Indira Gandhi

Born: Nov. 19, 1917 in India

Assassinated: 1984

As a member of India’s parliament, she was named as the minister of information and broadcasting.

Became leader of the Congress Party in 1966, which resulted in her election as the first and still only female Prime Minister of India, where she served 4 terms.

First government leader to recognize Bangladesh’s independence after secession from Pakistan.

Her Green Revolution helped India become self-sufficient in food, even an exporter of some agricultural products.

“You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”