Latest news with #GeorgeFernandes
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Those Who Imposed Emergency...': PM Modi's Scathing Attack On Congress In 'Mann Ki Baat'
/ Jun 29, 2025, 01:46PM IST In the 123rd episode of 'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a dig at the Congress, saying those who imposed the Emergency aimed to suppress democracy and control the judiciary. He recalled the hardships faced during the 21-month period, including the arrest of George Fernandes and suppression of student voices. Modi praised the courage of Indians who resisted oppression. He played speeches by Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Jagjivan Ram to highlight the era. Marking 50 years since the Emergency, he said it was commemorated as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' to honor those who stood for democracy.#pmmodi #mannkibaat #emergency1975 #democracy #samvidhanhatyadiwas #georgefernandes #misa #indianpolitics #emergency #constitutionofindia #vajpayee #morarjidesai #jagjivanram #indiraGandhi #congress #bjp #toi #timesofindia #toibharat
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
50 years of Emergency: How George Fernandes' arrest in Lucknow ignited railway strike; united fractured opposition against Indira Gandhi's govt
As the country observes 50th anniversary of Emergency, Arvind Chauhan finds out how an arrest in Lucknow led to a movement, and to curb it, the then PM suspended civil rights and cracked downed on the opposition May 2, 1974. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It was well past midnight. After a hectic day at Labour Day celebrations, George Fernandes, a 44-year-old charismatic and fiery socialist leader, was about to retire for the day at Lucknow's Charbagh railway station retiring room. He had a late dinner and his last request to the volunteers attending to him was a glass of hot milk. A young railway apprentice, Shiva Gopal Mishra, 23, promptly delivered it to Fernandes, who had just been elected president of the All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF). 'I had no inkling what was going to happen moments later,' Mishra now recalls. As the clock struck 2 am, there was a frantic knock on Fernandes' door. Still trying to sleep, as he opened the door, the unwanted guests swooped down on him. It was a team from Delhi Police. Fernandes was under arrest. This arrest went on to ignite one of the most significant labour movements in the history of India — the nationwide railway strike of 1974. Mishra, now 74, who is the general secretary of AIRF, vividly recounts that night, a memory etched in his mind from his long career with Indian Railways, from which he retired in 2010. His story aligns seamlessly with Rahul Ramagundam's biography, 'The Life and Times of George Fernandes', which recounts the chain of events with striking clarity. According to Ramagundam, the Delhi police team escorted Fernandes from his first-floor retiring room to the Amausi airport, where a govt plane was waiting for them. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He was transported to Delhi just after the break of dawn. Simultaneously, in Delhi, the driver of the then Union railway minister Lalit Narayan Mishra delivered a letter to Fernandes' wife, Leila, blaming Fernandes for the breakdown of negotiations — a move Fernandes later called a 'treacherous act'. The backdrop to this dramatic arrest was the AIRF's planned indefinite nationwide strike, proposed from May 8, 1974. The railway workers, under Fernandes, demanded better wages comparable to public sector employees, full trade union rights, reclassification of railway jobs, an eight-hour workday, adjustments in dearness allowance, bonuses, and shops to provide subsidized grain. These demands reflected the economic hardships faced by workers amid an oil crisis, rising inflation, and global economic depression. Fernandes, who was elected AIRF president in Oct 1973 at the federation's Secunderabad convention, had defeated Peter Alvares, a soft-spoken Goan freedom fighter, by securing 277 as compared to Alvares' 210 votes. At 43, Fernandes brought a new vigour to the union, galvanizing workers across the country. The arrest on May 2, however, accelerated the strike's momentum. The news of his arrest triggered spontaneous protests across India. By May 5, workers at railway centres from Gorakhpur to Guwahati and Mumbai abandoned their posts and took to the streets in processions. 'The arrest of George Fernandes cemented the opposition's unity against Indira Gandhi's regime,' says Ramagundam, an associate professor of history and culture at Jamia Millia Islamia. The strike, originally planned for May 8, erupted prematurely as workers rallied in solidarity with their leader. The arrest of this former parliamentarian was no small matter as it sparked outrage even among political opponents. Jan Sangh leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee moved a no-confidence motion in Parliament, while CPI leaders like Shripad Amrit Dange, who supported Indira Gandhi's govt, also criticized the arrest. From Tihar Jail, Fernandes penned letters to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and railway minister Lalit Narayan Mishra, urging them to address the workers' economic demands to avert the strike. 