Indomitable courage, visionary leadership: Congress hails Indira Gandhi on death anniversary

Rahul Gandhi, along with several Congress leaders, also paid homage to her at the ‘Indira Gandhi Memorial’ at 1 Safdarjung Road, the residence of the former Prime Minister. File

The Congress on Saturday (October 31, 2026) hailed former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, saying she was a "symbol of indomitable courage, unwavering resolve and visionary leadership".

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi paid floral tributes to India's only woman Prime Minister at her memorial, Shakti Sthal, here.

Mr. Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with several Congress leaders, also paid homage to her at the 'Indira Gandhi Memorial' at 1 Safdarjung Road, the residence of the former Prime Minister.

To pay tribute to his grandmother, Rahul Gandhi shared a Sanskrit shloka she had taught him.

"Sitting on your lap. Holding both your hands. Listening to your voice say these words. Repeating them after you. Asato maa sadgamaya, tamaso maa jyotirgamaya, mrityor maa amritam gamaya (Lead me from untruth to truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality). OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. What a beautiful gift you gave me Dadi. What a gift. I never imagined."

Mr. Kharge hailed Indira Gandhi as a symbol of indomitable courage, unwavering resolve and visionary leadership. He said her immense contributions to building a strong and progressive India remain an enduring legacy.

"Her supreme sacrifice for the unity and integrity of our nation will forever be etched in our collective memory," Mr. Kharge said in a post on X in Hindi.

In another post, he shared a quote of Indira Gandhi and said she was an "eternal source of inspiration".

"Her dedication to safeguarding the unity, integrity, and honour of the nation, and her invaluable contribution to the making of modern India, will forever remain alive in our national consciousness," he said. "Her courage is our inspiration, her sacrifice our indelible memory," he added.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also hailed her grandmother and former Prime Minister.

"What a beautiful woman she was! Free as the sky, deep as the ocean, resilient as the earth and brighter than fire," Ms. Vadra said.

The Congress, from its official handle, said, "On the death anniversary of India's first woman Prime Minister, a symbol of indomitable courage and willpower, Smt. Indira Gandhi ji, humble tribute."

Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her bodyguards in New Delhi on October 31, 1984. She was born on November 19, 1917.