A new book titled The Emergency Diaries — Years that Forged a Leader will be launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, a period widely remembered as a dark chapter in India’s democratic history.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was pleased that his personal journey during the Emergency years has been brought together in this book, published by Bluekraft Digital Foundation.

Sharing his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi wrote:

“When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak. The anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me. It reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework. At the same time, I got to learn so much from people across the political spectrum.”

He added: “I am glad that BlueKraft Digital Foundation has compiled some of those experiences in the form of a book, whose foreword has been penned by Shri H.D. Deve Gowda Ji, himself a stalwart of the anti-Emergency movement.”

Calling the book a walk down memory lane, he said: 'The Emergency Diaries' records my journey during the Emergency years. It brought back many memories from that time.”

India’s struggle for democracy

The Emergency, imposed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977, saw civil rights suspended, the press censored, and political opponents jailed.

According to the book’s publishers, The Emergency Diaries takes readers through Modi’s life underground, how he dodged police surveillance, organised secret meetings, distributed banned materials, and stayed committed to fighting the suppression of democracy.

In his post, the Prime Minister urged citizens to come forward and share their own or their family’s stories from that time:

“I call upon all those who remember those dark days of the Emergency or those whose families suffered during that time to share their experiences on social media. It will create awareness among the youth of the shameful time from 1975 to 1977.”

Book based on memoirs, testimonies, and archival material

Bluekraft Digital Foundation described the book as a detailed look into Modi’s early political life during a time of national crisis. Drawing from first-hand accounts, archival documents, and Modi’s own memoir Sangharsh Ma Gujarat, the book attempts to provide insight into the values and experiences that shaped him.

In a post on X, the foundation wrote: “The book delves into the compelling role that Narendra Modi played in the fight against the Emergency. Based on first-person anecdotes from associates who worked with young Modi, and using other archival material, the book is a first of its kind that creates new scholarship on the formative years of a young man who would give it his all in the fight against tyranny.”

They added: “The Emergency Diaries paints a vivid picture of Narendra Modi fighting for the ideals of democracy and how he has worked all his life to preserve and promote it. This book is a tribute to the grit and resolve of those who refused to be silenced, and it offers a rare glimpse into the early trials that forged one of the most transformative leaders of our time.”

The introduction of the book sets the tone by stating: “In the mid-1970s, as India was caught in the iron shackles of the Emergency, democracy was in captivity.”

The book presents Modi as part of a covert resistance movement, showing his “clandestine operations, narrow escapes, and unshaken belief in restoring democracy,” as described by the publishers.

They further noted that the book is “a tale of resilience, ingenuity, and relentless dedication to preserving democratic ideals and institutions enshrined in our Constitution.”

According to the narrative, it was the strength and unity of people, led by committed young workers like Modi, that played a key role in ending the Emergency and helping India return to its democratic path.

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