I was 6 when Emergency was declared in 1975. So, my memories of the period in India are kind of vague.  Too young to read papers, too young to understand what was going on. We lived in Delhi- dad was posted there. We lived in this house in what was then EPDP colony near Greater Kailash (am not even sure if it exists now).

what I remember were these huge arguments between my father and mother about Emergency. My mother is a political scientist – a professor. Terribly anti emergency. My father worked for the State Trading Corporation – honest to the core (we used to hunt for change during month ends to make ends meet. ) and terribly disillusioned with the open corruption around him. Plus there were issues of hoarding. Dad told me, much later, they could never afford to buy cooking oil in bulk till Emergency was declared. During that period, the price of oil came down from what ever rate it was at, to Rs64 for 16 litres …he said ‘she put all those bas****s in prison” (hoarders). My grandmother told me – we could make sweets at home for deepavali because sugar became affordable.

My mother was a great supporter of Vinoba Bhave and by default, Jaiprakash Narain (though JP and Vinoba Bhave fell out on the Emergency, JP opposed it and Vinoba Bhave supported it ) . My dad had great respect for Vinobha Bhave, but thought – and it is a view he holds till date – that JP was a traitor (for calling for the armed forces to revolt). Naturally they argued. Other couples fight about gold and jewellery, my parents have always had arguments on the State of the Nation. And, as a 6 year old I was terrified when my parents fought. Try explaining to someone that age  her parents were fighting on ideology. The fights were loud, passionate and ideological .. i remember my dad telling my mother that she will go to jail for her views …and my mother’s repartee fast and quick .. “when i come out i will be a minister” .. for a long, long time I thought you had to go to jail to be a minister.

And then one day Emergency was lifted.  We were in Bombay by then – dad had been transferred. And, then the  first election that i can remember. I don’t remember it for the Janta Party winning or the Congress losing. I remember it because my father came home from work and cried- that is the first time I saw him cry. Indira Gandhi had lost.   I wonder if i will ever feel that kind of personal loyalty to a political leader … i doubt it.. The second time I saw him cry was when she was assassinated.

It is much later, as a student in the late 1980’s that i formally read about Emergency and was horrified at the Constitutional and human right lapses. But, I remember thinking when Babri Masjid was demolished and the riots started around India – why doesn’t the Government impose emergency. A thought I  was immediately ashamed of, but a thought that had come to my mind, nonetheless.

I see a lot of chatter on twitter on the imposition of  Emergency in the current context. I don’t think so. India is very different now than it was then.

• AT the very basic level neither Sonia Gandhi nor Dr. Singh are Indira Gandhi
• At the second level, there is no absolute majority in Parliament.
• it is also about who rules the States. Then it was Congress all the way- Centre, State (except Tamil Nadu & Gujarat (thankyou @ChandrusWeb for pointing that out), Local Government … now it is not.
• also, India was a closed economy with the bulk of the economic activity conducted by the Government. The activity it didn’t conduct, it controlled. Today it is not. It could be freer but, in no way is it any where like the 1970’s
• Also, demographics have changed. More prosperity. More awareness. Whether the demographics will have an issue with dictatorship or not, I don’t know. But, a larger educated middle class (when compared to the 1970’s) may also deter such ideas.

I should say there is more media now than then and they too will oppose Emergency. but I can’t. , but the media in India has been terribly supine in the face of power. The Ramnath Goenka who left a blank editorial rather than submit it for censoring is gone. I  can’t see the media standing up to a blatant display of power ( I Hope that i am wrong).

That doesn’t mean complacency on our part vis-a-vis our Freedoms. Given any Government half a chance, and they will want to run your life for you… but, it doesn’t mean panic either.

(this post is inspired by @swarraj ‘s tweets on Emergency today on Twitter)