Middle Life:
After her mother’s death in 1936 Indira concentrated more on her academics and enrolled at Somerville College, Oxford University, in England and also at Santiniketan University. She got married to Feroze Gandhi in 1942 despite objections from both families. Feroze established himself as a lawyer and a newspaper executive. He got elected as an independent Member of Parliament but shortly after both Indira and Feroze were put behind bars because of their political protests against the British. Feroze died in 1960 and Rajiv and Sanjay were their two sons.
Indira remained unnoticed for many years as the power quotient had shifted. But the sudden death of Lal Bahadur Shastri left the stage of power vacant. In a country like India a woman was not expected to hold the reins of power but the Congress party pushed Indira as a rightful candidate for the important position. There were divisions inside the parliament with socialist parties and Morarji Desai’s right wing neither winning a clear majority. Amidst all this confusion and chaos Indira Gandhi’s name was suggested as it was expected that only the son or daughter of a Nehru or Gandhi could take India ahead on the road to progress.