Notes: Post Independence - 4 | Post Independence History for UPSC Mains PDF Download

Other Early Political Developments and Opposition Parties

• One of the most important parties that emerged was Socialist Party which was born in 1934 as Congress Socialist Party as a part of Congress, but with its own constitution and ideology. 
• Many of its leaders were of tall stature like - Acharya Narendra Dev, Jayprakash Narayan, Achyut Patwardhan, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, S M Joshi etc. 
• Due to ideological differences, its members even didn't participate in constituent assembly and also opposed partition. It parted ways with Congress in 1948 after Congress put precondition that its no member will be part of any other party which has a separate constitution and its differences with Congress leaders whom it wanted to have a definite program and ideological commitment to socialism. 
• However, it could not achieve great political success immediately after independence as Congress herself pursued socialist agenda and Socialist remained opposed to whatever Congress did.
• Another dissident group from Congress led by J B Kriplani formed Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party claiming to be Gandhian. T Prakasam was another eminent leader of the party. 
• However, party didn't fair well in elections. It merged with Socialist Party after first general elections to form a new party Praja Socialist Party (PSP), but it couldn't remain cohesive and was marred by ideological difference and many of its leaders gradually left, renounced politics or were expelled. 
• Jayprakash left in 1954 to focus on Bhoodan and other constructive activities. In 1957, he even declared that party democracy is not suitable for India and instead, there should be 'partyless democracy' in India. 
• T Prakasam, Ashok Mehta etc also defected to Congress. The party virtually lost any significance soon as its electoral performance remained poor.
• Lohia formed Socialist Party and took a militant approach and resorted to strikes, agitations, civil disobedience etc and had an anti-Congress, anti-Nehru agenda. Main agendas were immediate substitution of English with Hindi and 60% reservation for women, SCs, STs and other backward sections. It again merged with PSP and subsequently lost its identity.
• Communist Party of India was also a part of Congress since 1934, but later parted ways in 1945 and had remarkable growth a few years before. It had an advantage in terms of party organization as it had a very strong disciplined cadre and presence at ground level among peasants, workers etc. 
• Earlier it supported Indian cause, but later under Soviet influence declared Indian independence as a lie (ye azaadi jhoothi hai), declared Congress as a party of feudalists, the constitution as a charter of slavery and they launched an armed struggle. 
• It decided to continue the struggle in Telangana against Nizam which had been going since 1946 and even directed it against Indian government also tried to call a railway strike in 1949 and a host of other terrorist activities and as a result of which it was also banned for some time. 
• It soon declared that masses are not ready for revolution and decided to participate in electoral politics where it performed well and emerged as largest opposition party in first general elections. 
• It emerged as a force to reckon with in Bengal, kerala and Andhra and even formed first democratically elected communist government in the world when it won elections of Kerala Assembly in 1957 and by this time had also recognized independence of India. 
• It too like socialists suffered from internal feud over its future approach in India. Differences merged sharply during Chinese attack in 1962, Russia-China differences. 
• China further fueled differences when it gave an international call to CPI members to split from those supporting Soviet line. It finally got split in 1964 into CPI and Marxist CPM. 
• CPM was more radical in its approach and envisaged an armed revolution at suitable future time and till then work under constitutional framework. 
