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• Lal Bahadur Shastri Biography

Lal Bahadur Shastri: Life, History and Achievements of Prime Minister

Lal Bahadur Shastri was a politician and statesman from India who served as the country's second Prime Minister. In this article about Lal Bahadur Shastri biography, we will study the life history of Lal Bahadur Shastri, his achievements, his tenure as a Prime Minister of India and his date of death.

Early Life of Lal Bahadur Shastri

Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India (now Uttar Pradesh). Lal Bahadur Shastri's father was Sharada Prasad Srivastava, who was a school teacher before becoming a clerk in the revenue office at Allahabad. His mother was Ramdulari Devi. He was the second child. to He had an elder sister Kailashi Devi and a younger sister Sundari Devi.

When Lal Bahadur Shastri was six months old, his father died in an epidemic of bubonic plague. Lal Bahadur Shastri and his sisters grew up in the home of his maternal grandfather Munshi Hazari Lal after his father died.

Shastri started his education at the East Central Railway Inter college in Mughalsarai at the age of four, under the tutelage of a maulvi, Budhan Mian. He was a student there until the sixth grade.

Lal Bahadur Shastri began seventh grade at Harish Chandra High School in Varanasi. 

Lal Bahadur Shastri’s Family

Lal Bahadur Shastri married Lalita Devi, a Mirzapur native, on May 16, 1928. Kusum Shastri, Hari Krishna Shastri, Suman Shastri, Anil Shastri, Sunil Shastri, and Ashok Shastri were the couple's four sons and two daughters.

The entire Shastri family continues to participate in social initiatives and is actively involved in shaping relevant forums in India to aid in the country's growth and advancement.

Lal Bahadur Shastri's Independence Activism

Lal Bahadur Shastri became interested in the freedom movement after being inspired by a patriotic and well-respected teacher named Nishkameshwar Prasad Mishra at Harish Chandra High School. He started to research its history and the works of many notable figures, including Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, and Annie Besant.

Lal Bahadur Shastri attended a public meeting in Banaras organised by Gandhi and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in January 1921, when he was in the tenth grade. Shastri withdrew from Harish Chandra High School the next day, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's call for students to withdraw from government schools and join the non-cooperation movement. He joined the local branch of the Congress Party as a volunteer, actively engaging in picketing and anti-government demonstrations.

He was quickly apprehended and imprisoned but was later released because he was still a minor. J.B. Kripalani, a former Banaras Hindu University professor who went on to become one of the most influential figures of the Indian independence movement and one of Gandhi's closest followers, was Lal Bahadur Shastri's immediate supervisor.

On 10 February 1921, recognising the need for younger volunteers to continue their education, Kripalani and a friend, V.N. Sharma, established an informal school centred on nationalist education to educate the young activists in their nation's heritage, and the Kashi Vidyapith was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in Banaras.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was one of the first students to graduate from the Vidyapith with a first-class degree in philosophy and ethics in 1925. The title “Shastri” (Scholar) was bestowed upon him, which was a bachelor's degree from the university, and later it became part of his identity.

Lal Bahadur Shastri became  a member of Lala Lajpat Rai's Servants of the People Society (Lok Sevak Mandal) and started working for the betterment of the Harijans in Muzaffarpur under Gandhi's leadership. He later became the Society's President.

At Mahatma Gandhi's request, Shastri joined the Indian National Congress as an active and mature member in 1928. He spent two and a half years in jail. Later, in 1937, he served as the Organising Secretary of the U.P. Parliamentary Board. He was imprisoned for a year in 1940 for providing individual Satyagraha support to the independence movement.

At Gowalia Tank in Bombay on August 8, 1942, Mahatma Gandhi delivered the Quit India address, demanding that the British leave India. Lal Bahadur Shastri, who had just been released from prison after a year, travelled to Allahabad.

In 1937 and 1946, he was elected to the United Provinces legislature.

