Indira Gandhi death anniversary: 10 interesting facts about ‘Iron lady of India’

Indira Gandhi. File pic

Former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi's death anniversary is marked on October 31. Indira Gandhi is the second-longest serving prime minister of India after her father Jawaharlal Nehru. She was assassinated on October 31, 1984 by two of her security guards.

Here are 10 interesting facts about Indira Gandhi:

- Indira Gandhi was the first woman prime minister of India. She served as PM from January 1966 to March 1977 and from January 1980 until her assassination in October 1984.

- She was known as one of India's most powerful prime ministers.

- Indira Gandhi was known for her strong personality.

- She had called for war with Pakistan supporting the Independence Movement that had led to the formation of Bangladesh.

- It is said that two of her security guards had assassinated her in retaliation to her 'Operation Blue Star' which was a military operation against Sikh militants holed up in Harmandir Sahib Complex (Golden Temple) in Amritsar.

- Indira Gandhi was the only child of former Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru.

- She began her political career after her father's death in 1964.

- Indira Gandhi was appointed Congress party president in the year 1959.

- In June 1975, she addressed the nation that the President had proclaimed Emergency.

- She notified the country that the decision was taken on account of security threats to the country. During the Emergency, the constitutional rights of citizens were suspended.