Gul Raza

Ms. Raza plans to investigate India s 1975 s state of emergency as a lens for understanding contemporary difficulties in balancing civil liberties and national security. When Indira Ghandi declared a state of emergency on June 26, 1975 many interpreted her actions as a desperate attempt to maintain power in the face of the invalidation of her recent election. Ms. Raza hopes to use primary sources to research the events leading up to, and implications of this 19 month period. She hopes particularly to investigate the gross suspension of civil liberties. Her research has important value in understanding challenges which face India today, including the enactment of the Prevention of Terrorism Act which is uncomfortably reminiscent of some of Ghandi s measures.