Lal Bahadur Shastri's Political Career

After India's independence, Lal Bahadur Shastri was named Parliamentary Secretary in his home state of Uttar Pradesh. Following Rafi Ahmed Kidwai's departure to become a minister at the centre, he became the Minister of Police and Transport under Govind Ballabh Pant's Chief Ministership on 15 August 1947. He was the first to name female conductors as Transport Minister.

As the minister in charge of the Police Department, he requested that unruly crowds be dispersed using water jets, which he instructed officers to use instead of lathis. During his time as police minister, he was instrumental in putting an end to communal riots in 1947, as well as mass migration and refugee resettlement.

With Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister, Shastri was appointed General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee in 1951. He was in charge of the candidate selection process and the direction of advertising and electioneering efforts. He was a key figure in the Congress Party's landslide victories in the Indian general elections of 1952, 1957, and 1962.

In 1952, he ran for the Uttar Pradesh Vidhansabha and won the Soraon North cum Phulpur West seat with over 69% of the votes. On May 13, 1952, Shastri was appointed Minister of Railways and Transport in the First Cabinet of the Republic of India. In 1959, he was appointed Minister of Commerce and Industry, and in 1961, he was appointed the Minister of Home Affairs.

As a minister without a portfolio, Shastri laid a foundation for Mangalore Port in 1964.

When Jawaharlal Nehru died in office on 27 May 1964. Lal Bahadur Shastri was elected as the second Prime Minister of India on 9 June.

During Lal Bahadur Shastri's time as Prime Minister, the Madras anti-Hindi agitation of 1965 took place. Under the Official Languages Act of 1963, it was proposed that Hindi would be the primary official language. To defuse the crisis, Shastri promised that English would remain the official language as long as the non-Hindi-speaking states wanted it. After Shastri's assurance, the riots and student unrest subsided.

Shastri used central planning to carry on Nehru's socialist economic policies. He supported the Amul milk cooperative in Anand, Gujarat, and founded the National Dairy Development Board to promote the White Revolution, a national movement to increase milk production and supply. On October 31, 1964, he came to Anand to inaugurate the Amul Cattle Feed Factory at Kanjari.

Shastri maintained Nehru's non-alignment policy while strengthening relations with the Soviet Union. Shastri's government agreed to increase the country's defence budget following the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the establishment of military relations between China and Pakistan.

Shastri and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike signed an agreement Sirima-Shastri Pact or Bandaranaike-Shastri Pact, in 1964 about the status of Indian Tamils in Sri Lanka, which was then known as Ceylon.

Shastri's crowning achievement came in 1965 when he led India in the Indo-Pak War. The Pakistani army clashed with Indian forces in August 1965, claiming half of the Kutch peninsula. During this time, Shastri used the popular slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" to encourage soldiers to protect India while encouraging farmers to increase food grain production and reduce reliance on imports.

The Indo-Pak war ended on September 23, 1965, when the United Nations ordered a ceasefire. Following the declaration of a cease-fire with Pakistan in 1965, Shastri and Pakistani President Mohammed Ayub Khan met in Tashkent for a summit arranged by Alexei Kosygin. Shastri and Ayub Khan signed the Tashkent Declaration on January 10, 1966. Shastri travelled to many countries during his time as Prime Minister, including the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, England, Canada, Nepal, Egypt, and Burma.

Achievements of Lal Bahadur Shastri

These achievements and memoirs of Lal Bahadur Shastri include both before and after his death.

During his time as Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri laid the foundation stone for Bal Vidya Mandir, a prestigious Lucknow school, on November 19, 1964.

In November 1964, he opened the Central Institute of Technology Campus in Tharamani, Chennai.

In 1965, he opened the Plutonium Reprocessing Plant in Trombay. 

Shastri approved the development of nuclear explosives, as suggested by Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha. Bhabha spearheaded the initiative by forming the Study of Nuclear Explosions for Peaceful Purposes nuclear explosive design project (SNEPP).

In November 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri opened the Chennai Port Trust's Jawahar Dock and began construction on the Tuticorin Port.

