Describe any four factors responsible to make Indira Gandhi's government popular in the beginning of 1970s decade.
Show Hint
Connect political slogans with specific policies. Mentioning "Garibi Hatao" alongside socialist actions like Bank Nationalization provides a complete picture of her populist appeal.
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question seeks to identify the key policies, slogans, and events that led to the massive resurgence and popularity of Indira Gandhi during the early 1970s (especially around the 1971 elections). Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
1. The 'Garibi Hatao' Slogan: During the 1971 election campaign, Indira Gandhi coined the incredibly popular slogan "Garibi Hatao" (Eradicate Poverty).
This sharply contrasted with the opposition's "Indira Hatao" (Remove Indira) slogan and directly connected her with the poor, landless laborers, Dalits, and marginalized communities.
2. Abolition of Privy Purses: Indira Gandhi took the bold step of abolishing the 'Privy Purses', which were special privileges and pensions granted to the former rulers of princely states.
This move was highly popular as it was seen as a strong commitment to egalitarianism and social justice.
3. Nationalization of Banks: She nationalized 14 leading private banks in India.
This policy was perceived as a pro-poor measure aimed at redirecting credit and financial resources away from a few wealthy industrialists toward agriculture and small-scale industries.
4. Victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak War: Under her decisive leadership, India achieved a historic military victory over Pakistan in 1971, which led to the creation of the independent nation of Bangladesh.
This elevated her status to a strong nationalist leader and generated immense national pride, cementing her political dominance. Step 4: Final Answer:
Indira Gandhi's popularity surged due to her pro-poor "Garibi Hatao" campaign, bold socialist policies like the abolition of privy purses and bank nationalization, and her strong leadership during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
