Indira
Gandhi was the first women Prime Minister and an important world stateswoman.
She was born in Allahabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh. She was the

only
child of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. She was a great
crusader of world peace. When she was just 13 years old, Indira organized a 'Monkey Army' (Vanar Sena)
comprising of young teenagers which proved her intention to fight for the
independence of her country.
In
1942, she got married to Feroze Gandhi. Two sons were born to her- Rajiv Gandhi
and Sanjay Gandhi. Indira Gandhi became the third Prime Minister of India
on January 24,1966 and remained in this post up to 1977. In 1975, her election
to Parliament was declared invalid and she declared internal emergency, which
led to her
defeat in 1977 elections. Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980
with an overwhelming majority.
She
was one of the most efficient Prime Ministers of India and is credited with
great achievements. Noteworthy among them are nationalization of banks,
liberation of Bangladesh and 20 point programme for the upliftment of the
poor. She was honoured with 'Bharat Ratna' in 1971.
Mrs.
Gandhi, met her tragic end on 31st October 1984, when she was brutally assassinated
by her own guards.