'Interview on the day Emergency was revoked': EAM Jaishankar recalls UPSC journey - Here's what he was asked
"My interview was on March 21, 1977. That was the day the Emergency was revoked. Revoked! So, I go in for an interview at Shahjahan Road... First person that morning," PTI quoted Jaishankar as saying at an event.
During his interview, he was asked about the historic election result. In that moment, Jaishankar, who was then 22, recalled, his passion took over. "We had taken part in the 1977 election campaign. We had all gone there and worked for the defeat of the Emergency," he said, adding, "I forgot I was in an interview", and at that moment, "my communication skills somehow came together."
Jaishankar's two key lessons
The experience, he said, left him with two lasting impressions. First, the importance of clear and tactful communication under pressure, explaining political shifts to interviewers who may have been sympathetic to the establishment, without offending them. Second, he realized how even well-informed individuals in power could be disconnected from the public mood, terming it "Lutyens' bubble".
"These people were really shocked, they could not believe that this election result had happened, whereas for us, the ordinary students, we could see that there was a wave against the Emergency," he recalled.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched
Seeking Alpha
Read More
Undo
"How do you persuade, how do you explain. This was one carry-away. The second carry-away was that important people may be living in a bubble and not realising what is happening in the country," he said.
About a month ago, the PM Modi government commemorated 50 years since the imposition of the Emergency by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, holding events to highlight what it described as a "dark chapter" in India's democratic history. The Emergency, which lasted 21 months, began on June 25, 1975, and ended on March 21, 1977.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
21 minutes ago
- Mint
Tej Pratap Yadav says will contest from Mahua in Bihar Election 2025: ‘Chacha nahi banenge CM'
Former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who was recently expelled from the RJD by his father Lalu Prasad, announced last week that he would contest the upcoming Bihar elections from the Mahua assembly constituency in the Vaishali district as an Independent candidate. Tej Pratap is currently the MLA of Hasanpur seat in Samastipur. He said on Saturday evening, "Yes, this time, I will contest the elections from Mahua assembly seat as an Independent candidate. My opponents must have started to feel an itch." He said that "Team Tej Pratap" is a medium to reach the people. "I have people's support... a large number of people are now connected with my 'Team Tej Pratap Yadav', a social media platform to reach out to people," he was quoted by news agency PTI as saying. He took a dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying he would not retain his post after the assembly polls. "I am confident that 'chacha' (Nitish) will not become the CM... those who would form the government, if they talk about youths, employment, education, and health, Tej Pratap Yadav will stand with them," he said. Few days back, several reports claimed that Lalu Yadav's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav has "rebranded" himself. During his visit to the Mahua constituent assembly of Bihar earlier in July, Tej Pratap's supporters were seen holding — not an RJD flag – but a green-and-yellow flag with 'Team Tej Pratap Yadav' written on it. Tej Pratap's move had sparked rumours in the political circles, with many speculating whether he would launch a new political party or contest the upcoming Bihar Elections as an independent candidate. Tej Pratap, a former Bihar minister, was expelled from the RJD on May 25 by his father Lalu Prasad for six years. He was expelled a day after he reportedly confessed on social media to being "in a relationship" with a woman named Anushka. He, however, later deleted the Facebook post with a claim that his page was "hacked". Lalu Prasad also disowned Tej Pratap due to his "irresponsible behaviour". A few days after his expulsion from the party, Tej Pratap had alleged that there was a "conspiracy" to drive a wedge between him and his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav. He had voiced his sentiments in a couple of posts on his X handle, blaming the crisis on 'Jaichand', a metaphor for traitors. His expulsion came barely a few months ahead of the Bihar assembly polls, which the RJD will fight under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav. Born to Prasad and Rabri Devi, both former chief ministers of Bihar, the two brothers are among four of nine siblings active in politics. Tej Pratap Yadav had made his political debut in the assembly polls of 2015, and is a second-term MLA with two brief stints in the state cabinet. The assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled to take place at the end of this year. Currently, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds power in the state under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
21 minutes ago
- First Post
Pakistan: Protest against counter-terror ops turns deadly in KPK as 3 killed in firing by gunmen
