Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has called on Indians to look beyond mere condemnation of the Emergency and instead understand its deeper lessons, warning that some of its dangerous tendencies may still reappear in new forms.

In a reflective article published in the Malayalam daily Deepika, Tharoor addressed the legacy of the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977. While acknowledging it as a dark period, Tharoor noted that the Emergency should not be remembered simply as an episode of repression, but as a crucial warning for all democracies.

“Let it serve as a lasting reminder to people everywhere,” Tharoor wrote, noting that democracy is a fragile treasure, not to be taken for granted.

In his article, the Congress Working Committee member did not shy away from acknowledging the excesses of the time. He pointed to the actions of Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi’s son, who led the infamous forced sterilisation campaigns. These campaigns, he wrote, were ruthlessly executed, especially in poor rural areas, where violence and coercion were used to meet arbitrary population control targets.

Tharoor also condemned the demolition of slums in cities like New Delhi, which were undertaken in the name of urban development. He wrote that these actions rendered thousands homeless, carried out with no concern for the welfare of those affected.

“Efforts undertaken for discipline and order often turned into acts of cruelty that could not be justified,” he stated.

However, Tharoor’s focus was not on the past alone. Drawing a contrast with present-day India, he observed that today’s India is not the India of 1975. The country has made progress, becoming more confident, more developed, and in many ways, a stronger democracy.

Yet, he cautioned that the centralisation of power, suppression of dissent, and bypassing of constitutional safeguards — hallmarks of the Emergency — may still resurface, cloaked in modern rationales.

“Often, such tendencies may be justified in the name of national interest or stability. In this sense, the Emergency stands as a strong warning,” he added.

Tharoor emphasised that the responsibility to protect democracy lies with its people. He urged all citizens, especially those in power, to remain vigilant against the misuse of authority.