Harivansh Rai Bachchan, the iconic poet, and father of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, navigated a complex chapter in Indian history during the Emergency declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.

Bachchans and Gandhis

The tale of the Bachchans' friendship with the Nehru-Gandhis dates back to Anand Bhavan, Allahabad. Introduced by Sarojini Naidu, the Bachchans became an integral part of the Nehru-Gandhi circle. In the days when Indira Gandhi was still unmarried, Naidu presented poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and his Sikh wife Teji—Amitabh’s parents—to Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter as “the poet and the poem.”

Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Emergency

In the wake of the Emergency imposed from 1975 to 1977, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, like many public figures, found himself under the scrutiny of news reports. The media highlighted his association with the Nehru-Gandhi family, bringing attention to his connections in the political sphere.

Despite the controversies surrounding the political climate, news reports of the time often focused on Bachchan's poetic contributions.

Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s support for Emergency 1975 became clear when a campaign was run by a group that consisted of 40 prominent writers and literary figures, including renowned Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan. They had stated on June 29, 1975, which endorsed "proclamation of emergency to curb anti-national and reactionary forces", according to the archives of the Press Information Bureau.

The statement also backed the promulgation of an Emergency to counter forces endangering the unity and freedom of the country. "We the writers of the various languages of India welcome and strongly endorse the timely promulgation of Emergency by the Prime Minister to curb anti-national and reactionary forces. We assure her of our whole-hearted support in her struggle to complete the unfinished tasks of our freedom movement."

Moreover, Bachchan was the leading signatory to the statement followed by other writers. "We are sure that appropriate steps will be taken to make the mass media effective instruments of informing people and involving them in the reconstruction of a new socialist, secular, and democratic India", said the statement.

In July 1987, his son Amitabh Bachchan, who was an MP from Allahabad and Congress leader resigned from his seat affecting his connection with the Gandhi family. Later, Amitabh criticised about Emergency saying that the declaration of emergency was an assault on democracy and the ideals that the leaders of the independence movement had battled for. He said "Emergency was an attack on democracy and the democratic principles our leaders had fought for. Media bore the maximum brunt because of censorship, and there was anger against the system among the youth of that time”.

Although his legacy lies in his powerful verses, his support for Emergency remains a fact, that is considered as the darkest phase in Indian political history.