Indira Gandhi A Biography

‘Indira Gandhi’s life was part of the unfolding history of India intricately woven with India’s past and future. It (became) inevitable therefore that politics (formed) a backdrop to her public and often private actions.’ Indira Gandhi’s life spanned over two-thirds of a century. By the time of her brutal assassination in 1984 she had established herself as the most significant political leader India had seen since the death of her father Jawaharlal Nehru. In this book written with the close cooperation of her subject Pupul Jayakar seeks to uncover the many personalities that lay hidden within Mrs. Gandhi. Much more than a political biography the book reveals the complex personality of Indira Gandhi-her thoughts and feelings her hates and prejudices her insights and her faults her loves and emotional entanglements. Full of startling insights Indira Gandhi A Biography paints a magnificent portrait-at once empathetic and unprejudiced-of one of the twentieth century’s most remarkable women. About the Author Pupul Jayakar was an author and Indian cultural activist. She was also a close-personal friend to the Nehru-Gandhi family. Jayakarhad authored other notable books such as J. Krishnamurti A Biography Fire in the Mind Dialogues with J. Krishnamurti and Textiles and Ornaments of India A Selection of Designs. Jayakar was a graduate of the Bedford College and the London School Of Economics. Upon returning to India Jayakar started a children's magazine and later became involved in politics as an assistant to Mridula Sarabhai a Congress activist. After Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister Jayakar was appointed as Cultural Adviser. She also became the executive director of the Handicrafts and Handloom Corporation of India. Jayakar was also an active member in the Krishnamurti Foundation. She was married to Manmohan Jayakar. After marriage they both settled in Mumbai. Together they had a daughter. Jayakar passed away in 1997.