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Politics & Power Quote by Indira Gandhi

"Even if I died in the service of the nation, I would be proud of it. Every drop of my blood... will contribute to the growth of this nation and to make it strong and dynamic"

About this Quote

There is a calculated grandeur to this pledge: it turns political authority into bodily sacrifice, collapsing the distance between leader and nation until they share the same bloodstream. Indira Gandhi isn’t merely expressing patriotism; she’s performing legitimacy. By framing her potential death as an offering that will make India "strong and dynamic", she translates personal risk into national momentum, as if the state itself runs on the fuel of her commitment.

The intent is twofold. First, it’s a shield against dissent: if the leader is willing to die for the country, critics can be cast as small, selfish, even disloyal. Second, it’s an emotional contract with the public, inviting citizens to read policy and power struggles through the simpler, moral language of devotion. "Every drop of my blood" is visceral on purpose; it bypasses bureaucracy and debate and goes straight for the gut.

The subtext carries the unmistakable imprint of post-independence politics and the Gandhi family’s symbolic capital. In a nation still consolidating its identity, the rhetoric of martyrdom makes governance feel like destiny. It also hints at the volatility of her era: separatist tensions, political polarization, and real threats to her life. When a leader speaks of death so plainly, it’s not abstraction; it’s an attempt to control the narrative before events do. The line’s power comes from how it sanctifies political struggle, turning contested rule into a story of national salvation.

Quote Details

TopicMilitary & Soldier
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Citation Formats

APA Style (7th ed.)
Gandhi, Indira. (2026, January 15). Even if I died in the service of the nation, I would be proud of it. Every drop of my blood... will contribute to the growth of this nation and to make it strong and dynamic. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/even-if-i-died-in-the-service-of-the-nation-i-44012/

Chicago Style
Gandhi, Indira. "Even if I died in the service of the nation, I would be proud of it. Every drop of my blood... will contribute to the growth of this nation and to make it strong and dynamic." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/even-if-i-died-in-the-service-of-the-nation-i-44012/.

MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Even if I died in the service of the nation, I would be proud of it. Every drop of my blood... will contribute to the growth of this nation and to make it strong and dynamic." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/even-if-i-died-in-the-service-of-the-nation-i-44012/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

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About the Author

Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi (November 19, 1917 - October 31, 1984) was a Statesman from India.

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