Indira Gandhi,  the illustrious and tallest leader of her times, commanded the respect and admiration of the world. Unwavering in her commitment and displaying courage of conviction, she withstood pressures of powerful blocs and courageously supported causes, which she believed to be right.  In her life and martyrdom, she left an endearing legacy. This publication, with a rich collection of articles, archival documents and photographs, attempts to encapsulate the inspirational journey of Indira Gandhi’s multifaceted persona, her life, her struggles, abiding commitment to the people of India, her world view and her legacy.

Anand Sharma, author and political activist, is Deputy Leader of Congress Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha. He was the Union Cabinet Minister of Commerce & Industry and Textiles. Also held portfolios of External Affairs and Information and Broadcasting. He is recognised for his proactive commitment to the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa. He was instrumental in organising the Satyagraha Centenary Conference in 2007 as Secretary General. He played a significant role in organising the international conference to commemorate the 125th Birth Anniversary of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru as Convenor in 2014. Moved India’s Resolution in the Special Session of United Nations General Assembly on 15 June 2007 to declare 2nd October as International Day of Non-violence.

Pranab Mukherjee is India’s thirteenth and current President. A powerful orator and scholar, Shri Mukherjee’s intellectual and political prowess as well as remarkable knowledge of international relations, financial affairs and parliamentary process are widely admired. He has been acclaimed for his role as a consensus builder on difficult national issues through his ability to forge unity amongst the diverse political parties that form part of India’s vibrant multi-party democracy.

M. Hamid Ansari is India’s twelfth and current Vice-President. He has been in the office since 2007 and is the only person after Dr S. Radhakrishnan to get re-elected to the post of Vice President of India. A veteran diplomat, he served at various Indian missions including in Saudi Arabia, Baghdad, Rabat, Jeddah, Brussels¸ United Arab Emirates, Australia, Afghanistan and Iran, and has also held various academic positions. 

Sonia Gandhi is President of the Indian National Congress since 1998, the longest serving president in the 125-year history of the Congress party. She is the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party and has served as the Chairperson of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, which formed the national government from 2004 to 2014. She chaired the international conference convened by the Indian National Congress to commemorate the centenary of Satyagraha in 2007 and the international conference to mark 125th anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru.

Sam Nujoma is a Namibian revolutionary, anti-apartheid activist and statesman who served three terms as the first President of Namibia (1990 to 2005). He was a founding member and the first president of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) in 1960. He played an important role as leader of the national liberation movement in campaigning for Namibia’s independence from South African rule.

Sheikh Hasina is the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She is the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of Bangladesh. She is the president of ruling political party, Awami League since 1981. An astute political leader, she became Leader of the Opposition in the country’s Fifth Parliament following the election of 1991 and steered all the political parties in the parliament towards changing the Presidential system into the Parliamentary one.

Jigme Singye Wangchuck became the 4th Dragon King of Bhutan at the tender age of 16 upon his father’s sudden death in 1972. Beginning his reign as an absolute monarch, he was instrumental in the democratisation of Bhutan and transition to a constitutional monarchy—continuing the steps that his father had begun. 

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, member of a prominent Sri Lankan political family, was the fifth President of Sri Lanka (1994-2006). She is the first and only woman to serve as the country’s president. During her Presidency, Chandrika Kumaratunga led the successful privatisation of state enterprises in a range of industries and her government enacted new laws and institutions to tackle rampant state corruption. She also helped Sri Lanka move away from its pro-war, confrontational mind-set to one of negotiation and peace.

K. Shankar Bajpai, a veteran Indian diplomat and expert in security issues, has been active in academia, working as a professor at the University of California, Stanford University and other institutions, since his retirement. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1952, serving in Germany, Turkey and Pakistan. He also served as ambassador to Pakistan (1976-1980), China (1980-1982) and the United States (1984-1986), and as secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs (1982 to 1983). He was also the co-founder and chairman of the Delhi Policy Group, an independent think tank in India.

Shyam Benegal, a renowned Indian director and screenwriter, originated what has come to be called “middle cinema”. He has also produced movies for various government organisations and a 53-episode television series on Jawaharlal Nehru’s Discovery of India called Bharat Ek Khoj (1988). A respected documentary film-maker, he has directed The Making of the Mahatma (1996), a joint Indian-South African production about the early life of Mahatma Gandhi during his 21 years in South Africa. 

Aditya Mukherjee is Professor of Contemporary Indian History, Centre for Historical Studies and Dean, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He specialises in Economic History, particularly business history and the political economy of post-colonial development. 

Wajahat Habibullah, an able administrator of the Indian Administrative Service, was the first Chief Information Commissioner of India. He was also Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities and Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. 

Anand Sharma, author and political activist, is Deputy Leader of Congress Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha. He was the Union Cabinet Minister of Commerce & Industry and Textiles. Also held portfolios of External Affairs and Information and Broadcasting. He is recognised for his proactive commitment to the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa. He was instrumental in organising the Satyagraha Centenary Conference in 2007 as Secretary General. He played a significant role in organising the international conference to commemorate the 125th Birth Anniversary of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru as Convenor in 2014. Moved India’s Resolution in the Special Session of United Nations General Assembly on 15 June 2007 to declare 2nd October as International Day of Non-violence.