On the solemn occasion marking 50 years since the proclamation of Emergency in India,

Mahesh Dhoundiyal - Delhi

The Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation (SPMRF) organised a commemorative event in New Delhi to reflect on the darkest chapter in India’s democratic history. The keynote address was delivered by the Hon’ble Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah ji.

Shri Amit Shah emphasized that democratic values are deeply embedded in the Indian ethos. He recalled how, even during the colonial period, Indians across regions and backgrounds yearned for representative governance, and how those same values continue to shape the aspirations of the nation today.

Calling the Emergency a brutal attack on the spirit of democracy, Shri Shah proposed that 25th June be observed henceforth as "Samvidhan Hatya Diwas"—a day to remember the subversion of the Constitution and the heroic resistance of countless Indians who stood against authoritarianism.

Highlighting India as the "mother of democracies", he traced the legacy of democratic traditions to ancient republics such as Vaishali and the Mallas. He underlined how deeply rooted our constitutional culture is, stating that no dictator, however powerful, can uproot the foundations of Indian democracy.

The Union Home Minister reflected on the collective trauma of the Emergency era, stressing that every section of society—from students to civil servants, from journalists to homemakers—felt its sting. Recalling his own experience, he noted that as many as 184 individuals from his village were arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned.

Shri Shah commended the pivotal role played by student movements and the JP Andolan, led by Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, in awakening the nation’s conscience. He strongly condemned the misuse of state machinery during the Emergency, wherein central agencies were deployed to silence dissent, intimidate opposition, and undermine civil liberties.

He further noted that the Congress government of the time went to the extent of undermining independent institutions—including the judiciary and the media—which should have served as bulwarks against authoritarianism.

Shri Shah lauded Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for authoring a book that chronicles the Emergency’s horrors and documents the sacrifices of ordinary citizens who stood firm in the defence of liberty. He described the book as a tribute to the courage and resilience of the Indian people.

Underscoring the enduring strength of India’s democratic system, he remarked that while governments may come and go, the constitutional spirit must live within every citizen. He concluded with an appeal to the younger generation to imbibe and uphold the constitutional values that define the Indian republic.

The event served as a platform not only to recall past injustices but also to renew the commitment to safeguarding democratic institutions and ensuring that such a chapter is never repeated in India’s history.

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