'You can still avert the catastrophe, if you wish. But if the idea is to have a trial of strength, then, this time, I hope, the railway men will not be found wanting in providing their mettle,' he wrote, as quoted in Ramagundam's biography. Both the govt and the unions were apprehensive of the economic fallout of a railway strike, as it could paralyze India's economy. The govt, citing the oil crisis and global recession, urged workers to call off the strike and help the govt stabilize the economy. The unions, led by Fernandes, sought a 'negotiated settlement' to address their grievances, warning that a prolonged strike would be catastrophic. Yet, despite shared concerns, the strike proceeded. The govt, alarmed that Fernandes' letters were reaching the press before their intended recipients, secured a court injunction barring him from interviews, telephone communication, or sending letters without clearance. Fernandes' leadership was remarkable not just for its intensity but for its reach. 'George captured the heart of the railway workers,' Ramagundam told TOI. 'He could connect with workers across the country, from small stations to factories producing railway equipment. He lowered himself from a former MP to a union leader, projecting the workers' demands with zeal and honesty.' Fernandes traveled tirelessly, addressing workers at far-flung stations and industrial units, embodying the spirit of socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia, who believed in fighting injustice regardless of time or place. The strike, deemed illegal by the govt, ended on May 28, 1974, after internal discord within the AIRF's action committee led to its withdrawal. Fernandes, however, faced further trials. During the Emergency, he was arrested again on June 10, 1976 for his alleged role in the Baroda Dynamite Case, an alleged plot to destabilize the govt. He remained in jail until March 22, 1977, when the Janata Party's victory secured his release. The legacy of George Fernandes as a maverick socialist endures. Later serving as defence minister in the Vajpayee govt, he remained a symbol of resistance and solidarity. 'His ability to unite railway workers in 1974, despite overwhelming odds, showcased his unique leadership — a blend of fiery oratory, grassroots connection, and unwavering commitment to workers' rights. The 1974 strike, though short-lived, left an indelible mark on India's labour movement, proving that even in the face of repression, the spirit of collective action could challenge the might of the state,' said Rahul Ramagundam. As Shiva Gopal Mishra reflects on that fateful night in Lucknow, he recalls not just the arrest but the man who inspired a generation of workers. His arrest may have sparked the strike, but it was his vision and courage that fueled its fire, making him a towering figure in India's struggle for workers' dignity.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Remembering Emergency: When India banned Coke and brewed nationalism in a bottle called Double Seven
HighlightsIn 1977, following the end of the Emergency and the fall of nearly three decades of Congress rule, the newly elected Janata Party government launched Double Seven, India's first government-backed cola, as a symbol of economic self-reliance and political change. The introduction of Double Seven was spearheaded by George Fernandes, the then Industry Minister, who expelled Coca-Cola from India due to its refusal to comply with local equity regulations, leading to the development of the indigenous beverage by Modern Food Industries. Despite a grand launch and the tagline 'The Taste that Tingles', Double Seven failed to capture the public's interest, facing stiff competition from established brands, and ultimately faded from the market after Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980. In the summer of 1977, just after the 21-month Emergency ended and India turned the page on nearly three decades of uninterrupted Congress rule, a new political force was not the only thing bubbling to the surface. The newly elected Janata Party government had shown the door to Coca-Cola and unveiled its own fizzy response -- Double Seven. The country's first "sarkari cola" was launched as a symbol of economic self-reliance and political change. Named after the landmark year that brought the Morarji Desai-led Janata coalition to power, Double Seven was more than a beverage; it was a political statement in a bottle. The indigenous cola had an elaborate launch at the annual trade fair at Pragati Maidan. The Double Seven cola , popularly known as "Satattar" (77 in Hindi) was manufactured and marketed by the makers of Modern breads - Modern Food Industries - a government-owned company. Interestingly, then MP H V Kamath was also awarded a cash prize for coming up with the name "77". Although "77" was not ready for sale until 1978, the name was chosen because 1977 was the year of big changes in India -- such as the end of the Indira Gandhi government and Coca-Cola. At the helm of affairs in the cola episode was then Industry Minister George Fernandes, who decided to throw Coke as well as IBM out of India over their refusal to follow the provisions of what was then the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act. Rahul Ramagundam wrote in Fernandes' biography "Life and Times of George Fernandes" that the provision stipulated that foreign companies should dilute their equity stake in their Indian associates to 60 per cent. Fernandes wanted Coca-Cola Company to not just transfer 60 per cent of the shares of its Indian firm but also the formula for its concentrate to Indian shareholders. The company said it was agreeable to transferring a