Lal Bahadur Shastri

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Lal Bahadur Shastri was an eminent Indian political leader who served as the second Prime Minister of India.
His life was marked by dedication to the cause of India’s independence and the well-being of its citizens.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, India, into a humble family.
His parents, Sharada Prasad Shrivastava and Ramdulari Devi, instilled in him values of simplicity, honesty, and hard
His early life was characterized by financial hardships, but he was a determined and bright
He graduated from Kashi Vidyapeeth in Varanasi and later completed his post-graduation in Philosophy from the same
His education deeply influenced his thinking and commitment to social issues and the welfare of the common
The title “Shastri” was given after the completion of his graduation at Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi in

Shastriji was deeply inspired by the Indian freedom struggle and was drawn into it at a young
He joined the non-cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 and participated actively in various protests and campaigns against British colonial
In 1930, Shastri became the secretary of the local unit of the Congress party and later served as the president of the Allahabad Congress
He played a significant role in Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Salt Satyagraha’ by leading a door-to-door campaign, encouraging people to withhold payment of land revenue and taxes to the British.
Lal Bahadur Shastri, along with other prominent Congress leaders, was imprisoned by the British Government in
In 1937, he was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative
His commitment to the cause earned him respect among his peers and leaders of the Indian National

Lal Bahadur Shastri’s political career began to flourish after India gained independence in
He held various important positions, including Minister of Police and Transport in Uttar Pradesh.
His tenure as the Minister of Police was marked by his firm handling of communal riots in the
Shastriji also served as the Union Minister for Railways in the central government, where he played a crucial role in improving the efficiency and modernization of the Indian Railways.
In 1956, he resigned from his post as Minister for Railways following a tragic train accident near Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu that resulted in the loss of around 150
Lal Bahadur Shastri re-entered the Union Cabinet in 1957, initially serving as the Minister for Transport and
In 1961, Shastri was appointed as the Minister for Home
During his tenure as Home Minister, he established the “Committee on Prevention of Corruption,” with K. Santhanam as its head, demonstrating his commitment to fighting corruption.

One of the defining moments of Shastriji’s political career came when he assumed the role of Prime Minister of India in 1964, succeeding Jawaharlal
Shastriji, though soft-spoken and mild-mannered, emerged as the consensus candidate for the role, despite the presence of more influential leaders within the Congress
His leadership was tested during the Indo-Pakistani War of
He demonstrated firm leadership by making it clear that India would respond to force with
Despite facing significant challenges, he maintained a resolute stance and famously coined the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” (Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer) to boost the morale of the armed forces and the agricultural community.
Under his leadership, India successfully defended itself against Pakistan in the war, and the Tashkent Agreement in 1966 brought an end to hostilities.
This diplomatic success showcased his statesmanship and commitment to peace.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was a champion of agricultural development in
He emphasized the importance of self-sufficiency in food production and introduced various policies and incentives to boost agricultural
He initiated the “Green Revolution” to combat food shortages, focusing on long-term agricultural
Shastriji also promoted the “White Revolution” and established the National Dairy Development Board in

Lal Bahadur Shastri’s tenure as Prime Minister was tragically short- lived, as he passed away on January 11, 1966, under mysterious circumstances in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, shortly after signing the Tashkent
His death remains a subject of speculation and
Despite his short time in office, Shastriji’s legacy endures in the hearts of Indians.
He is remembered as a man of integrity, simplicity, and dedication to the
Lal Bahadur Shastri was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award posthumously in 1966.