The Hidden Dialogues of Tihar: Seeds of Political Revolution
During India's 1975 Emergency, jailed political leaders held clandestine discussions disguised as leisure activities to strategize a revolt against Indira Gandhi's rule. Retired Tihar jail official H.C. Verma recalls how these sessions laid the foundation for the formation of the Janata Party, which eventually toppled Gandhi's government in 1977.
- Country:
- India
In the shadows of Tihar Jail, covert meetings among political detainees during the 1975 Emergency sowed the seeds of rebellion against Indira Gandhi's regime. Conversations masked as yoga and sports sessions became breeding grounds for a political alliance that would challenge the Congress's hold on power.
Retired prison official H.C. Verma vividly recalls the arrival of high-profile figures like Nanaji Deshmukh, Vijaya Raje Scindia, and Chaudhary Charan Singh. Their detentions posed unique challenges, as these were individuals whose influence stretched far beyond the prison walls.
Despite the constraints of MISA, Verma and his colleagues extended respect and humanity to the political detainees. Internal empathy for these figures, deemed dangerous by the system, remained palpable. Ultimately, the forced congregation of political minds in Tihar led to the creation of the Janata Party, marking a pivotal chapter in India's political history.
(With inputs from agencies.)
Google News