These oppressive measures under the Emergency were accompanied by Indira Gandhi's announcement of a `twenty-point programme' - claiming to improve the lot of the poor.

Under the Emergency rules, workers were denied the right to strike. But the industrialists were given a free hand to dismiss employees. They laid off about 500,000 workers within six months after the declaration of Emergency. Anti-working class ordinances were issued curtailing the workers' minimum bonus from 8.33 per cent of the earnings to 4 per cent. It was not surprising therefore that the Indian industrialists at home, as well as the World Bank abroad, applauded these Emergency measures of the Indira Gandhi government.

This is a classical example of how vicious politicians have played with the constitution and the law to satisfy their own selfish interests.

"a grave emergency exists whereby the security of India is threatened by internal disturbances'

It is important to understand what the events were in the Indian history that led to the emergency.

"Rising prices fall in the supply of essential commodities, unemployment, and more importantly, corruption in government administration."

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.