majority of the shares but not the formula, which it contended was a trade secret. The company exited the Indian market as the government denied a licence to import the Coke concentrate. Fernandes then introduced the indigenous drink "77". The government asked the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru to develop the formula. Sold with the tagline "The Taste that Tingles", the cola did not strike the same chord with the public as Coca-Cola, amid tough competition from brands like Campa Cola, Thums Up, and Duke. "I remember the launch of Double Seven at the annual trade fair at Pragati Maidan, a proud gift from the Janata Party, an indigenous drink supposedly superior than Coca-Cola and a stark reminder of Indira Gandhi's humiliating defeat in the recent general elections," author Sunil Lala says in his book "American Khichdi", published in 2009. Tata McGraw Hill's book "Advertising Management: Concepts and Cases" also mentions Double Seven as an example of government branding and "swadeshi" marketing gone awry. Hill cited the launch of Double Seven as a business school case study in government-backed branding, highlighting the campaign's missteps and beverage-market context of the late 1970s. The end of Double Seven, not so surprisingly, coincided with Indira Gandhi reclaiming power in 1980. Coca-Cola made a comeback in October 1993, post-liberalisation of the Indian market by the P V Narasimha Rao government and has maintained a strong presence ever since. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has also referred to the episode in his book "India: From Midnight to the Millennium and Beyond". "Heedless to the signal these exits sent to the world - whose brief hopes that a change of government might have led to a more welcoming investment climate were poured down the same drain as the Coke - the Janata ministers chose to celebrate the departures of these multinationals as a further triumph for socialism and anti-imperialistic self-reliance," Tharoor wrote in the book. The Emergency was imposed 50 years ago on June 25, 1975, by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. Triggered by political unrest and a court verdict invalidating Gandhi's election, the Emergency suspended civil liberties, censored the press and saw mass arrests of opposition leaders.
Economic Times
22-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Remembering Emergency: When India banned Coke and brewed nationalism in a bottle called Double Seven
Reuters A Coca Cola logo is pictured in Brussels, Belgium March 4, 2024. In the summer of 1977, just after the 21-month Emergency ended and India turned the page on nearly three decades of uninterrupted Congress rule, a new political force was not the only thing bubbling to the newly elected Janata Party government had shown the door to Coca-Cola and unveiled its own fizzy response -- Double Seven. The country's first "sarkari cola" was launched as a symbol of economic self-reliance and political after the landmark year that brought the Morarji Desai-led Janata coalition to power, Double Seven was more than a beverage; it was a political statement in a bottle. The indigenous cola had an elaborate launch at the annual trade fair at Pragati Maidan. The Double Seven cola, popularly known as "Satattar" (77 in Hindi) was manufactured and marketed by the makers of Modern breads - Modern Food Industries - a government-owned company. Interestingly, then MP H V Kamath was also awarded a cash prize for coming up with the name "77". Although "77" was not ready for sale until 1978, the name was chosen because 1977 was the year of big changes in India -- such as the end of the Indira Gandhi government and the helm of affairs in the cola episode was then Industry Minister George Fernandes, who decided to throw Coke as well as IBM out of India over their refusal to follow the provisions of what was then the Foreign Exchange Regulation Ramagundam wrote in Fernandes' biography "Life and Times of George Fernandes" that the provision stipulated that foreign companies should dilute their equity stake in their Indian associates to 60 per wanted Coca-Cola Company to not just transfer 60 per cent of the shares of its Indian firm but also the formula for its concentrate to Indian shareholders. The company said it was agreeable to transferring a majority of the shares but not the formula, which it contended was a trade company exited the Indian market as the government denied a licence to import the Coke concentrate. Fernandes then introduced the indigenous drink "77".The government asked the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru to develop the with the tagline "The Taste that Tingles", the cola did not strike the same chord with the public as Coca-Cola, amid tough competition from brands like Campa Cola, Thums Up, and Duke."I remember the launch of Double Seven at the annual trade fair at Pragati Maidan, a proud gift from the Janata Party, an indigenous drink supposedly superior than Coca-Cola and a stark reminder of Indira Gandhi's humiliating defeat in the recent general elections," author Sunil Lala says in his book "American Khichdi", published in McGraw Hill's book "Advertising Management: Concepts and Cases" also mentions Double Seven as an example of government branding and "swadeshi" marketing gone cited the launch of Double Seven as a business school case study in government-backed branding, highlighting the campaign's missteps and beverage-market context of the late end of Double