Indira Gandhi’s birth anniversary: Rare photos of the ‘Iron Lady’

Today marks the 101st birth anniversary of India’s first and only female prime minister Indira Gandhi. In Pic: Former PM Indira Gandhi addressing the nation from the Doordarshan studio during Emergency on August, 1975. (Express archive photo)

Being the only child of Jawaharlal Nehru, who was a leading figure in India’s political struggling, Gandhi grew up with her mother Kamala Nehru at Anand Bhavan in Allahabad. (Express archive photo)

Born as Indira Nehru in a Kashmiri Pandit family on November 19, 1917, she was assassinated by Sikh nationalists in 1984. In pic: Indira Gandhi with her son and father Jawaharlal Nehru (Express Archive)

Being the second longest-serving Indian prime minister after her father, Gandhi served as prime minister from January 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980. (Express archive photo)

Indira was appointed the president of the Congress in 1959 and served as prime minister of the country from 1966 to 1977. She lost power soon after the period of Emergency (1975-77) after national discontent and countrywide protests. In pic: Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru with Indira Gandhi at the Red Square in Moscow. (Express archive photo)

After returning to power in 1980, she ordered the storming of the Sikh holy shrine Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, which led to her assassination. (Express archive photo)

Indira Gandhi went to war with Pakistan supporting the independence movement in East Pakistan leading to the formation of Bangladesh. In pic: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Charles Duke of Edinburg being received by Giani Zail Singh and Indira Gandhi. (Express archive photo by S Paul)

Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi along with sons Rajiv Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi and daughter-in-law Sonia Gandhi with grandchildren Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. (Express archive photo)

Her younger son, Sanjay Gandhi, who was rumoured to succeed Indira Gandhi, died in a horrific plane crash in 1980. (Express archive photo)

Her elder son Rajiv Gandhi became the youngest Prime Minister of India at the age of 40. While campaigning for the general elections in 1991, he was assassinated by an LTTE suicide bomber. In Pic: Congress leader Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. (Express archive photo)

Indira Gandhi was awarded several honours, including India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, after India’s victory against Pakistan in the 1971 war. In Pic: Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with Mother Teresa. (Express archive photo)