New Delhi, June 25, 2024 – India today marked the 50th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency, a period widely remembered as one of the darkest chapters in the nation's democratic history, with a powerful reaffirmation of its commitment to constitutional values and democratic ideals. The Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Delhi Government, organized a significant event titled 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' (Constitution Murder Day) in the national capital, serving as a poignant reminder of the importance of safeguarding the principles enshrined in the Constitution.
The commemorative event, held with solemnity and a forward-looking resolve, saw the participation of several senior government dignitaries, including Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah as the Chief Guest, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Railways, and Information & Broadcasting Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi Smt. Rekha Gupta. The occasion underscored a collective resolve to prevent any future recurrence of authoritarianism and to deeply embed democratic values within the nation's fabric.
Remembering a Lasting Lesson in Democracy
In his keynote address, Shri Amit Shah emphasized the profound significance of remembering the Emergency, not merely as a historical event, but as an enduring lesson vital for the protection of democratic ideals. He stated that while "bad events are generally meant to be forgotten," those pertaining to "social and national life" must always be remembered. This, he explained, is crucial for instilling the right values in the nation's youth, preparing them to defend democracy, and ensuring such "dark incidents are never repeated".
Shri Shah revealed that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, driven by this very thought, decided to observe June 25 every year as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas,’ a decision formalized through a notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs. This annual observance aims to educate younger generations about the inherent perils of authoritarianism and the paramount need to uphold the spirit of the Constitution.
Highlighting a critical ideological shift during the Emergency, Shri Shah warned against a dangerous mindset where "the party is bigger than the nation, the family is bigger than the party, the individual is bigger than the family, and power is above national interest". He contrasted this with the current national sentiment, which he said reflects the idea of 'Nation First' under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. This transformation, he asserted, has been made possible by the struggle of "thousands of warriors of democracy who spent 19 months in prison". Under Shri Modi's leadership, 140 crore Indians are now striving to make India a global leader by 2047, moving forward with resolute determination towards that goal.
Voices Reflecting on Betrayal and Resilience
Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, reflected on India's deep-rooted democratic traditions, noting that "Democracy has existed in Bharat for many centuries". He highlighted that even when the world could not conceive of democracy, India had already established diverse democratic systems. He lamented that 50 years ago, "an autocratic regime, driven by hunger for power, imposed Emergency," brutally snatching away the freedom of expression earned through immense sacrifice. The tyranny witnessed during those 21 months, he added, "still sends shivers down the spine of those who lived through it".
Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta, called for profound introspection and historical awareness among citizens. She underscored the necessity of remembering "a grave wrongdoing" in history, especially one "caused by those driven by their greed for power," resulting in the "complete subversion of the Constitution and the murder of democracy". Smt. Gupta made a powerful appeal for citizens to remember June 25, 1975, the day "the entire nation was turned into a prison," urging a pledge that "Bharat’s Constitution shall never again be threatened, and democracy shall never again be plunged into darkness".
Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, emphasized the importance of internalizing the values of the Constitution rather than merely displaying them. He noted that on June 25, 1975, with the imposition of Emergency, "not only was our democracy and freedom brutally crushed, but the very Constitution was also murdered". While acknowledging the current trend of holding a copy of the Constitution and speaking of constitutionalism, he earnestly urged everyone to "truly understand the soul of Bharat that lies within the Constitution," asserting that such understanding would negate the need to merely wave copies of the document.
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighted the devastating impact of the Emergency on the press and civil liberties. He described India as the "Mother of Democracy" and the world's largest democracy, yet exactly 50 years ago, it suffered an attack when the Emergency was imposed. This period, he reiterated, remains "one of the darkest chapters in the history of our Republic". Shri Vaishnaw specifically noted that "The media, often called the fourth pillar of democracy, was silenced across the nation". The Press Council of India was dissolved to prevent government criticism, creating a "deeply suffocating" atmosphere. Despite these trying times, he acknowledged that "some media houses and journalists stood their ground with courage and strongly opposed the dictatorial mindset".