• Both formed government in Kerala, Tripura and Bengal at times. The party failed to appreciate the nature of Indian nationalism fully and its internal organization, which was bureaucratic and secretive, made it unsuitable for working in a democratic setup.
• CPM formed government in Bengal in Coalition with Bengal Congress under leadership of Jyoti Basu and it created rift in leadership. 
• A faction of party, especially younger cadre influenced by ongoing cultural revolution in China, accused party of betraying the revolution and instead asked to go for armed insurrection to alleviate the sufferings of poor peasantry and later spreading to whole country. 
• Starting was made form Naxalbari area of West Bengal in which a peasant uprising was launched. As a result, CPM leadership expelled the revolutionaries accusing them of spreading left-wing-adventurism. 
• This breakaway faction came to be known as Naxalites. It also attracted middle class intelligentsia and college youth. CPM (Leninist) was formed in 1969 under leadership of Charu Mazumdar and it called Indian democracy a sham and instead launched Guerilla attacks on Chinese model and they even declared Chinese president Mao Ze Dong as their Chairman as well and received political and ideological support also from China. 
• The attempt was made with repression from Indian government and as a result, the movement was largely suppressed and Maoists were divided into various splinter groups. Decline of cultural revolution in China and change in leadership in China also led to their further decline.
• Jan Sangh was founded as a Hindu communalist party, but didn't openly pursued it as communalism was in very bad taste after death of Mahtma Gandhi. It was a political front of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), which itself was founded in 1925 on militaristic lines. 
• Growth of communal politics in 1940s helped its growth. Golwalkar termed Congressmen as traitor and termed India as a Hindu nation and exhorted others to either follow Hindu culture or remain subservient to it. It strongly criticized secular parties of Muslim appeasement. 
• It was strongly anti-Pakistan in ideology and after partition even doled out rhetoric of re-uniting Indian subcontinent again as ‘Akhand Bharat'. It was also banned in aftermaths of assassination of Gandhiji. The ban was lifted after RSS gave a written undertaking that it would no longer indulge in political activities and as a result Jan Sangh emerged as its front organization in 1951 with Shyama Prasad Mukharjee as its first president. 
• Later party also propagated planning, neo­liberal, neo-socialistic programs and even inducted Muslims in its fold. It merged into Janta Party in 1977 an its anti-Pakistan, anti-Muslim and Akhand Bharat slogan were considerably muted and its leaders used the word Hindu Nationalist to define themselves which was in fact a euphemism for Hindu Communalism.
• Swatantra Partywas perhaps the first all India-secular conservative party which came in existence in 1959 as a reaction to increasing leftist policies of Congress and its most of the members were Congress old timers like C Rajagopalachari, Minoo Masani, N G Ranga and K M Munshi. 
• It was an attempt to bring together the fragmented right wing forces together. It stood for free, private enterprise and opposed the active role of the state in economic development. 
• It had a very narrow social base consisting of some Industrializts and capitalist, princes, jagirdars, rich landlords, rich farmers etc who were fed up of socialistic agenda and controlling mindset of government. 
• It also wanted to radically restrict the role of centralized planning and the role of public sector, as also state regulation. It also vouched for right to property and opposed any ceiling on land-holdings. It accused Nehru of toeing the blind ideological line of Communism and hence taking India to ruins. 
• On foreign relations front, it opposed non-alignment and instead called for allegiance to the US. In 1962 elections it didn't fair too badly and emerged as largest opposition party in 4 states. 
• It declined after death of C Rajagopalachari's death in 1967. When Congress got split in 1969, the reason for existence of Swatantra Party as a separate right wing party also disappeared as Congress (O) was much more right winged.

