The coming together of opposition parties and pressure groups to challenge a government is not new to Indian politics. In many ways, the political situation we are witnessing today reminds us of the events of 1975, when opposition parties and different ideological groups united against the government of the then Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi.
At the time, Mrs. Gandhi was increasingly accused of centralising power and taking key decisions through a close circle of advisers, often referred to as her kitchen cabinet. As opposition to her government grew, the situation took a dramatic turn. On 25 June 1975, a National Emergency was declared under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution. It continued until 21 March 1977.
The consequences were severe. Civil liberties were curtailed, freedom of speech and expression came under restrictions, and the press faced strict censorship. More than a lakh political opponents, journalists and activists were arrested, including prominent leaders such as Jayaprakash Narayan and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
For 21 months, the country witnessed widespread restrictions and serious excesses against individuals, organisations and political parties. The experience left a deep scar on Indian democracy and is often remembered as one of the darkest periods in independent India's history.
Yet, amidst this darkness, something remarkable happened. People with completely different ideologies came together to defend democracy. The RSS, represented by its saffron flag, and the Socialists, despite their fundamental ideological differences, found themselves on the same side of the struggle. Differences did not disappear, but a larger purpose brought them together. Their karyakartas worked together, often meeting secretly to avoid arrest and continuing their efforts despite the risks.
There is a story from this period that beautifully captures the spirit of those times.
During one such secret meeting, Shri Dattopant Thengadi, a well-known RSS ideologue, and Shri S. M. Joshi, a prominent Socialist leader, were present. The atmosphere was grim. Repression was at its peak, and many people were beginning to lose hope. The end of this dark period seemed nowhere in sight.
In that moment, S. M. Joshi asked Dattopant ji, “Are you not worried?”
Dattopant ji calmly replied, “Worried about what?”
SM Joshi explained that he was worried about the prevailing situation, the future of the people of Bharat and the fate of democracy.
Dattopant ji's response was striking. He said, in essence, that he was not worried about whether this difficult period would end. He was confident that it would. What concerned him was the work that still needed to be done.
He had been entrusted with some material that needed to be taken to Mumbai, reproduced using a cyclostyle machine—a common method of duplicating documents in those days—and distributed. That was his responsibility, and he was focused on ensuring that it was completed.
The larger message was simple yet powerful: do not become so overwhelmed by the situation around you that you forget the responsibility entrusted to you.
This story offers a valuable lesson for all of us, even today.
There will always be situations that disturb us, challenge our beliefs, create uncertainty or leave us frustrated. We may not agree with everything happening around us, and we may not have the power to change the larger situation immediately. But we can always reflect on one important question: What is my role, and what do I need to do?
Every large organisation, every movement and every society functions because individuals perform their respective responsibilities. A machine works only when its individual components do their job. Similarly, meaningful change becomes possible when each of us remains committed to the work we are responsible for.
We cannot always control the circumstances, the decisions of others or the pace at which things change. But we can control our own actions, our commitment and the quality of our work.
So, when the situation around you becomes difficult, don't let frustration consume your energy. Don't spend all your time worrying about things beyond your control. Take a step back, understand your responsibility and focus on what you can contribute.
Stay calm. Stay focused. Keep performing the tasks entrusted to you.
Sometimes, the best way to overcome a difficult situation is not to worry endlessly about when it will end, but to keep doing your part until it does.
