The former prime minister was often only seen as a photograph or portrait at a government office. Now she’s everywhere.

After Independence, as India took baby steps towards democracy, it was through One Nation, One Election in 1951-52. Elections for state assemblies were held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha election.

Former US President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger infamously called former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi an ‘old witch’. This was shortly after a taped ...