Shortcomings of Nehruvian Era

• Nehru didn't create many institutional and structural mechanisms to mobilize masses and he primarily used his charisma to get things done. People didn't participate in politics greatly except in taking parts in elections.
• Bureaucracy and administrative structure also remained unreformed. He also overlooked emerging evils like corruption, bureaucratization etc.
• On social front as well no great measures were taken evils like caste system, male dominance etc.
• Other areas of neglect which today assumed monstrous proportions. The entire educational system was left untouched and unreformed and could not reach masses. No worthwhile political and ideological struggle was launched against communalism as an ideology. Land reforms could also not be implemented properly and so failed CDP leading to enhancement of already existing inequalities.

Shastri Era

• Nehru died without naming a political heir and dissension and factionalism had become a part of Congress. Major contenders of PM post were Morarji Desai - a honest sound administrator, but unpopular for being self-righteous, inflexible and even right winger; and Lal Bahdur Shastri - a mild, tactful, likeable and personally incorruptible. 
• The succession happened under a group formed in 1963 collectively known as Syndicate headed by K Kamraj the then party president, S K Patil, Neelam Sanjeev Reddy etc. They didn't wanted Desai to be PM for his apparent unpopularity and after internal discussions, Desai gracefully backed out and Shastri was made PM within one week of Nehru's death.
• Shastri showed less interest in party activities and even provided greater autonomy to cabinet. He, however, had a slack attitude regarding various problems like language issue, Punjabi suba demand and Goa merger which took a bad shape over time and he was even accused of indecisiveness. 
• Indian economy was also stagnated at that time and there was severe food insecurity due to draught in 1965. The US also suspended food aid in wake of Pakistan war. One positive development was initiation of Green Revolution. 
• With time, Shastri also got hand of administration and India was one of the first countries to criticize the US bombing of North Vietnam. He also setup his own secretariat and named it as PMO which emerged as parallel cabinet during Indira Gandhi's time.
• However, the real moment of reckoning for Shastri came during war with Pakistan in August 2015. Kashmir issue was still simmering and calculating that India must have weakened after 1962 war with China, Pakistan having recently acquired some sophisticated weaponry from the US started a teaser war in marshy area of Kuchh which Indian army could not handle so well due to terrain issues and matter was ultimately referred to international arbitration. 
• Pakistan took it as a sign of Indian weakness and under-preparedness and launched an all out infiltration in Kashmir. Shastri took a bold step and ordered army to even cross LoC and seal the various passes and occupy strategic peaks like Uri, Kargil, Haji Pir etc. Unlike 1962, entire country was standing united behind Indian army and leadership.
• China made threatening noises and declared India as aggressor, though Soviet sympathized with India and restrained China from taking any adverse steps. Western powers also condemned this undeclared war and cut supplies to both the countries. War was inconclusive with both sides having notions of victory. 
• However, result was that infiltration bid of Pakistan had been foiled. India's lost pride in Chinese war also regained to great extent. Kashmiris also didn't sided with Pakistani forces and it proved a test of Indian secularism in which it came with flying colours. 
• A ceasefire was declared and under mediation of Soviet leadership, Shastri met General Ayub Khan, the Pakistani president to sign Tashkent Declaration. Under this agreement, both sides agreed to withdraw from their respective occupied positions and return to pre-war positions. 
• India has to return certain strategic peaks like Haji Pir to avert heartburn and a future conflict with Pakistan. Shastri had a history of heart trouble and died in Tashkent of a sudden stroke.