In the state of Gujarat, he opened the Sainik School Balachadi.

He was the one who laid the foundation stone for the Almatti Dam.

Throughout his life, Shastri was known for his integrity and modesty. 

He received the Bharat Ratna posthumously, and a memorial called "Vijay Ghat" was established in Delhi in his honour.

Several educational institutions bear his name, including the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, one of India's top business schools, was established in 1995 by the 'Lal Bahadur Shastri Educational Trust' in Delhi.

Because of Shastri's position in promoting scholarly activity between India and Canada, the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute was named after him.

The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Memorial Trust runs the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial, located next to 10 Janpath, where he lived as Prime Minister.

Lal Bahadur Shastri Hall of Residence is one of IIT Kharagpur's residence halls named after him.

Lal Bahadur Shastri Death 

Lal Bahadur Shastri's death date was 11 January 1966. He died in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, one day after signing a peace treaty ending the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War.

He was hailed as a national hero, and the Vijay Ghat memorial was named after him.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was a very simple man who worked for the betterment of the country. When he died, all he left was an old car, which he had bought in instalments from the government. He was a member of the Servants of India Society, which encouraged its members to avoid accumulating private property and instead serve the people in public.

He was the first railway minister to resign as a result of moral obligation after a major train crash. The Lal Bahadur Shastri Biography teaches the moral values adopted by one of the most honest and significant figures and politicians in Indian history.

FAQs on Lal Bahadur Shastri Biography

1. Who was Lal Bahadur Shastri?

Lal Bahadur Shastri was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the country's second Prime Minister after Jawahar Lal Nehru. He supported the Amul milk co-operative of Anand, Gujarat, and also created the National Dairy Development Board to increase the production and supply of milk, thereby promoting the White Revolution. Lal Bahadur Shastri also promoted the Green Revolution in India in 1965 to boost 

2. What is Lal Bahadur Shastri's death date?

Lal Bahadur Shastri died on 11 January 1966 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He died just after one day after signing the peace treaty that marked the end of the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war. His death raised various conspiracy theories, which are still existent. After his death, the Vijay Ghat memorial was named after him because of his valour and heroism as a national hero. The death of Lal Bahadur Shastri is one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in the history of India.

3. When and where was Lal Bahadur Shastri born?

Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India, to Sharada Prasad Srivastav, who was a teacher at a school, and mother, Ramdulari Devi. Sharada Prasad Srivastav died due to an epidemic of bubonic plague when Lal Bahadur Shastri was just six months old. Lal Bahadur Shastri also had an elder sister named Kailashi Devi and a younger sister named Sundari Devi.

4. What can you say about the personality of Lal Bahadur Shastri?

After serving for more than 30 years and dedicating his life to the nation, Lal Bahadur Shastri came out to be a person of great integrity and competence. Lal Bahadur Shastri was a humble man who was tolerant and had great inner strength and resoluteness. He efficiently understood the language of the people and was thus known as the man of the people. His vision led the country towards independence and later on when he became the prime minister of India, the country showed remarkable progress. Lal Bahadur Shastri was greatly influenced by the teachings and principles of Mahatma Gandhi and was his follower in the fight of India against the Britishers. 

5. What are some of the interesting facts about Lal Bahadur Shastri?

Though Lal Bahadur Shastri was an extremely dedicated person, which makes everything about him interesting, some really good facts about Lal Bahadur Shastri are:

He shares his birth date with Mahatma Gandhi, that is, 2nd October.

He got the title of ‘Shastri’ in 1926 at Kashi Vidyapeeth University because of his scholarly success.

He was the first person to use jets of water on the crowd to disperse them instead of lathi charge. This happened when he was the Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

He played an essential role in shaping the future of India and also gave the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’.

He introduced the concept of female drivers and conductors in public transport when he became the transport minister after India got independence.

He introduced the first committee on the Prevention of Corruption when he became the home minister.

