Indira Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917, to Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru in Allahabad, India. Her father was a leading freedom fighter and was the first Prime Minister of Independent India.
On January 14, 1980, Indira Gandhi was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for the second time.
Indira Gandhi believed education was key to nation-building and social equality. Her government supported the National Policy on Education (1968), which aimed to improve access to education for all children, promote science and technology education, and reduce disparities between urban and rural education. The policy called for the provision of compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14, as stipulated by the Constitution of India and specialised training and qualification of teachers.The policy emphasised on the learning of regional languages, outlining the "three language formula" to be implemented in secondary education - the instruction of the English language, the official language of the state where the school was based, and Hindi. Language education was seen as essential to reduce the gap between the intelligentsia and the masses. The policy called for the use and learning of Hindi to be encouraged uniformly to promote a common language for all Indians.The policy also encouraged the teaching of the ancient Sanskrit language, which was considered an essential part of India's culture and heritage.
She encouraged the development of institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to produce skilled professionals.
The 20-Point Program focused on 20 key areas: controlling prices of essential commodities, eliminating bonded labour, land reforms, irrigation, drinking water, health, housing, education, and employment. The initiative increased agricultural and industrial production, improved public services, and cracked down on tax evaders and black marketers, raising the standard of living for millions.
Education was prioritized under the 20-Point Program, which expanded the number of schools to promote primary and secondary education in rural areas. She particularly emphasized girls' education and enacted policies to expand educational opportunities for women, such as the Equal Remuneration Act of 1976, which also promoted gender equality in education.
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), named after her in 1985, reflects her vision for education, although it occurred after her death. Technical education was also promoted during her tenure, with support for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other technical institutions. Her efforts in education increased literacy rates in rural India and strengthened social inclusion.
Her famous publications include ‘The Years of Challenge’ (1966-69), ‘The Years of Endeavour’ (1969-72), ‘India’ (London) in 1975; ‘Inde’ (Lausanne) in 1979 and numerous other collections of speeches and writings.