Indira Era

• Morarji Desai again laid his claim after death of Shastri and this time also Syndicate was in no mood of allowing him to become PM and instead made Indira a choice. This time, matters were not to be decided by consensus as Desai insisted for a vote in part in which Indira emerged as a clear winner. 
• She inherited many problems like - demand for Punjabi suba, unrest among Mizos and Naga which she deal with effectively. However, situation on economic front was poor. Rains have again failed in 1966, inflation was acute and food shortage grave. 
• Two back to back wars had eaten into funds and military expenses were high which affected planning process adversely. Indira Gandhi launched a war-like effort to deal with famine and food insecurity. At that time India was heavily dependent upon PL-480 program of the US to import wheat for food security.
• She also took a bold, but controversial step of devaluation of Indian currency by 35% to boost Indian exports and make India as an investment destination more attractive. India, US and UK had also stopped aid in wake of Indo-Pak war and were now demanding to devaluate rupee if such aid were to be resumed. However, neither aid resumed significantly, nor capital inflow increased. The step was seen as buckling under foreign pressure and Congress leaders like Kamraj also criticized it as a decision taken without due consultation with party members in an election year.
• Indira Gandhi also tried to bolster ties with US and visited US. Lyndon Johnson postured to help India out and promised resumption of PL-480 program, but the US sent shipments in small installments to show its resentment to India's criticism of Vietnam War. India felt humiliated with this 'ship-to-mouth' approach of the US. India now decided to strengthen food security by enhancing indigenous production through 'Green revolution' and India made it in her mind to never be too dependent on the US and later Indira also openly condemned US aggression in Vietnam. 
• India instead developed close relations with Naseer of Egypt and Tito of Yugoslavia and re-focused on non-alignment apart from pursuing good relations with the USSR.
• Domstically, 1966 was an year of turmoil as due to food shortage, inflation was galloping, unemployment was rising and economic conditions were bad. Agitations and protests were also on rise. Bandhs were a new feature of protest. The year also saw downgrade of Parliament as an institution and it as frequently marred by indiscipline, disturbances and so on. 
• The young PM was shown little courtesy and was termed 'goongi gudiya' by Lohia. Within Congress also dissent and factionalism was on the rise and Syndicate led by Kamraj wanted to have greater say in working of the government.
• Elections were scheduled to be held in 1967 and people were hugely disenchanted with Congress, but had little other choice. Syndicate dominated in ticket distribution leading to great dissent among others. 
• In this election, opposition parties united for the first time irrespective of their ideologies. Communal Jan Sangh joined hand with socialist Lohia group which in turn joined hands with rightist Swatantra Party. 
• Election results led to big decline in Congress seats, though it won majority in Lok Sabha, but situation in state assembly was not good and it lost majority in 8 states. This was also a blow to Syndicate as stalwarts like K Kamraj, S K Patil lost elections and so did many of their close supporters and Syndicate was cut to its size, only big challenge in party was in form of Morarji Desai who was made deputy prime minister. 
• This time was also a test of Indian federalism which she passed successful as situation remained more or less same in terms of administrative relations between center and state. This election also highlighted the important position of rich peasants of North India who were upset by government policies regarding food procurement etc and they played a decisive role in defeat of Congress in the North. 
• The elections also heralded a new era of coalitions and defections and unstable governments. States like Bihar had 7 governments from 1967-70 and there had been 8 instances of presidential rule in 7 states. 
• Defection phenomenon started from Haryana which marked beginning of Aya Ram, Gaya Ram politics. It could be checked only in 1986, with passage of Anti Defection legislation.
• Congress was split in 1969. Some of the Syndicate members like K Kamraj, S K Patil won by­elections and joined hands with their old foe Morarji Desai to reassert party say in government working. 
• After poor performance in 1967 polls, party was I a dilemma over future course of action and party launched 'Ten Point Program' in 1967 as a part of its socialist agenda and it comprised nationalization of banks and general insurance, state trading in imports and export of trade, ceiling on urban property, ceiling on urban property and income, curb on monopolies, public distribution of food grains, rapid implementation of land reforms, house site for the poor and abolition of princely privileges. 
• It also provoked rightist among Congress like Morarji Desai and the then president Nijalingappa. Differences between Syndicate and Indira grew and Syndicate hatched plans in 1969 to dislodge Indira as PM, but Indira Gandhi still adopted a cautious approach. 
• Death of President Zakir Hussain in 1969 precipitated events as Syndicate wanted to have their own man in the office and nominated Sanjeeva Reddy - a member of Syndicate. Indira now decided to put her feet down and took away finance portfolio from Desai and assumed this role herself. 
• Immediately she decided nationalization of 14 banks and withdrawal of privileges from princes. These moves became very popular among masses and left parties. 
• In presidential elections also she didn't issue a whip and instead called party workers to vote according to their conscience and as a result, V V Giri, the former vice president and an independent candidate won. 
• A humiliated Syndicate expelled her from party as a disciplinary action and party was divided as - Congress (R) lead by Indira, R standing for requisitionists, and Congress (O) led by Syndicate, O standing for Organization. Over the time, Congress (R) became the Congress which exists today.
• In 1970, the government abolished managing agency system which had enabled a handful of capitalists to control a large number of industrial enterprises in which they had little financial stake. 
• Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act was also passed in 1969 to prevent excessive wealth concentration in hands of a few capitalists. Land ceiling agenda was taken again. 
