Two decades after her death, Indira Gandhi is still a mass leader. Thousands pour into her memorial at 1, Safdurjung Road, to have a glimpse of her life. Jayita Bandyopadhyay joined the fanship
Two decades after her death, Indira Gandhi isu00a0still a mass leader. Thousands pour into her memorial at 1, Safdurjung Road, to have a glimpse of her life. Jayita Bandyopadhyay joined the fanship
Basanti Devi stands patiently under the noon sun, feet bare, wiping her lined forehead with the end of her once-white cotton sari. The queue moves slowly but the 60-plus woman doesn't complain. "I have come to the mandir of Indira. I need to be patient," said the woman, who has traveled all the way from Krishnagar in West Bengal. Standing behind, her 20-something grandson nods in silent agreement. "Debi thi woh, garibo ki debi (she was a goddess for the poor)" said the young man, whose calloused palms, now joined in a reverent namaste, indicated a farmer's life. It is no use reasoning with them that this is not a temple but the former residence of Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, turned into a memorial after her assassination on October 31, 1984.
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Indira plays with granddaughter Priyanka in this photo archived by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum (IGMM) |
That's the hold India's first woman prime minister has on the country's collective hearts even 25 years after her death; an unexplainable link that brings thousands from across the country to her memorial. Some come out of curiosity for India's unofficial First Family, while others come for a pilgrimage. "We get about 10,000 visitors
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People take a close look at the sari Indira was wearing when she was shot dead, at IGMM in Delhi |
everyday. The number swells to 20,000 on weekends and holidays. And unlike at other similar tourist spots, people come here to discover Indira and her family. You will find most tourists asking questions about the Gandhi family with their faces glued to the showcases," said VP Goswami, the curator. Interestingly, while Rajiv Gandhi's charisma works the best with youngsters, Indira Gandhi's allure transcends age. "It's an invisible bond that flourishes despite her not being physically present. Indiraji was a mother, a daughter and a bahu," said MR Raghu, a student of engineering from Chennai, who had accompanied his parents and grandparents on a trip to the museum. His octogenarian grandmother nods.
"Indira made India proud. From an impoverished slave nation, she transformed the country to a buegeroning world power. Her strong decisions to wage wars against Pakistan and her contribution to the non-aligned movement gave the country an international status," said Pradeep Nag, an engineer with the Public Works Department in Beleghata, West Bengal, who came visiting with his family.
His wife pointed out it was under Indira Gandhi that Independent India held its first international sports event, the Asiad, in 1982. "She gave us the era of colour television too," Nag added.
Many feel it was her tragic death that adds to her mystery. "She had her fingers on the nation's pulse, a true mass leader," said a visitor from Switzerland, wishing anonymity."Indira was a very strong leader, who made many unpopular decisions. But she stood tall, often at the cost of being labeled autocratic," said memorial designer Ranesh Roy. In her last speech delivered on October 30 at 1, Akbar Road, she had said, 'I am here today, I may not be here tomorrow' But there, she was wrong.
