Dehradun, June 29 -- Fifty years ago, on 25 June 1975, India witnessed its darkest democratic hour when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in a dictatorial move declared a national Emergency that would leave an indelible scar on the nation's constitutional fabric. What followed were 21 months that fundamentally altered how Indians perceived their democracy, government and constitutional heritage. The situation that culminated in that ill-fated morning when the mother of democracy felt embarrassed due to cynical action taken by the power-hungry dispensation.
The Allahabad High Court had passed a crushing judgment, convicting Indira Gandhi for election irregularities during the 1971 Lok Sabha elections and disqualifying her from holding office. Co...