He also promoted the Green Revolution and the White Revolution.

He signed the Tashkent Declaration with the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Ayub Khan, on 10 January 1966 to end the war of 1965.

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Lal Bahadur Shastri Biography: Early Life, Political Career, Achievements, Awards, Death, Personal Life & More

Lal bahadur shastri biography: lal bahadur shastri was an indian politician who served as the second prime minister of india. he played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence from british colonial rule and later in shaping its post-independence destiny..

Lal Bahadur Shastri Biography: Lal Bahadur Shastri was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the second prime minister of India from 1964 to 1966. He previously served as the sixth home minister of India from 1961 to 1963. His simplicity, integrity and great leadership during the Indo-Pak War of 1965 earned him the nation’s respect.  

The leader known for his slogan, “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” emphasized the importance of both soldiers and farmers to build and develop a nation. This biography on the occasion of Lal Bahadur Shashtri's birthday will shed light on his personal life, political career, achievements and legacy. The day's marks commitment to peace, agriculture, and economic progress continues to be remembered and celebrated in India.

Lal Bahadur Shastri Biography

Lal bahadur shastri: political career.

Lal Bahadur Shastri joined the freedom struggle after being motivated by his teacher, Nishkameshwar Prasad Mishra. Shastri attended a public gathering in Benares that was held by Gandhi and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in January 1921 while he was in the 10th standard and three months away from his final exams. As a volunteer for the Congress Party, he was a part of the non-cooperation movement.

He discontinued his studies and joined the independence movement. Following Gandhi's teachings, he fought to improve the lives of Harijans as a member of Lala Lajpat Rai's Servants of the People Society (Lok Sevak Mandal). 

Shastri joined the Lala Lajpat Rai-founded Servants of the People Society (Lok Sevak Mandal) as a life member and started working in Muzaffarpur under Gandhi's guidance to improve the lives of the Harijans. Later, he rose to the position of Society President.

Political Career

State minister, cabinet minister.

Shastri was appointed general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee in 1951 when Jawaharlal Nehru was the head of state. He was crucial to the Congress Party's resounding victories in the Indian General Elections in 1952, 1957, and 1962. He successfully ran for the UP Vidhansabha in 1952 from the Soraon North/Phulpur West constituency and won with more than 69% of the vote. Thought to be keeping his position as UP's home minister, Nehru unexpectedly called him to the centre as a minister. On May 13, 1952, Shastri was appointed Minister of Railways and Transport in the First Cabinet of the Indian Republic.

Prime Minister

Nehru passed away on May 27, 1964, while still in power. Shastri became prime minister on June 9 under Congress Party president K. Kamaraj. Shastri was a Nehruvian socialist who was mild-mannered and soft-spoken, which made him appealing to those hoping to stop conservative right-winger Morarji Desai from winning office.

In his first broadcast as prime minister, on 11 June 1964, Shastri stated:

“There comes a time in the life of every nation when it stands at the crossroads of history and must choose which way to go. But for us, there need be no difficulty or hesitation, no looking to right or left. Our way is straight and clear the building up of a socialist democracy at home with freedom and prosperity for all, and the maintenance of world peace and friendship with all nations.”

List of Mahatma Gandhi Memorials

Shastri married Lalita Devi on May 16, 1928. The couple had four boys and two daughters, including Kusum Shastri, Hari Krishna Shastri, who was the oldest daughter, and Suman Shastri, who was the oldest son. Shastri, who was 5 feet 2 inches tall, always wore a dhoti. The only time he wore pyjamas was for a 1961 banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan in honour of the Queen of the United Kingdom.

On January 11, 1966, Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (then the Soviet Union), just one day after agreeing to a peace accord that put an end to the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War. He was honoured as a national hero, and the Vijay Ghat memorial was built in his honour. He also received the Bharat Ratna posthumously.

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Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri

Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904 at Mughalsarai, a small railway town seven miles from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. His father was a school teacher who died when Lal Bahadur Shastri was only a year and half old. His mother, still in her twenties, took her three children to her father’s house and settled down there.

