Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri became India's Prime Minister - a short but remarkable reign. To appease the Nehru supporters, he had to give Indira a berth in the cabinet. What was she made the minister of?
2. After the demise of Mr. Shastri in U.S.S.R, the political game began once again. This time, Indira was supported by the "king-maker" - the president of the Congress. The Latter ignored all norms and conventions in his bid to get Indira elected. He ignored the valid claims of many senior members; the reason, according to him, was that Indira being a lady will be able to garner more votes from the 'fairer sex'. Who was he?
3. Indira was notorious for sending the democratic procedures of Congress for a spin. She soon turned the Congress into her family business - she was known for removing Chief Ministers when she felt like it. Her control over the party was so strong that no-one objected to her 'dictatorship'.
Who remarked, "I came by the grace of Madam and I am going under her orders; I don't know why I came... and why I am going".
4. During the 1971 elections, Indira Gandhi was accused of chemically rigging the ballot papers (this controversy ultimately lead to the Emergency!). According to evidence provided by B. Madhok and letters by the then President of A.I Congress (Shri. Nijalingappa), how many hours were needed before the chemical process was successful?
5. During the 1971 elections, amid allegations of rigging, only a few members of the opposition were able to win. According to D.F Karaka, Indira made a list of opposition leaders who should be allowed to win! Which of the following leaders featured in that list?
6. In 1969, the Presidential elections were to take place following the untimely death of Dr.Zakir Hussain. Though the official candidate for the Congress (Sanjiva Reddy) was widely expected to win because of Congress support and due to assured second-preference vote by lot of other parties, the expected didn't happen. This was because Indira Gandhi (opposed Reddy's candidature in the first place) decided to vote for the candidate put up by the communists (albeit secretly). Who was the winning candidate?
7. The darkest hours of the Indian democracy took place in 1975 with the imposition of Emergency. The primary reason behind Indira's decision was the fact that the Allahabad High Court found her guilty of Election malpractices in 1971. The Judge declared Indira's election from Rai Bareilly void and barred her from contesting elections for 6 years. After submitting an appeal to the Supreme Court, she promptly asked the President to declare "Emergency" in the country. Who was the President?
8. After her declaration of 'Emergency', she brought about a number of ordinances and amendments (to the Constitution) to ensure her "safety" and to give her the power to enact whatever she wished? Which of the following was not act committed by her during the 'Emergency' period?
9. It is a well - known that one of Indira's sons was the power behind the throne. Countless cases of atrocities were committed by him, all in the name of "development" of the country. He was notorious for forcibly sterilizing men (in a bid to control population). He acted as an extra-constitutional who arrested people as and when he liked. What was the name of the son?
10. Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31st, 1984. The main reason of their hostility was an assault she ordered upon the 'Golden Temple' - a holy shrine of the Sikhs. Which Sikh secessionist leader was controlling his operations from there?
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