Seven, not so surprisingly, coincided with Indira Gandhi reclaiming power in made a comeback in October 1993, post-liberalisation of the Indian market by the P V Narasimha Rao government and has maintained a strong presence ever leader Shashi Tharoor has also referred to the episode in his book "India: From Midnight to the Millennium and Beyond"."Heedless to the signal these exits sent to the world - whose brief hopes that a change of government might have led to a more welcoming investment climate were poured down the same drain as the Coke - the Janata ministers chose to celebrate the departures of these multinationals as a further triumph for socialism and anti-imperialistic self-reliance," Tharoor wrote in the Emergency was imposed 50 years ago on June 25, 1975, by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. Triggered by political unrest and a court verdict invalidating Gandhi's election, the Emergency suspended civil liberties, censored the press and saw mass arrests of opposition leaders.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Remembering Emergency: When India banned Coke and brewed nationalism in a bottle called Double Seven
In the summer of 1977, just after the 21-month Emergency ended and India turned the page on nearly three decades of uninterrupted Congress rule, a new political force was not the only thing bubbling to the surface. The newly elected Janata Party government had shown the door to Coca-Cola and unveiled its own fizzy response -- Double Seven. The country's first "sarkari cola" was launched as a symbol of economic self-reliance and political change. Named after the landmark year that brought the Morarji Desai-led Janata coalition to power, Double Seven was more than a beverage; it was a political statement in a bottle. The indigenous cola had an elaborate launch at the annual trade fair at Pragati Maidan. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Si estás en Madrid esta es la Alarma que necesitas Movistar Prosegur Alarmas Más información Undo The Double Seven cola , popularly known as "Satattar" (77 in Hindi) was manufactured and marketed by the makers of Modern breads - Modern Food Industries - a government-owned company. Interestingly, then MP H V Kamath was also awarded a cash prize for coming up with the name "77". Live Events Although "77" was not ready for sale until 1978, the name was chosen because 1977 was the year of big changes in India -- such as the end of the Indira Gandhi government and Coca-Cola. At the helm of affairs in the cola episode was then Industry Minister George Fernandes, who decided to throw Coke as well as IBM out of India over their refusal to follow the provisions of what was then the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act. Rahul Ramagundam wrote in Fernandes' biography "Life and Times of George Fernandes" that the provision stipulated that foreign companies should dilute their equity stake in their Indian associates to 60 per cent. Fernandes wanted Coca-Cola Company to not just transfer 60 per cent of the shares of its Indian firm but also the formula for its concentrate to Indian shareholders. The company said it was agreeable to transferring a majority of the shares but not the formula, which it contended was a trade secret. The company exited the Indian market as the government denied a licence to import the Coke concentrate. Fernandes then introduced the indigenous drink "77". The government asked the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru to develop the formula. Sold with the tagline "The Taste that Tingles", the cola did not strike the same chord with the public as Coca-Cola, amid tough competition from brands like Campa Cola, Thums Up, and Duke. "I remember the launch of Double Seven at the annual trade fair at Pragati Maidan, a proud gift from the Janata Party, an indigenous drink supposedly superior than Coca-Cola and a stark reminder of Indira Gandhi's humiliating defeat in the recent general elections," author Sunil Lala says in his book "American Khichdi", published in 2009. Tata McGraw Hill's book "Advertising Management: Concepts and Cases" also mentions Double Seven as an example of government branding and "swadeshi" marketing gone awry. Hill cited the launch of Double Seven as a business school case study in government-backed branding, highlighting the campaign's missteps and beverage-market context of the late 1970s. The end of Double Seven, not so surprisingly, coincided with Indira Gandhi reclaiming power in 1980. Coca-Cola made a comeback in October 1993, post-liberalisation of the Indian market by the P V Narasimha Rao government and has maintained a strong presence ever since. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has also referred to the episode in his book "India: From Midnight to the Millennium and Beyond". "Heedless to the signal these exits sent to the world - whose brief hopes that a change of government might have led to a more welcoming investment climate were poured down the same drain as the Coke - the Janata ministers chose to celebrate the departures of these multinationals as a further triumph for socialism and anti-imperialistic self-reliance," Tharoor wrote in the book. The Emergency was imposed 50 years ago on June 25, 1975, by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. Triggered by political unrest and a court verdict invalidating Gandhi's election, the Emergency suspended civil liberties, censored the press and saw mass arrests of opposition leaders.