Lal Bahadur’s small town schooling was not remarkable in any way but he had a happy enough childhood despite the poverty that dogged him.

He was sent to live with an uncle in Varanasi so that he could go to high school. Nanhe, or ‘little one’ as he was called at home, walked many miles to school without shoes, even when the streets burned in the summer’s heat.

As he grew up, Lal Bahadur Shastri became more and more interested in the country’s struggle for freedom from foreign yoke. He was greatly impressed by Mahatma Gandhi’s denunciation of Indian Princes for their support of British rule in India. Lal Bahadur Sashtri was only eleven at the time, but the process that was end day to catapult him to the national stage had already begun in his mind.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was sixteen when Gandhiji called upon his countrymen to join the Non-Cooperation Movement. He decided at once to give up his studies in response to the Mahatma’s call. The decision shattered his mother’s hopes. The family could not dissuade him from what they thought was a disastrous course of action. But Lal Bahadur had made up his mind. All those who were close to him knew that he would never change his mind once it was made up, for behind his soft exterior was the firmness of a rock.

Lal Bahadur Shastri joined the Kashi Vidya Peeth in Varanasi, one of the many national institutions set up in defiance of the British rule. There, he came under the influence of the greatest intellectuals, and nationalists of the country. ‘Shastri’ was the bachelor’s degree awarded to him by the Vidya Peeth but has stuck in the minds of the people as part of his name.

In 1927, he got married. His wife, Lalita Devi, came from Mirzapur, near his home town. The wedding was traditional in all senses but one. A spinning wheel and a few yards of handspun cloth was all the dowry. The bridegroom would accept nothing more.

In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi marched to the sea beach at Dandi and broke the imperial salt law. The symbolic gesture set the whole country ablaze. Lal Bahadur Shastri threw himself into the struggle for freedom with feverish energy. He led many defiant campaigns and spent a total of seven years in British jails. It was in the fire of this struggle that his steel was tempered and he grew into maturity.

When the Congress came to power after Independence, the sterling worth of the apparently meek and unassuming Lal Bahadur Shastri had already been recognised by the leader of the national struggle. When the Congress Government was formed in 1946, this ‘little dynamo of a man’ was called upon to play a constructive role in the governance of the country. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary in his home State of Uttar Pradesh and soon rose to the position of Home Minister. His capacity for hard work and his efficiency became a byeword in Uttar Pradesh. He moved to New Delhi in 1951 and held several portfolios in the Union Cabinet – Minister for Railways; Minister for Transport and Communications; Minister for Commerce and Industry; Home Minister; and during Nehru’s illness Minister without portfolio. He was growing in stature constantly. He resigned his post as Minister for Railways because he felt responsible for a railway accident in which many lives were lost. The unprecedented gesture was greatly appreciated by Parliament and the country. The then Prime Minister, Pt. Nehru, speaking in Parliament on the incident, extolled Lal Bahadur Shastri’s integrity and high ideals. He said he was accepting the resignation because it would set an example in constitutional propriety and not because Lal Bahadur Shastri was in any way responsible for what had happened. Replying to the long debate on the Railway accident, Lal Bahadur Shastri said; “Perhaps due to my being small in size and soft of tongue, people are apt to believe that I am not able to be very firm. Though not physically strong, I think I am internally not so weak.”

In between his Ministerial assignments, he continued to lavish his organising abilities on the affairs of the Congress Party. The landslide successes of the Party in the General Elections of 1952, 1957 and 1962 were in a very large measure the result of his complete identification with the cause and his organisational genius.

More than thirty years of dedicated service were behind Lal Bahadur Shastri. In the course of this period, he came to be known as a man of great integrity and competence. Humble, tolerant, with great inner strength and resoluteness, he was a man of the people who understood their language. He was also a man of vision who led the country towards progress. Lal Bahadur Shastri was deeply influenced by the political teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. “Hard work is equal to prayer,” he once said, in accents profoundly reminiscent of his Master. In the direct tradition of Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri represented the best in Indian culture.

