South Asian politics has been shaped by family dynasties, from the Nehru clan in India to the Sheikh family in Bangladesh, from the Bhuttos in Pakistan to the Rajapaksas in Sri Lanka. In most cases, they have relied on legacies and centralised authority. Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Hasina were two rulers empowered by their fathers’ political legacies.
Indira Gandhi was a leader of global stature and one of the most powerful women leaders of her time. Widely recognised for her influence on both national and international stages, she was ranked as the ninth-most powerful woman of the 20th century by Time magazine. Nicknamed the “Iron Lady,” Indira Gandhi came to power when India was reeling from food crises and political instability. Her ambitious reforms, the Green Revolution, bank nationalisation and strong foreign policy positioning during the Cold War defined her as a decisive leader.