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Quiz about Indiras India  Tribulations of a Nation
Quiz about Indiras India  Tribulations of a Nation

Indira's India - Tribulations of a Nation! Quiz


Revisiting the reign of Indira Gandhi - the transformation of a power- shunning woman to one lusted by power and a need to remain at the helm at whatever cost!

A multiple-choice quiz by ace_sodium. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
ace_sodium
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
112,192
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
976
- -
Question 1 of 10
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? Hint


Question 2 of 10
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? Hint


Question 3 of 10
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".
Hint


Question 4 of 10
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? Hint


Question 5 of 10
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? Hint


Question 6 of 10
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? Hint


Question 7 of 10
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? Hint


Question 8 of 10
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? Hint


Question 9 of 10
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? Hint


Question 10 of 10
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? Hint



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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?

Answer: Information & Broadcasting

In fact, Jawaharlal Nehru wanted her to succeed him; however she wasn't a member of the parliament and was not taken seriously by the veterans of Congress. The only person who suggested her name, after Nehru's death, was one Mr. D.P Mishra.
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?

Answer: Mr. Kamaraj

After Indira's election as head of CPP, she 'rewarded' Mr. Kamaraj by relegating him to a minor post in the Congress. Indira then went on a rampage, replacing the old guard with her 'kitchen' cabinet (popularly called the 'Indicate'). Mr. Kamaraj later admitted to this being the biggest mistake he committed in his life (ironical - since the people who helped elevate Nehru to the highest post also felt that they committed the biggest mistakes of their lives by doing so)
Dr Radhakrishnan (then President of India) supposedly became quite pensive after he heard about Indira's victory in the CPP elections.
The other two candidates were strongly against Indira's candidature.
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".

Answer: T. Anjaiah

Anjaiah was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh then. Once Indira summoned all members of the legislative party of Madhya Pradesh to Delhi, so they can accept the resignation of their Chief Minister Shyama Charan Shukla. They were then asked to elect his successor - P.C Sethi (Indira's Nominee).
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?

Answer: 72 hours

It was stated in three letters from Nijalingappa to Mr. Madhok. It was widely expected that Indira's Congress will just manage to get 51% of the parliament - however she ended up with 2/3 majority. In state elections, Congress lost in many states where the counting was done before 72 hours.

It was said that the chemically treated ballot papers required around 72 hours before the invisible ink appeared (72 hours after folding of the ballot paper). It was estimated by Nijalingappa that the total number of "chemically-treated" ballot papers distributed in the country was around 32 million (in 326 constituencies).
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?

Answer: Atal Behari Vajpayee

Atal Behari Vajpayee went on to become the 11th Prime Minister of India - his term lasted 13 days, his second term 13 months and his third term is going on! He was a member of the Jana Sangh (now BJP). Another "allowed to win" member was Piloo Mody of Swatantra Party. Karaka reported this in 'Current' (September 16, 1972) under the title "Top Confidential from New Delhi".
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?

Answer: V.V. Giri

Sanjiva Reddy was a member of the Syndicate (name given to the veterans of the Congress) and Indira wasn't on friendly terms with them. After her objection to his candidature was over-ruled, she decided to work behind the scenes. In fact certain members of her group would openly campaign for V.V Giri. The presidential elections of 1969 soon led to the first major split of the Congress.
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?

Answer: Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed

The 'Emergency' was declared in the name of danger to 'internal security'! The case against her was filed by Mr. Raj Narayan and the Allahabad high court judge who passed the order was Justice Jagmohan Lal. Events leading to the Emergency and immediately after it are recorded at http://www.rss.org/library/books/sagaOfStruggle/appendix/chronology_of_events.htm
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?

Answer: 37th Constitutional Amendment

The 37th Constitutional Amendment was passed before the "Emergency" - it pertains to providing a legislative assembly for the state of Arunachal Pradesh. 38th Constitutional Amendment stated that the "declaration of Emergency" was non-justiciable. Election law (amendment) allowed the President to determine, in consultation with the Election Commission, the period of barring any individual from elections on grounds of corrupt practices.

The 39th Amendment placed the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Speaker beyond Judicial scrutiny. Many other laws were passed by Indira during this time to enable her to subdue opposition; these include MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act), some more Amendments, Ordinances curtailing Fundamental rights etc.
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?

Answer: Sanjay Gandhi

Sanjay was the younger of the two sons of Indira (the other son being Rajeev). He was also known for razing slums and leaving thousands of poor people homeless (Ironically the motto used by Indira Gandhi was "Garibi hatao" (Remove poverty) - only no-one expected that poverty could be removed this way!)
He died in a plane crash in 1980. The period leading up to the end of 'Emergency' and the popular struggle is recounted at http://www.rss.org/library/books/sagaOfStruggle/the_popular_explosion.htm
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?

Answer: Jarnail Singh Bindranwale

The operation to 'cleanse' the Golden Temple was called 'Operation Bluestar'. Details of Indira's life is recounted in a book by Katherine Frank called 'Indira'.
Source: Author ace_sodium

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