"Poster, 'Free The 35,000 Indian Political Prisoners', 1975-77" [NMLH.2025.38.5]

Catalogue Number
NMLH.2025.38.5

Object Name
poster

Title
Free The 35,000 Indian Political Prisoners

Place
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh

People
Indira Gandhi

Date
1970s

Description
Black and white poster, with a grayscale map of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the background. Text in the foreground reads 'FREE THE 35000 INDIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS Victory to the workers and peasants of S.Asia. Down with the dictatorships in INDIA, PAKISTAN, BANGLA-DESH - DEMONSTRATE - SUNDAY 3rd AUGUST'

Likely related to the India Emergency 1975-1977. Following a court ruling which found India's Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, guilty of election fraud, and facing mounting protests, Ghandi declared a nationwise emergency in India on 25 June 1975.Lasting for 21 months, the Emergency saw thousands of people arrested, including key opposition figures. Labour rights were curbed, strikes banned, and thousands of trade union leaders were jailed. Courts were stripped of independence, and censorship orders silenced the press.

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