Three people were killed and several injured after gunmen opened fire on a protest in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Locals were demonstrating against counter-terror operations following a girl's death in a mortar strike. read more Unknown gunmen opened fire on a protest in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, killing three people and injuring several others, news agency PTI reported, citing officials. The demonstrations were staged against ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the region. The protest erupted in the Tirah Valley after a young girl was killed a day earlier in a mortar attack in Zakha Khel, located in Khyber District. In response, angry locals gathered and placed the girl's body outside the Momand Ghuz security checkpoint to demand accountability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Suhail Afridi, special assistant to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, confirmed that the protesters were fired upon by terrorists, leaving three people dead and eight injured. Pak's deep-rooted security challenge Terrorism remains a major security threat in Pakistan, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Ironically, while Pakistan presents itself internationally as a victim of terrorism, it has long been accused of supporting extremist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, especially in their operations against India. Military operations and human rights concerns Inside its borders, Pakistan has waged several large-scale military operations—such as Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad—to dismantle militant networks. Yet groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State (IS) affiliates, and Baloch separatist outfits remain active, frequently targeting civilians, security forces, and critical infrastructure. The state's heavy-handed counter-terror tactics have led to serious human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and unlawful detentions. These actions have deepened mistrust among citizens and eroded confidence in the rule of law. Persistent militancy and regional hotspots The tribal belt near the Afghan border continues to be a hub of militant activity. Meanwhile, Balochistan has witnessed an uptick in violence, often directed at Chinese projects tied to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Though urban centers like Karachi and Lahore have seen a relative decline in attacks, the threat of sleeper cells and lone-wolf actors remains. Worsening rights crisis in Balochistan In Balochistan, the security situation is compounded by long-standing grievances over political marginalisation and economic exploitation. The region has become a focal point of allegations regarding systemic human rights violations, particularly targeting students, activists, and political dissenters. Human rights watchdogs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented repeated cases of torture, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings—often attributed to state agencies operating without accountability. Enforced disappearances and public outrage Families of the disappeared frequently organise sit-ins and protests, displaying photographs of their missing loved ones and demanding justice. Thousands of cases have been reported to Pakistan's Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, with Balochistan accounting for a disproportionate share. However, few have been resolved, and the perpetrators rarely face consequences. Suppressing dissent through fear Activists argue that these disappearances are part of a broader strategy to suppress the Baloch nationalist movement and silence dissent against controversial state-led projects like CPEC. The lack of judicial oversight, transparency, and accountability has only widened the trust deficit between the Baloch people and the federal government—fuelling further instability in an already volatile region.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Ports, cities, sports on agenda of Andhra Pradesh CMs day two of Singapore tour
Amaravati, July 28 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, on the second day of his five-day Singapore tour, will focus on port-led development, urban planning and international sports collaboration. According to a press release, Naidu is slated to hold a meeting with Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng on Monday morning, discussing energy, science, technology, and industrial cooperation between Singapore and Andhra Pradesh. 'On the second day of his five-day visit to Singapore, Naidu will hold meetings with several organisational heads, including representatives of the Singapore government. The discussions will centre around urban development, sports, and port-led industrial growth," said the release. The chief minister is scheduled to meet Airbus representatives, followed by an interaction with Honeywell officials to discuss industrial technology collaborations. Naidu will participate in a Business Round Table titled 'From Skills to Competencies, accelerating Workforce Transformation'. Students from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU), and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) will attend. He is expected to meet Simon Tan, Chairman of EverVolt, to explore green energy and battery storage solutions, followed by a visit to Singapore Sports School. The TDP supremo will visit the Tuas Port and later meet Port of Singapore Authority CEO Vincent to discuss smart logistics, export infrastructure and large-scale industrial clusters. Naidu will present Andhra Pradesh's development roadmap at the Andhra–Singapore Business Forum in the afternoon, followed by a strategic meeting with Adani Ports MD Karan Adani in the evening. PTI MS GDK NSD NSD (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 08:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
