuss, debate, dialogue, and dispose issues through democratic means, so that no situation warranting an Emergency ever arises. This is how democratic institutions are nurtured and the democratic spirit flourishes. Coming out of every ‘emergency’ situation brings a sense of relief, and reflecting upon such traumatic experiences invariably offers valuable lessons to course-correct our future actions. Wise are those who look back, reflect, introspect, and imbibe these learnings so that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. As we commemorate the darkest chapter remembered as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’, let us resolve to strengthen constitutional and democratic values in every possible manner.
It serves as an important reminder to instill the right values for defending democracy, so that future generations can carry forward collective responsibility towards the nation an aspiration that Swami Vivekananda had envisioned: “Each nation has a destiny to fulfil, each nation has a message to deliver, each nation has a mission to accomplish.” Let Bharat’s message of human dignity, pluralism, constitutionalism, and selfless service resonate louder and clearer in the 21st-century world. By remaining steadfast to these ideals, we can ensure that democracy not only endures but continues to flourish for generations to come. The writer is Union Minister of State for Law and Justice (I/C) and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India.