Take a look at Indira Gandhi's one of the most explosive interviews, in which she admitted how she never considered her father, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru as her 'mentor' and much more.
Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India, was also our nation's first female Prime Minister. Born to India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Indian activist, Kamala Nehru, she carved a unique path for herself and is renowned for her distinctive approach to politics. Often hailed as the 'Iron Lady of India’, Indira Gandhi stands as the second-longest-serving Prime Minister in India's illustrious political history.
Not only this, the esteemed politician, Indira Gandhi is also renowned for controversial events such as the state of emergency (1975-1977), the decisive Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple, the formation of Bangladesh, and numerous other significant incidents that are the key pointers of her political career.
For the unversed, it was on October 31, 1984, when Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, post the infamous Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple.
During her lifetime, Indira Gandhi was a part of many interviews, discussions, meetings, and public events. However, there is one interview of the late politician, which is still considered as one of the most explosive ones of her career. In a heart-to-heart conversation with Bina Lalwani, Indira Gandhi talked about a lot of things and got into the hidden parts of her personal and professional lives. One question that became the highlight of her conversation with Bina was about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Indira Gandhi was asked to reveal the name of her mentor, other than her father. In response to it, the doting daughter clearly stated that her father wasn’t her mentor.
The interviewer, Bina Lalwani wasn’t expecting such an answer. Hence, she asked Indira Gandhi whether she was self-structured entirely. In answer to this, the former PM denied it and explained the meaning of her statement that she doesn’t have a mentor. The politician stated that she takes from people, no matter whether they’re small or big. She was always interested in taking from everybody instead of an individual or a group of people. She said:
"I don't think my father was my mentor. I'm not self-structured. You take from other people but then you have to um... I mean you are taking something all the time, not necessarily from a big person or a known person. You are taking from everybody."
Further, in the interview, Indira Gandhi was asked about the sudden demise of her mother, Kamala Nehru and how it changed her life. The politician revealed that she was just 19 when her mother passed away, who was just 36 years old at the time of her death. However, the doting daughter admitted that her mother’s death didn’t have a massive impact on her life. Instead, it helped her decide to get married. Indira Gandhi also added that she would've never married if her mother hadn’t been dead. She explained:
"I don't think it (Kamala Nehru’s death) changed my life. I think sorrow does something to you inside... but it can't really stop your life. But I think perhaps had she not died, then perhaps I wouldn't have married. It did help me to take that decision."
In the same interview, Bina Lalwani also asked Indira Gandhi about her two sons, Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi. When the politician was asked whether she ever felt the absence of a daughter or wished to have a daughter, Indira Gandhi gave an unfiltered answer. The former Prime Minister stated that she just wanted kids, and she was never bothered about gender. Opening up about the kind of bond Rajiv and Sanjay had while growing up, Indira admitted that it was like a normal elder-younger brother duo. Opening up about the same, she said:
"I wasn't at all bothered about it. I just wanted children. Well, I suppose there was a bit of rivalry. The younger always feels he can't do everything that the elder can."
During the interview, Indira Gandhi was asked to reveal how she managed to take care of her kids, Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi, along with her political career. Revealing the same, Indira stated that just like any mother in the world, she did everything in her power to make her kids happy and safe. She explained:
"Yes, I did everything for my children. I didn't let anybody touch them at all. I cared for them much more than any mother I know."
In the same interview, Indira Gandhi also talked about the family members that she lost during her lifetime. From losing her father, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, her mother, Kamala Nehru and her husband, Feroze Gandhi, Indira Gandhi took all the blows of destiny alone. In her response to the question, she admitted that her personal life's painful experiences gave her courage. She also added how sorrow cannot be shared. Indira Gandhi said:
"There were no hard times of being out of office, but there were hard times because we were harassed so much. As for losses in my personal life, those painful experiences take some strength from within and give strength. Sorrow you can't share. You can share joy. but you can't share sorrow."
What are your thoughts on Indira Gandhi’s thoughts on life, politics, kids, and motherhood? Let us know.
Also Read: When Indira Gandhi Talked About Her Marriage With Feroze Gandhi And Shared How He Proposed To Her