Right. Most people in the west don't know about The Emergency [1] following the fraud that got her elected. Then her political and social interference with the Sikh community (part of the most vocal opposition to the Emergency [2]), which lead to Operation Bluestar [3] and subsequently her assassination [4].

These events form the worst part of Indian politics since independence. Her rise to power was not due to her personality or skill. She was simply the daughter of Nehru, the first prime minister of India and a close aide of MK Gandhi.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emergency_(India)

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emergency_(India)#Sikh_oppo...

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blue_Star

[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Indira_Gandhi