• She also launched the much delayed 4th plan. However, her party was a minority government and had to face pressures from other parties. On the issue of Supreme Court challenging abolition of Privy Purse of princely states which was done by 24th Constitutional Amendment, she dissolved the Lok Sabha and announced fresh elections. 
• Other parties of heterogeneous ideologies like Jan Sangh, Swatantra Party, Congress (O) formed a 'Grand Alliance' and called for 'Indira Hatao', she countered it with 'Garibi Hatao' which proved more effective and Grand Alliance suffered a major defeat and Indira won majority.
• Almost after swearing in as PM after 1971 elections, Bangladesh Crisis broke out. It was a direct challenge to the Two Nations Theory itself that people of one religion form one nation. Political and economic elites of West Pakistan had dominated the scene and people of East Pakistan had no mechanism to air their grievances as Pakistan had been under military rule for significant period. 
• They through a pavement vented their grievances and called for political democracy and greater autonomy for East Pakistan, but they were suppressed instead. Elections were held by General Yahya Khan in which Bengal's Awami League won 99% seats of East Pakistan and overall majority. 
• But the army and Yahya Khan backed by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto didn't allow him to form government and when Rehman launched a protest movement, he was arrested. It also led to terror of army in form of innocent killings, arrests of intellectuals, rapes, illegal detentions etc in East Pakistan. 
• A large section of East Pakistan police and paramilitary organizations revolted. Many leaders of Awami League escaped to Calcutta and formed there government in exile and organized 'Mukti Bahini' and launched fierce underground movement and guerilla warfare. 
• Hindus and other minorities like Sikhs were special targets and more than 10 lakh refugees had taken refuge in India by that time at a great humanitarian cost to India and it left India with no choice, but to intervene. Pakistan in the meanwhile spread the propaganda that the insurgency had been instigated by India. But India rubbished this claim and supported the cause of people of Bengal.
• Eight months passed before any real fight took place and foreseeing trouble on border, Indian army made full preparations and in the meanwhile Mukti Bahini also gained time to strengthen itself as Indian army provided training to them. 
• This time was also utilized to educate international opinion about burden of refugees on India and gross inhumane behavior of West Pakistan. Indian opinion won support from West as well apart from Soviet and east European Communist countries. 
• The US and China on the other hand adopted a hostile stance and tried to dub the issue as one of Indo-Pakistan rivalry ignoring centrality of plight of Bangladesh. To counter possible interference of the US and China, India also signed a 20 years treaty of peace friendship and cooperation with the USSR in August 1971 and it also provided for mutual help in case of third party military attack. 
• It further strengthened Indian position, but India was still reluctant to make a first move. Pakistan was also increasingly becoming impatient over guerilla attacks of Mukti Bahini and on 3rd December launched an attack on Western front of India through air strikes. 
• India immediately responded by recognizing Bangladesh and it erected strong defense on Western front and also made a swift move in the East forcing Pakistani army to surrender even before the US and China could decide about intervening.
• The US even termed India aggressor and brought two UN resolutions which were vetoed by the USSR and abstained by France and the UK. An irritated US also resorted to gun-boat diplomacy and sent aircraft carrier USS Enterprise to exert pressure on India. 
• But India ignored the US move and Dacca was captured by 16th December within 2 weeks of Pakistan launching attack on Western front and declared unilateral ceasefire on Western front as continuation of war on Western front could have been hazardous for both the sides. Pakistan too accepted the ceasefire and released Mujbir Rehman on 12th January 1972.
• The war was a victory of democracy, humanitarian value and of people of Bangladesh. It also had many gains for India and it was a rejection of Two Nations Theory and re-established India as a regional power. Refugee crisis was also solved significantly as more than 1 crore of them sent back. The war was also a symbol of independence of foreign policy despite the US resistance.
• India still had over 90,000 prisoners of war, had more than 9,000 sq km of foreign land under control and Pakistan had still not recognized Bangladesh. For durable peace a mutually agreed framework was necessary. A hostile Pakistan meant high military expenditure and a possible outside power interference in Indo-Pak relations. 
• As a result, Indira Gandhi and Zulifqar the newly elected Pakistani PM met in Shimla to sign Shimla Agreement in 1972. According to it, India agreed to return the territories occupied by it except a few strategic ones like those in Kargil sector. In return Pakistan agreed to respect LoC and resolve all the matters by mutual agreement without external mediation like from UN, the US etc. India also returned the prisoners of wars and one year later Pakistan also recognized Bangladesh.
• Government also took several steps to implement its left of the center agenda. General insurance and coal industry was nationalized in 1972 Ceiling was also imposed on urban land ownership. MRTP Commission was also appointed in 1971 to implement MRTP Act 1969.
• Many states also passed new land ceiling laws and land re-distribution laws for the landless and the marginal farmers. Cheap food distribution scheme and rural unemployment guarantee scheme was also launched. Financial inclusion program was also launched to increase penetration of banking in rural areas. Planning Commission was also strengthened. 
• Two important Constitutional Amendments were also passed. 24th Amendment to the constitution passed in 1971 restored parliamentary power to amend fundamental rights and 25th Amendment empowered the parliament to decide the amount of compensation to be paid for acquisition of private property. India also achieved success in the field of nuclear power when India conducted an underground nuclear test at Pokharan in 1974 codenamed Smiling Buddha.

