This thesis examines the complex social, economic, and political climate that made
the Indian Emergency of 1975-1977 and its infamous sterilization campaign
possible. Factors such as caste, class, and religion impacted people's experiences
and percepions of the sterilization campaign. People of lower socioeconomic status
tended to experience greater sterilization pressures, but there was still variance of
experiences even within similar demographic groups. Media censorship and
inaccurate government reporting of events such as the Turkman Gate Incident
complicate the process of unearthing the realities of Emergency sterilization.
Overall, this thesis shows how public health policy can become entangled in
national and international politics and does not always protect the interests of
individuals.Histor
