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

What economic conditions formed the background to the Emergency?

The Bangladesh crisis, war with Pakistan, the oil shock, high inflation, low industrial growth, unemployment and a failed monsoon caused widespread discontent.

What was the Total Revolution called for by Jayaprakash Narayan?

A call for sweeping change in the social, economic and political spheres to establish what he considered true democracy, beginning with the Bihar movement.

What event led directly to the declaration of Emergency?

On 12 June 1975 the Allahabad High Court declared Indira Gandhi's election invalid, and JP's call for a nationwide satyagraha for her resignation triggered the declaration.

What reasons did the government give for declaring Emergency in 1975?

It claimed there was a threat of internal disturbances that created a grave crisis, justifying the proclamation under Article 352 of the Constitution.

What were the main consequences of the Emergency?

Suspension of Fundamental Rights, press censorship, large-scale arrests of opposition leaders, widespread preventive detention, and constitutional changes like the 42nd Amendment.

How was the press affected during the Emergency?

Press freedom was suspended and prior approval was required for publication; some newspapers left blank spaces and some magazines closed down rather than submit to censorship.

What lessons did the Emergency teach about Indian democracy?

That it is extremely difficult to do away with democracy in India, that the Emergency provisions needed safeguards, and that people value civil liberties.

Why were the 1977 elections significant?

They became a referendum on the Emergency; for the first time since independence the Congress was defeated and a non-Congress Janata Party government came to power at the Centre.

Why did the Janata Party government fail?

It lacked direction, leadership and a common programme; intense rivalry for the post of Prime Minister and internal splits brought it down in under 28 months.

How did the Emergency affect the party system?

It accelerated the move towards non-Congressism, brought opposition parties together, and gave political prominence to the backward castes of north India.

The Crisis of Democratic Order

Class 12 Political Science · Politics in India Since Independence · Chapter 6

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Summary

This chapter studies the Emergency of 1975-77, a crucial phase in Indian democracy. After 1971 the economic situation worsened — the Bangladesh crisis, the oil shock, high inflation, unemployment and a failed monsoon caused widespread discontent. Student movements in Gujarat and Bihar, the latter led by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) who called for 'Total Revolution', and the 1974 railway strike led by George Fernandes intensified the crisis. Tensions between the government and the judiciary grew over Parliament's power to amend Fundamental Rights, culminating in the Kesavananda Bharati case and the supersession of judges. The climax came on 12 June 1975 when the Allahabad High Court declared Indira Gandhi's election invalid. As JP called for a nationwide satyagraha, the government declared a state of Emergency on 25 June 1975 under Article 352, citing internal disturbance. Fundamental Rights were suspended, the press was censored, opposition leaders were jailed, preventive detention was widely used, and the 42nd Amendment was passed. The 1977 elections became a referendum on the Emergency: the newly formed Janata Party, led by JP and headed by Morarji Desai, defeated the Congress, but its internal divisions soon brought it down, and Indira Gandhi returned in 1980.

Key terms

Emergency

The state of internal emergency declared on 25 June 1975 under Article 352, suspending normal democratic functioning.

Total Revolution

Jayaprakash Narayan's call for sweeping social, economic and political change to achieve true democracy.

Preventive detention

Arresting and detaining people on the apprehension that they may commit an offence, used widely during the Emergency.

Press censorship

The Emergency-era requirement that newspapers obtain prior government approval for material to be published.

Janata Party

The party formed by merging opposition groups, which defeated the Congress in 1977.

Shah Commission

The commission appointed in 1977 to investigate the excesses committed during the Emergency.

Extra questions & answers

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The Emergency was declared on:

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