Milestones in Indira Gandhi's life:
Nov 19, 1917: Indira is born
1938: Joins Indian National Congress
1942: Marries Feroze Gandhi
Sep 11, 1942: Couple is imprisoned at Naini Central jail, Allahabad, on charges of subversion
1947-1964: Remains with her father Jawaharlal Nehru as hostess and close supporter
1947: Under Mahatma Gandhi's instructions, Indira Gandhi works in riot-affected areas of Delhi.
1953-57: Serves as chairman of the Central Social Welfare Board
1955: Becomes member of Congress Working Committee and Central Election Committee
1956: Becomes member of Central Parliamentary Board
1956-60: Becomes president of Youth Congress
1960: Feroze Gandhi, her husband, dies
1964: Nehru, her father, dies
1964: Elected to parliament in his place
1964-66: Serves as minister of information and broadcasting
1966: Becomes prime minister after death of Lal Bahadur Shastri
1971: Calls for general election and wins by an enormous margin
- Declares war with Pakistan over Bangladesh
- India's first satellite launched into space
1973: Demonstrations in country over soaring prices and corruption
1974: India tests nuclear device.
June 1975: High Court of Allahabad finds her guilty of illegal practices during election campaign; ordered to vacate her Lok Sabha seat.
- Declares state of emergency. Thousands jailed.
1977: Calls for early elections but loses.
- Faces charges of corruption and authoritarianism, is expelled from parliament and is imprisoned.
1978: Released from prison
- Resigns from Congress
- Becomes leader of Indian National Congress
- Wins seat through by-election
1980: Re-elected as prime minister
- Sanjay Gandhi, her youngest son, dies in plane crash
June 1984: To crush secessionist movement in Punjab, she launches Operation Blue Star. Sends troops into the Golden Temple of Amritsar.
Oct 31, 1984: Indira Gandhi is assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.