What traumatic event does Zitkala-Sa describe at the school?

The forcible cutting of her long hair

Why was the cutting of her hair so humiliating to Zitkala-Sa?

Among her people, shingled hair was worn by cowards and mourners

How did the political succession after Nehru take place?

Smoothly — Congress president K. Kamaraj built a consensus and Lal Bahadur Shastri was unanimously chosen Prime Minister, proving the critics of Indian democracy wrong.

Why is 1967 considered a landmark year in Indian politics?

The fourth general elections were a 'political earthquake': the Congress kept a reduced majority at the Centre but lost power in nine states, ending its unchallenged dominance.

What was 'non-Congressism'?

Ram Manohar Lohia's strategy of bringing diverse non-Congress parties together to form anti-Congress fronts and reclaim democracy for the people.

What is meant by defection, and what phrase described it?

Defection is an elected representative leaving the party on whose symbol he was elected; the phrase 'Aya Ram, Gaya Ram' described the frequent floor-crossing of this period.

Who were the 'Syndicate' in the Congress?

A group of powerful and influential party organisation leaders, led by K. Kamaraj, who controlled the party and had backed Indira Gandhi's election as Prime Minister.

What were the major issues that led to the 1969 split in the Congress?

The presidential election of 1969, Indira Gandhi's Left turn including bank nationalisation and abolition of privy purses, and her conflict with the Syndicate.

What policy measures did Indira Gandhi announce to project a Left orientation?

The nationalisation of fourteen leading private banks and the abolition of the privy purses of former princes, along with a Ten Point Programme.

What was the Grand Alliance of 1971?

An electoral alliance of non-Communist, non-Congress opposition parties whose only common programme was 'Indira Hatao', formed to defeat Indira Gandhi.

How did Indira Gandhi win the 1971 election?

With the positive slogan 'Garibi Hatao' and a pro-poor programme, building support among the disadvantaged, her Congress(R)-CPI alliance won 375 seats.

In what sense was the Congress system 'restored' after 1971?

It was restored in popularity but in a new, leader-centred form that relied on Indira Gandhi's appeal and specific social groups rather than the old coalition of factions.

Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System

Class 12 Political Science · Politics in India Since Independence · Chapter 5

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CBSE Class 12 · Political Science

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Summary

This chapter traces how the Congress system was challenged in the 1960s and then restored by Indira Gandhi. After Nehru died in 1964, a smooth succession brought Lal Bahadur Shastri (1964-66) to power; his slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' captured the wars and food crises of his term. After Shastri's death, Indira Gandhi defeated Morarji Desai to become Prime Minister. The fourth general election of 1967 was a landmark 'political earthquake': amid economic crisis, rupee devaluation and price rise, opposition parties united under the strategy of 'non-Congressism' coined by Ram Manohar Lohia. The Congress retained a reduced majority at the Centre but lost power in nine states, where Samyukta Vidhayak Dal coalition governments formed, and the era of coalitions, defections ('Aya Ram, Gaya Ram') and the DMK's rise began. Indira Gandhi faced the 'Syndicate' of powerful party bosses; she converted a power struggle into an ideological one with a Left turn, nationalising banks and abolishing privy purses. The 1969 presidential election split the Congress into Congress (O) and Congress (R). In the 1971 election, her slogan 'Garibi Hatao' against the opposition's 'Grand Alliance' won a sweeping victory, and the Bangladesh war added to her popularity, restoring Congress dominance in a new, leader-centred form.

Key terms

Syndicate

The group of powerful Congress organisation leaders led by K. Kamaraj who initially backed Indira Gandhi.

Non-Congressism

Ram Manohar Lohia's strategy of uniting non-Congress parties to defeat the Congress.

Defection

When an elected representative leaves the party on whose symbol he or she was elected, captured by 'Aya Ram, Gaya Ram'.

Congress split

The 1969 division of the Congress into Congress (O), the Old Congress, and Congress (R), led by Indira Gandhi.

Garibi Hatao

Indira Gandhi's 1971 election slogan promising to remove poverty.

Grand Alliance

The 1971 electoral alliance of non-Communist, non-Congress opposition parties against Indira Gandhi.

Extra questions & answers

Try one from this chapter

After Nehru's death in 1964, the Prime Minister chosen was:

Flashcards & interactive practice