In May 1964, the passing of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru occurred, following a period of declining health that had spanned over a year. This circumstance triggered widespread speculation about the imminent question of succession: who would assume leadership after Nehru?
Furthermore, there lingered doubts regarding the ability of the forthcoming leadership to adeptly address the array of looming challenges that awaited solutions. The 1960s acquired the moniker of the 'dangerous decade' due to the presence of unresolved issues such as poverty, inequality, communal tensions, and regional divisions, among others. These concerns loomed large, potentially jeopardizing the trajectory of the democratic endeavour or even the unity of the nation itself.

What was the primary concern about India's democratic experiment after Nehru's passing?

The fear and the possibility of Military Involvement

In May 1964, the passing of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru occurred, following a period of declining health that had spanned over a year. This circumstance triggered widespread speculation about the imminent question of succession: who would assume leadership after Nehru?

However, within the context of a nascent and newly independent nation like India, this situation gave rise to an even more profound query: what direction would India take after Nehru's era? This second question emerged from the palpable concerns held by many observers regarding the survival of India's democratic experiment in the post-Nehru phase. There was a prevailing apprehension that, akin to numerous other recently independent nations, India might struggle to navigate a smooth transition of power within a democratic framework. Such an inability could potentially pave the way for the military to become politically involved.