Marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 25, recalled his experiences during the period as a young RSS Pracharak, calling the anti-Emergency movement a significant learning experience that reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding democracy.
Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi wrote, “When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak. The anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me. It reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework. At the same time, I got to learn so much from people across the political spectrum.”
When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak. The anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me. It reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework. At the same time, I got to learn so much from people across the political spectrum. I am… https://t.co/nLY4Vb30Pu
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2025
The Prime Minister also welcomed a new book compiled by the BlueKraft Digital Foundation, titled “The Emergency Diaries – Years that Forged a Leader,” which explores the significant role played by PM Modi during the anti-Emergency movement in India.
He noted that the foreword of the book has been written by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, describing him as a “stalwart of the anti-Emergency movement.”
The book is based on first-person anecdotes from associates who worked with PM Modi during that time and uses archival material to provide a unique perspective on his formative years. The book delves into PM Modi’s experiences as a young RSS Pracharak during the Emergency, highlighting his contributions to the movement and his commitment to preserving democracy.
With the book launch, the Prime Minister also urged the families who suffered through the 1975 emergency, to share their experience on social media to create awareness among the young people.
Urging the families to share their experiences in 1975, the PM wrote in another post, “‘The Emergency Diaries’ chronicles my journey during the Emergency years. It brought back many memories from that time. I call upon all those who remember those dark days of the Emergency or those whose families suffered during that time to share their experiences on social media. It will create awareness among the youth of the shameful time from 1975 to 1977.”
‘The Emergency Diaries’ chronicles my journey during the Emergency years. It brought back many memories from that time.
I call upon all those who remember those dark days of the Emergency or those whose families suffered during that time to share their experiences on social…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2025
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will launch the book, marking an important milestone in documenting India’s democratic history. “The Emergency Diaries” offers insights into the early trials that shaped Modi’s leadership and his dedication to democracy, providing a rare glimpse into his transformative years.
“Based on first-person anecdotes from associates who worked with young PM Modi, and using other archival material, the book is a first of its kind that creates new scholarship on the formative years of a young man who would give it his all in the fight against tyranny. Emergency Diaries – paints a vivid picture of Narendra Modi fighting for the ideals of democracy and how he has worked all his life to preserve and promote it,” the publisher said about the book in a post on X.
BlueKraft is honoured to present a new book: The Emergency Diaries – Years that Forged a Leader.
The book delves into the compelling role that @narendramodi, then a young RSS Pracharak, played in the fight against Emergency.
Based on first person anecdotes from associates who… pic.twitter.com/rFeg2v6t7n
— BlueKraft Foundation (@BlueKraft) June 25, 2025
The book is a tribute to the grit and resolve of those who fought against the Emergency, refusing to be silenced and working tirelessly to preserve India’s democratic framework.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the imposition of an Emergency, which was enacted by former PM Indira Gandhi at midnight on June 25, 1975. The emergency lasted for 21 months until March 21, 1977.
Just 13 days before the Emergency, the Allahabad High Court nullified the election of Indira Gandhi from her Rae Bareli constituency. Subsequently, Emergency proclamations were issued under Article 352, citing ‘internal unrest.’
Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of the Allahabad High Court found Prime Minister Indira Gandhi guilty under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and disqualified her from holding any elected office for six years. Raj Narain, the founder of the Janata Party (Secular), filed the case. The party eventually merged with the Janata Dal. Narain lost to former PM Gandhi from her Rae Bareli seat.
Freedom of the press and speech were curtailed, among other rights, and multiple opposition leaders, including Jayaprakash Narayan, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, and others, were arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). According to an official statement by the central government, nearly 35 thousand people were detained under MISA.
Multiple laws and constitutional amendments were also passed, which curtailed the powers of the courts, along with enacting pre-censorship in media, and a sterilisation campaign of lakhs of people, among other things.