The spark came from movements from Gujarat and Bihar. In Gujarat there were angry protests in 1974 over rising prices and situation became so volatile that Central government dismissed state government and imposed president's rule. 

• Inspired by success of Gujarat, student groups in Bihar launched a gherao of Bihar assembly and in clashes with police may died. Unlike Gujarat movement, movement in Bihar grew more strident and innovative. Student groups requested J P Narayan to come out of political retirement and lead the movement against government and as a result, J P Narayan gave a call for 'Total Revolution' or 'Sampoorna Kranti'. 
• He called for non-payment of any taxes, asked legislators to resign and dissolution of assembly which was refused by Indira Gandhi. J P also toured country extensively and he was supported by almost all opposition parties. The movement, however, started to show signs of fatigue by late 1974 and even J P Narayan accepted the challenge of participating in upcoming general elections of 1976.
• Situation took a sudden twist when a June 1975 Judgment of Allahabad High Court on an election petition by Raj Narain - a socialist who had contested against her - declared the election of Indira Gandhi as invalid on account of corrupt practices in election campaign. But Indira Gandhi chose to stay in office and filed an appeal in Supreme Court. 
• In the meanwhile, Gujarat assembly elections result came out in which Janata Party won and Congress was defeated. These developments revived the protest movement and J P once again was at the helm of movement and asked armed forces, bureaucracy and police to refuse to obey orders from above and make functioning of government impossible.

This attempt of a coup d'etat alarmed Indira Gandhi and she declared national emergency on 25th June 1974 (in the same month of Allahabad High Court judgment) even without consulting her cabinet on vague grounds of internal disturbances. He even stressed on city beautification by removing slums. Many laws were passed to undermine democratic values like Defense of India Act, Maintenance of Internal Security Act (Amendment Act) and 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976 changed the very character of constitution and also prohibited judicial review as it was deemed to as an hindrance to enactment of social legislations.

