Peter DeSouza (African Centre for Epistemology and Philosophy of Science (ACEPS), University of Johannesburg)
Why did Mrs. Gandhi impose the Emergency, and why did she lift it? Revisiting the Indian Emergency of 1975
Event Details
Date
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Time
12-1 p.m.
Location
Description
2025 is the 50th anniversary of perhaps a dark (if not the darkest) period of India's democratic journey. On June 25 1975 Mrs Gandhi imposed an internal Emergency when civil liberties and democratic rights were suspended and when even the writ of Habeas Corpus was unavailable. The Supreme Court of India endorsed this suspension. 50 years on, in addition to seeing the Emergency as a historical event, we discuss this as an important diagnostic moment which tells us a great deal.
Cost
Free
Contact
Accessibility
We value inclusion and access for all participants and are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations for this event. Please call 608-262-4884 or email info@southasia.wisc.edu to make a disability-related accommodation request. Requests should be made by Thursday, February 5, 2026, though reasonable effort will be made to support late accommodation requests.