Independent Research - Indira Gandhi

Indira Nehru Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917 and would be the only child of Jawaharlal and Kamala Nehru. Being influenced and inspired by her parents, Indira Gandhi rose to power in India and eventually became prime minister. She dedicated her life to progress in her country despite the overwhelming problems and challenges she encountered.

Indira Gandhi was a women of courage and strength in a country that has been known to be very repressive toward women. In this society like most of the world for its time, women were only seen as wives, sisters, and mothers. Women had a social status that was below men. In India's society is blood tries are passed down through the male side of the family or patrilinear. Women in India were often forced to live in seclusion, having limited mobility. In India there are many different religions; Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Muslim etc., and a caste system social class system in which you are born into for life. Many women had become political leader and would help Indira in her time of need.

Indira was voted the greatest women of the past thousand years by BBC news succeeding Elizabeth and Mother Teresa. Indira, felt was very important because during her political campaign she led her people and government at a time of rocky and harsh times. Helping to pass on the knowledge and understanding she had of what the Indian government should be. She showed the world that if given the opportunity to women could do any task just as good as men. Indira was a symbol of not only courage but a symbol for women's rights.