• Initially people didn't feel much pinch of emergency and instead felt relieved as they were tired with everyday disruption of life by movements, bandhs and gheraos. Administration also improved, many anti-social elements were put behind bars and black marketers were also dealt with heavy hand. Government even announced a '20 Point Program' in 1976 for socio-economic upliftment of rural poor and improve the health of economy. 
• However, disillusionment with emergency also came very soon as it didn't improve socio-economic condition and soon became suffocating. Government machinery was also irritated for excessive control and being pushed into performing pet projects of government like forced sterilization. 
• Bureaucracy remained inefficient and corrupt even grew powerful due to lack of fear of criticism from press, MPs, courts, popular movements etc and people now didn't have any way to vent out their grievances. In absence of trustworthy press, rumor market was heated up stoking unknown fears of people.
• Emergency, it seemed for once, had put the very character of Indian democracy in danger and naysayers even predicted that India will now be pushed in the league of other post-colonial failed nations. 
• However, in hindsight we can say that Indian democracy not only survived, but also emerged stronger bearing brunt of J P Movement and National Emergency. In January 1977, Indira Gandhi suddenly announced elections to be held in March and released political prisoners, lifted all form of censorship and other political restrictions. When elections were held, both Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi lost their seats
• J P Movement was historic for its mass mobilization, exposing flaws in governance and highlighting the high handed approach of a democratically elected PM. But it also had many weaknesses. It almost pushed India on the brink of instability and exposed it to external interventions as well. 
• Call for mutiny among armed forces was a dangerous idea from security point of view. It presented a utopian picture of India which raised expectations of masses and gave opportunist political groups to exploit the situation as was evident by joining of diverse ideological parties like Jan Sangh, Jamat-e-Islami, Congress (O) and even Naxalite group. 
• Ideas of 'Total Revolution' and 'Partyless democracy' were vague and difficult to implement. It didn't have an alternative ideology, policy or system and the only agenda was the removal of Indira Gandhi. Further, it used extra-constitutional and undemocratic ways as well and although J P was a peace loving man of integrity, the movement was susceptible of being hijacked by fascist groups. 
• A more pragmatic and democratic approach could have been waiting for the Supreme Court judgment and participating in the upcoming general elections which were just a few months away.
• Declaration of Emergency was not democratic either. Since elections were imminent and country was on boil, Indira Gandhi made a knee jerk decision to announce state of emergency. In doing so, she also undermined many democratic and constitutional values. Like J P Movement she also ignored the option of holding elections.
• After emergency, Shah Commission was appointed by Janata Government to examine the excesses done during Emergency. The investigations by the Shah Commission after the emergency found out, there were many 'excesses' committed during the emergency. 
• The Shah Commission estimated that nearly one lakh eleven thousand people were arrested under preventive detention laws. Bureaucracy worked in a highly 'committed manner' and 'Civil servants, who were merely asked to bend the rules, chose to crawl to ingratiate themselves with their political bosses'. 
• According to the Shah Commission Report, the administration and the police became vulnerable to political pressures. This problem did not vanish after the Emergency.
• It was felt that frequent recourse to agitations, protests and collective action are not good for democracy. Supporters of Indira Gandhi also held that in a democracy, you cannot continuously have extra-parliamentary politics targeting the government. 
• This leads to instability and distracts the administration from its routine task of ensuring development. All energies are diverted to maintenance of law and order. Indira Gandhi wrote in a letter to the Shah Commission that subversive forces were trying to obstruct the progressive programs of the government and were attempting to dislodge her from power through extra-constitutional means. 
• Some other parties, like the CPI that continued to back the Congress during the Emergency. The CPI felt that the agitations led by JP were mainly by the middle classes who were opposed to the radical policies of the Congress party.

On the other hand, others think that if some agitations had over-stepped their limits, the government had enough routine powers to deal with it. There was no need to suspend democratic functioning and use draconian measures like the Emergency for that. The threat was not to the unity and integrity of the country but to the ruling party and to the Prime Minister herself. The critics say that Indira Gandhi misused a constitutional provision meant for saving the country to save her personal power.

The Emergency at once brought out both the weaknesses and the strengths of India's democracy. Lessons of the Emergency can be summarized as -

1. Democratic functioning resumed within a short span of time. Thus, one lesson of Emergency is that it is extremely difficult to do away with democracy in India.
2. Secondly, it brought out some ambiguities regarding the Emergency provision in the Constitution that have been rectified since. Now, 'internal' emergency can be proclaimed only on the grounds of 'armed rebellion' and it is necessary that the advice to the President to proclaim emergency must be given in writing by the Council of Ministers.
3. Thirdly, the Emergency made everyone more aware of the value of civil liberties.
4. The actual implementation of the emergency rule took place through the police and the administration. These institutions could not function independently. They were turned into political instruments of the ruling party and according to the Shah Commission Report, the administration and the police became vulnerable to political pressures. This problem did not vanish after the Emergency.