Born on 19 November 1917, Indira Gandhi was the only child of independent India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Being part of a political family, she enjoyed the privilege of understanding and navigating the complexities of International politics and diplomacy in the company of some of the great world leaders of the time. Indira grew up into a hard headed and highly intelligent young woman with excellent education.

Indira stepped in active politics after serving her father as a hostess for a considerable time in 1960, when she was elected the President of Indian National Congress. Succeeding the death of her father's successor as prime minister Lal Bahadur Shashtri in 1966, Indira was appointed to the post of Prime Minister, thus becoming the first female De facto head Of India. She was quick to display her leadership prowess during her first term in office. Leading with a strong hand, she was unhesitant in bringing about reforms in agriculture and banking other that bringing proposal to abolish Privy Purses, which weighed heavily on Indian exchequer increasing Government's revenue deficit, without succumbing to any pressure..