Wed Jun 25 05:50:24 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**50 Years Later, Indian Village Haunted by Forced Sterilization Under “Emergency” Rule**

Uttawar, India – As India marks 50 years since the declaration of a state of national emergency on June 25, 1975, the scars of that period remain deeply etched in the village of Uttawar. Under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s rule, civil liberties were suspended and a massive forced sterilization program was implemented, backed by financial incentives from the World Bank and the United States.

Uttawar, a predominantly Muslim village in Haryana, was targeted in November 1976. Government officials and police surrounded the village, demanding that men of fertile age assemble. Mohammad Deenu, now in his late 90s and the last surviving villager targeted in the sterilization program, recalls how he and 14 others were taken to poorly managed sterilization camps. Deenu believes their “sacrifice” saved the village from further repercussions.

More than 8 million men were forcibly sterilized during the “Emergency,” with nearly 2,000 deaths resulting from botched surgeries. Villages that resisted faced severe consequences, including the withholding of irrigation water and violence from security forces.

The program, fueled by concerns over India’s booming population and pressure from Western powers, left a lasting impact on Uttawar. Mohammad Noor, a villager, recounted the trauma of a police raid where his family’s home was ransacked. The social stigma associated with the sterilizations led to neighboring villages refusing marriage proposals from Uttawar men.

While India no longer has a coercive population control program, some experts see parallels between the “Emergency” era and the current political climate under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing a decline in democratic indices and press freedom. Others suggest that India is sliding towards complete authoritarianism.

Despite the enduring pain, Deenu takes pride in the survival and growth of his family, seeing it as a testament to the villagers’ resilience. The story of Uttawar serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of unchecked power and the importance of safeguarding civil liberties.

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