• Lal Bahadur Shastri

Lal Bahadur Shastri (born 1904) succeeded Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister of India in 1964. Though eclipsed by such stalwarts of the Congress party as Kamaraj (the Kingmaker) and Morarji Desai, Finance Minister in Nehru’s government, Shastri emerged as the consensus candidate in the midst of party warfare. He had not been in power long before he had to attend to the difficult matter of Pakistani aggression, as represented by India, along the Rann of Kutch; and though a cease-fire under the auspices of the United Nations put a temporary halt to the fighting, the scene of conflict soon shifted to the more troubled spot of Kashmir. While Pakistan claimed that a spontaneous uprising against the Indian occupation of Kashmir had taken place, India charged Pakistan with fomenting sedition inside its territory and sending armed raiders into Jammu and Kashmir from Azad Kashmir. Shastri promised to meet force with force, and by early September the second Indo-Pakistan war had commenced.

Though the Indian army reached the outskirts of Lahore, Shastri agreed to withdraw Indian forces. He had always been identified with the interests of the working class and peasants since the days of his involvement with the freedom struggle, and now his popularity agree. But his triumph was short-lived: invited in January 1966 by the Russian Premier, Aleksei Kosygin, to Tashkent for a summit with General Muhammad Ayub Khan, President of Pakistan and commander of the nation’s armed forces, Shastri suffered a fatal heart attack hours after signing a treaty where India and Pakistan agreed to not meddle in each other’s internal affairs and “not to have recourse to force and to settle their disputes through peaceful means. Shastri’s body was brought back to India, and a memorial, not far from the national memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, was built to honor him. It says, in fitting testimony to Shastri, “ Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan ” (“Honor the Soldier, Honor the Farmer”). He is, however, a largely forgotten figure, another victim of the engineering of India’s social memory by Indira Gandhi and her clan.

Why Shastri matters today

Lal bahadur shastri's stress on character and moral strength acquire special significance.

We pay homage to our heroes and great leaders on their birth anniversaries. More often than not, such events pass in a ritualistic manner. But at times, the nation must not only pay homage to its leaders, but also make the younger generation aware of their stellar contribution to the good of the country.

One such statesman is Lal Bahadur Shastri, who is remembered every year along with the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on October 2. Like millions of Indians, Shastri drew inspiration from the Mahatma and plunged into the freedom struggle when he was in his teens. More than 60 years ago, Shastri showed what probity and integrity in public life are all about. Following a train accident at Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu , in which more than 140 people were killed, he resigned as railway minister taking moral responsibility for the incident. Lauding him for his integrity, the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru said that he was accepting his resignation because it would set an example in constitutional propriety, although Shastri was in no way responsible for it.

Shastri placed the country’s interests above everything else. He displayed a broad outlook at a very young age and dropped his caste-based surname when he was in the seventh standard. His progressive attitude came to the fore when he asked for khadi cloth and a spinning wheel as dowry.

His maiden Independence Day speech in 1964 is as relevant today as it was then. Shastri observed: “We can win respect in the world only if we are strong internally and can banish poverty and unemployment from our country. Above all, we need national unity. Communal, provincial and linguistic conflicts weaken the country. Therefore, we have to forge national unity. I appeal to all to work for national unity and usher in a social revolution to make our country strong. In the ultimate analysis, the strength of the country does not lie in its material wealth alone. It requires people like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Rabindranath Tagore. It requires the force of character and moral strength. I appeal to our young men to inculcate discipline in themselves discipline and work for the unity and advancement of the nation”. His stress on character and moral strength acquire special significance today, when we see all-round degeneration of values in various fields.

