In India, 'the Emergency' refers to a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a state of emergency declared across the country. All photos/mid-day archives

In India, 'the Emergency' refers to a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a state of emergency declared across the country. All photos/mid-day archives

The Emergency is considered as one of the most controversial periods of independent India's history

The Emergency is considered as one of the most controversial periods of independent India's history

The then prime minister Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in India, citing grave threat to her government and sovereignty of the country from both internal and external forces

The then prime minister Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in India, citing grave threat to her government and sovereignty of the country from both internal and external forces

Emergency means Presiden's rule. President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declared a state of internal emergency upon the prime minister's advice on the night of June 25, 1975, just a few minutes before the clock struck midnight

Emergency means Presiden's rule. President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declared a state of internal emergency upon the prime minister's advice on the night of June 25, 1975, just a few minutes before the clock struck midnight

Indira Gandhi then introduced a 20-Point economic program to improve industrial and agricultural production and to fight poverty and illiteracy

Indira Gandhi then introduced a 20-Point economic program to improve industrial and agricultural production and to fight poverty and illiteracy

During Emergency, the freedom of the press was seized and censorship was imposed on cinema. Various political leaders faced arrest for speaking against the censorship rules

During Emergency, the freedom of the press was seized and censorship was imposed on cinema. Various political leaders faced arrest for speaking against the censorship rules

State and parliamentary elections got postponed. Indira Gandhi rewrote the laws saying existing laws are too slow. She got herself the power to rule by decree(an official order that has the force of law)

State and parliamentary elections got postponed. Indira Gandhi rewrote the laws saying existing laws are too slow. She got herself the power to rule by decree(an official order that has the force of law)

Invoking article 352 of the Indian Constitution, Indira Gandhi granted herself extraordinary powers and launched a massive crackdown on civil liberties and political opposition. The Government used police forces across the country to place thousands of protestors and strike leaders under preventive detention

Invoking article 352 of the Indian Constitution, Indira Gandhi granted herself extraordinary powers and launched a massive crackdown on civil liberties and political opposition. The Government used police forces across the country to place thousands of protestors and strike leaders under preventive detention

A number of the distinguished leaders were Vijayaraje Scindia, LK Advani, Morarji Desai, Jayaprakash Narayan and many others were arrested

A number of the distinguished leaders were Vijayaraje Scindia, LK Advani, Morarji Desai, Jayaprakash Narayan and many others were arrested

Indira Gandhi drew a lot of criticism for her actions which comes back haunting Congress even today. Infact, the move turned against her with Janata Party winning the next Lok Sabha elections in 1977

Indira Gandhi drew a lot of criticism for her actions which comes back haunting Congress even today. Infact, the move turned against her with Janata Party winning the next Lok Sabha elections in 1977