The last day of Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi was administered 80 bottles of blood after she was shot by her bodyguards 34 years ago.
Iron Lady of India, Indira Gandhi died on October 31 in 1984. She was shot dead by two of her bodyguards. Her words spoken just the previous day at a public rally in Bhubaneswar had turned prophetic.
Indira Gandhi was reading out from a speech prepared by HY Sharada Prasad, her information adviser. Junking the written script for a few moments, Indira Gandhi spoke about the possibility of a violent end to her life.
She said, I am here today, I may not be here tomorrow. Nobody knows how many attempts have been made to shoot me I do not care whether I live or die. I have lived a long life and I am proud that I spend the whole of my life in the service of my people.
By night on October 30, Indira Gandhi was back in New Delhi. It had been a hectic day for her but somehow she could not sleep well that night. Sonia Gandhi has written in her book Rajiv -- that Indira Gandhi was awake till 4 the next morning when she got up looking for her medicine for asthma.
Indira Gandhi asked her daughter-in-law to call her if she needed any help. Gandhi said that she was awake.
Indira Gandhi had a busy day planned
She had to shoot for English documentary maker Peter Alexander Ustinov, who was with her the previous day in Bhubaneswar. The first official appointment on October 31 had been made in the name of Peter Ustinov.
Later in the day, Indira Gandhi was to meet James Callaghan, former prime minister of Britain. He was succeeded by Margaret Thatcher, who was the prime minister of Britain when Indira Gandhi was assassinated in 1984.
In the evening, Indira Gandhi was to host a dinner for British princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II.
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The last walk
Indira Gandhi was ready for the interview with Peter Ustinov by 7.30 in the morning. She had toasts, orange juice, eggs and some cereals for breakfast. She was wearing a saffron saree with a black border for the documentary shoot. She had applied make up for the shoot.
Dr KP Mathur reached her residence at 1 Safdarjung Road after she had finished breakfast. Dr Mathur checked Indira Gandhi’s health every morning. Peter Ustinov was waiting for Indira Gandhi at the Prime Minister’s Office, then located at 1 Akbar Road adjacent to her residence.
At 9.10 am, Indira Gandhi left her residence for the PMO. She was walking down to 1 Akbar Road. Indira Gandhi was accompanied by constable Narayan Singh, personal security officer Rameshwar Dayal and personal secretary RK Dhawan -- the veteran Congress leader who died in August this year.
And, Indira Gandhi was shot
When Indira Gandhi reached the gates of 1 Akbar Road, she was in conversation with RK Dhawan, Narayan Singh was carrying a black umbrella to protect her from the early winter sun. Suddenly, one of her bodyguards, Beant Singh fired at her from his revolver. The bullet hit her in the abdomen. Beant Singh fired two more bullets into her chest.
Another assailant, Satwant Singh was standing nearby holding his carbine when Beant Singh shouted at him to fire at Indira Gandhi. Satwant Singh soon emptied all 25 bullets, most of them piercing Indira Gandhi’s body. Rameshwar Dayal was also hit and fell.
RK Dhawan and a police officer, Dinesh Bhatt carried Indira Gandhi to her Ambassador car. Her political secretary Makhanlal Fotedar was also there. As they started for AIIMS hospital, Sonia Gandhi came running shouting mummy, mummy. They all took Indira Gandhi to AIIMS, which was not yet informed about the incident and hence, there was no preparation to deal with the emergency.
Indira Gandhi reached AIIMS at 9.32 am. It took some time before everything could be put in place and doctors began their procedure. Indira Gandhi had been shot more than 25 times but her heart was intact.
Doctors tried for close to five hours and administered 80 bottles of blood before declaring Indira Gandhi dead at 2.23 pm. Information on Indira Gandhi’s death was withheld for hours before BBC Radio broke it.
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