India (Commonwealth Union)_ On the 50th anniversary of the Emergency declared in 1975 by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a new book titled ‘The Emergency Diaries—Years that Forged a Leader.’ The book, published by BlueKraft Digital Foundation, highlights the underground role played by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 21-month period of suspended democracy. The launch took place in the national capital on a day the BJP now marks as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day), referring to the Emergency as a dark period in India’s democratic journey. The event was attended by senior political leaders, including Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
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Speaking at the event, Amit Shah described the Emergency as “one of the darkest chapters in Indian democracy.” He explained how the book offers insights into Modi’s life as a 25-year-old worker with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), who went underground to oppose the Emergency. Shah said Modi lived in hiding, often changing disguises to avoid arrest. “He dressed up as a saint, a Sikh, a hippie, even as an incense stick seller and newspaper vendor to continue spreading information and build support,” Shah said. “He distributed underground publications, connected with students and women, and supported families of those detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).”
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Shah claimed that the emergency was declared not for national security but to preserve dynastic control and silence opposition. He noted that Modi’s actions during that time laid the foundation for his democratic ideals. “That young man who stood against dictatorship is now the one leading the country, strengthening its democratic roots,” he added. Additionally, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also addressed the gathering. He said June 25 serves as a reminder of how civil liberties were suspended and how press freedom was crushed. “All four pillars of democracy—judiciary, legislature, executive, and media—came under attack,” he said. He added that remembering this period is vital to protect future generations from similar threats.
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Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi shared a message on social media, recalling his time as a young RSS volunteer during the Emergency. He said the anti-Emergency movement shaped his political journey and was a period of learning. He also called on those who lived through the Emergency era or had family members affected by it to share their stories online. “It’s important that the youth understand what happened during those 21 months,” Modi said. “By telling these stories, we preserve the truth and ensure such a period is never repeated,” he added. Modi also paid tribute to those who fought to restore democracy. “It was the strength of their struggle that forced the Congress government to lift the Emergency and call for fresh elections—which they lost badly,” he said.
The book has five chapters, covering media censorship, political repression, the role of the Sangh and Jana Sangh, personal stories from the time, and how public resistance brought back democratic governance. Amit Shah said the goal of the book is not just to document history but to ensure that the next generation remembers the sacrifices made to protect democracy. “Young people must know what dictatorship looks like and how it was defeated,” he said. Furthermore, the book ‘The Emergency Diaries—Years that Forged a Leader’ is now available for sale. The Emergency was declared on June 25, 1975, when the government cited threats to national security, economic instability, and civil unrest. It led to the suspension of fundamental rights and halted legal processes. The Emergency ended in 1977, and in the elections that followed, the Congress party was defeated, and the Janata Party came to power.