During the Indo-Pakistan war in 1965, Shastri gave the immortal slogan, “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” which continues to inspire every Indian even today. During his prime ministerial tenure, which unfortunately was cut short by his untimely death, Shastri boosted the morale of the nation by leading India to victory over Pakistan. His vision for self-sufficiency in foodgrains led to sowing the seeds of the Green Revolution, and promotion of the White Revolution. The country owes it to him in no small measure that we are self-sufficient in foodgrains production today. During his speech at the 83rd death anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati in Delhi on October 24, 1965, he said : “The nation cannot afford to relax. It is difficult to say what the future holds for us. Pakistan had not yet given up her policy of aggression. The duty of the nation is therefore clear. The country’s defences have to be strengthened. The people should spare no efforts to strengthen the defences. Side-by-side, food production has to be increased. Food self-sufficiency is as important as a strong defence system. It was for this reason that I raised the slogan, ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’. The kisan is as much a soldier as the jawan”. Many years later, former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee added “Jai Vigyan” to Shastri’s slogan in order to hail achievements of Indian scientists.

Although he was wedded to the principles of peace, Shastri showed that he was made of sterner mettle when it came to protecting India’s unity and integrity. His response was swift and decisive in ordering the Indian armed forces to retaliate against Pakistan’s unprovoked aggression.

Shastri’s love for the motherland was evident when he responded to Mahatma Gandhi’s call to join the Non-Cooperation Movement at the young age of 16. I would like to mention an incident from his life which showed him to be a man of deeds. Before appealing to the countrymen to skip one meal a week in the wake of the foodgrain shortage, he implemented the measure at his house. His appeal had an electrifying impact and many households across the country responded positively to his call.

His humane quality was reflected in another instance. As Uttar Pradesh ’s Minister of Police and Transport, he ordered that the police should use water jets instead of lathis to control unruly crowds. The fact that Shastri was the first transport minister to open the post of bus conductors to women showed how forward-looking he was. His visionary outlook is reflected in the observations he had made at a rural projects meet in Delhi in 1964. “We must inject new elements in the services. Let us introduce professors, economists, teachers, engineers and others, even outsiders, so that there is some freshness, a real exchange of views, a meeting of different approaches,” he said. Perhaps, the government’s decision to open 10 senior civil services positions for lateral entry is in line with this philosophy.

The present times require every Indian to emulate the simplicity, humility, humanism, austerity, hard work, dedication and nationalism displayed by the unassuming second prime minister of India. Following his ideals would be a fitting tribute to him on his birth anniversary. Along with Jawaharlal Nehru, the nation must always remember the contributions of leaders such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, B R Ambedkar, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Syama Prasad Mookerjee in independent India.

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Lal Bahadur Shastri Biography

Lal Bahadur Shastri, the famous freedom fighter and the second Prime Minister of India. He was well-known as Prime Minister without his own house. He was born in 1905 in Prayag and lost his father at the early age of barely one and a half years. So he took responsibility for his family at the age of a teen. He went to Varanasi to pursue his education. There he sheltered with a teacher named, Mishraji. Mishraji had good knowledge of Indian History. He often narrated stories about brutal British rule in India and how India lost its freedom to the British. Lal Bahadur inspired the stories about how the freedom fighters sacrificed their lives to make India Independent. The inspired Lal wanted to join in the freedom struggle to break the fatal chains of British rule. 

Gandhiji’s Impact on Lal Bahadur Shastri:

In the meantime, Gandhiji came to Varanasi as part of his non-cooperation movement. Then he spoke his views on the movement and explained the younger’ need to participate in the freedom struggle. During that period, the movement was increasing, and everywhere in India, the youth supported the movement. Hence, Lal Bahadur Shastri wants to boycott the school and not appear in examinations. This decision disappointed his uncle and Mishraji, so they urged him to appear for exams. But his mother profoundly trusted Lal Bahadur Shastri, even though she encouraged his decision to participate in the Non-cooperation movement. His mother’s blessing made Lal Bahadur Shastri fully involved in the non-cooperation movement. During the non-cooperation movement, he was arrested many times and went to prison even though he didn’t stop his studies and completed his degree in Philosophy.