A Curated Journey Through Democracy's Evolution
A key highlight of the commemoration event was a thought-provoking special exhibition titled 'The Three Stages of Indian Democracy'. This curated display offered a journey through the evolution, challenges, and strengthening of democratic values in India, divided into three thematic sections:
- Bharat: Mother of Democracy: This segment showcased India’s ancient and enduring legacy of participatory governance, highlighting the deep cultural roots of collective decision-making and civic engagement that predated modern democratic systems.
- Dark Days of Democracy: Providing a stark visual documentation of the Emergency era, this section vividly depicted the breakdown of constitutional norms, the suppression of civil liberties, widespread press censorship, and the political repression that gripped the nation between 1975–77.
- Strengthening Democracy in India: The final section celebrated India's progressive strides in deepening democratic values. It highlighted transformative reforms such as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, Direct Benefit Transfers, advanced digital grievance redressal systems, and robust electoral transparency measures. These initiatives collectively reflect the government’s unwavering commitment to making democracy more inclusive, responsive, and truly citizen-centric.
Cultural Commemoration Through Theatre and Film
The event also utilized cultural mediums to bring to life the emotional trauma and profound impact of the Emergency. A special play titled ‘Samvidhan ki Hatya’ (Murder of the Constitution) by the National School of Drama offered a powerful stage depiction of the period. It dramatized the personal struggles, institutional collapse, and the undying spirit of resistance that characterized the 21-month Emergency, serving as a vivid reminder of the price paid by thousands to defend democratic values. Additionally, a compelling short film was screened, providing a cinematic retelling of the Emergency era, capturing the timeline of events, the brutal suppression of civil liberties, and the courage of those who bravely stood up against authoritarianism.
"The Emergency Diaries": Documenting an Underground Struggle
A significant highlight of the evening was the release of the book “The Emergency Diaries – Years that Forged a Leader,” which meticulously documents Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s underground role during the Emergency and his involvement in the larger people’s movement against authoritarian rule.
Speaking at the book launch, Shri Amit Shah recounted the powerful insights offered by the book. He detailed Shri Narendra Modi's work as a young Sangh Pracharak during the Emergency, highlighting how he fought by remaining underground during the 19-month-long movement led by stalwarts like Jayaprakash Narayan and Nanaji Deshmukh. The book, Shri Shah explained, describes how Modi "went to the homes of people jailed under the MISA Act and talked to their families and arranged for their treatment".
The narrative further details how Modi "distributed newspapers published secretly in markets, squares, among students and women," leading the struggle as a 25-year-old youth from Gujarat. Shri Shah revealed Modi's various disguises during his underground work, stating he "used to work underground at that time, sometimes as a saint, sometimes as a Sardarji, sometimes as a hippie, sometimes as an incense stick seller or sometimes as a newspaper seller".
Shri Shah emphasized that it was this 25-year-old youth who "opposed the dictatorial ideas of the then Prime Minister". He contended that the Emergency was imposed to "re-instate dynastic politics," but Modi "went door-to-door, village-to-village and city-to-city to protest against it, and finally he uprooted the dynastic politics from the entire country in 2014". The book, Shri Shah noted, contains five chapters covering critical aspects such as media censorship, government repression, the struggle of the Sangh and Jansangh, descriptions of the victims of the Emergency, and the journey "from dictatorship to public participation".
A Torch of Democratic Resolve to Traverse the Nation
As a powerful symbolic tribute to democratic values, the ‘Loktantra Zindabad Yatra’ (Long Live Democracy March), organized by the young volunteers of MyBharat, was flagged off by Shri Amit Shah. He handed over a 'mashal' (torch) to the youth representatives, symbolizing the enduring flame of India’s democratic spirit. This torch is set to traverse the entire length and breadth of the nation, from villages to cities, serving as a living symbol of India’s democratic resolve and the collective determination to prevent any return of authoritarianism.
The commemoration served as a powerful collective memory exercise, designed to educate, inspire, and fortify India's democratic foundations for generations to come, ensuring that the dark days of the Emergency remain a lesson, never a recurrence.
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