Non-Cooperation Movement:

Later in the non-cooperation movement, he went to Harijans as a social worker to improve their lives. He married Lalitha and shifted to Allahabad, where he served as the District Congress committee secretary. He participated in the 1929 Lahore session of the Congress and spoke out against the British Raj. During his speech, he fitfully advocated the importance of Purna Swaraj. His speeches made him a perfect leader who can be trustworthy. The British police arrested him and sent him to Jail. During his stay in Jail, his wife Lalita Devi gave birth to Kusum, their first child. The couple had two other children, Hari and Suman.

Lal Bahadur is dedicated to participating in Gandhiji’s non-cooperation movement. The Britishers banned the congress party for its lethal force against Purna Swaraj. During that period, Lal Bahadur Shastri gathered other freedom fighters and travelled around India, spreading Gandhiji’s message. He was also arrested and kept in Jail for seven years. Even Lalitha Devi also not permitted to meet her husband for 18 months. Finally, Lal Bahadur Shastri was released from prison in 1946 and played his previous role in freeing our Motherland.

Lal Bahadur Shastri as an Administrator

Finally, the freedom fighters succeeded in getting India under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi on August 15, 1947. The British endorsed their power in India to Indian leaders. Then the first government was formed under the supervision of Nehru as Prime Minister of India. In Nehru’s cabinet, Lal Bahadur Shastri was appointed Minister of Police. In the second term of Nehru as Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri was appointed Secretary of the Lok Sabha. Later he worked as a Railway and communication minister and finally served as Home Minister in the Nehru cabinet. He played Nehru’s right-hand role in Nehru’s era. Nehru died on May 27, 1964, and then Lal Bahadur Shastri became the second Prime Minister of India. He served India with beneficial reforms. During his period, he concentrated on self-sufficiency in food production and succeeded.

Lal Bahadur Shastri Death:

He responded fiercely when Pakistan attacked India on the Kashmir front in 1965. In the war, the Indian army attacked Pakistan and sent back their troops and gain victory. Later in 1966, a cease-fire happened between the two neighbouring countries, resulting in international pressure. Due to the pressure of International society, Lal Bahadur Shastri went to Tashkent to hold talks with Ayub Khan. That night Lal got a heart attack and passed away from us in Tashkent. He was posthumously conferred with the Bharat Ratna Award.

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Gandhi and Shastri: Remembering two of India’s greats

Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri share a birthday and a place in India’s societal consciousness as great leaders and thinkers.

By Nimesh Bansal

Every year in the beginning of October, Indians across the country celebrate a national holiday. They celebrate a day off from work; they celebrate an extra day of rest. While some take this time to remember and celebrate the legacy of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi—the Father of the Nation—and his valuable teachings, others take this time to remember Lal Bahadur Shastri—the forgotten man of India—the nation’s 2nd prime minister.

The second of October marks the birth anniversary of both Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri—two men to whom India owes a great deal of gratitude. But in the 21st century, how much of Gandhi and Shastri does India really remember, how much is really relevant, and how much has simply been consigned to the history books?

Distinctive leadership

Today’s India has been marred by widespread communal violence, hatred, and intolerance. But it has always been this way. Leaders of the past have had to tackle this fiery issue just like leaders of today, and by the looks of it, these are issues future leaders will be tasked with tackling as well. What is distinct is the approach of each leader. While political bigwigs of today might seem helpless, hapless, and hopeless in tackling the ever-rising communal and political tensions, Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri forged the way forward in the 20th century.

Filling a void

Lal Bahadur Shastri filled the post-Nehru void and steered the nation through its 1965 war with Pakistan. The fact that it came just years after the 1962 defeat to the Chinese made India’s achievement all the more spectacular, restoring the country’s faith in its armed forces. Shastri also had to deal with tensions in the southern part of India when it looked likely that Hindi would be declared as the official language of the country. Dousing the linguistic fire astutely, Shastri stemmed the anti-Hindi sentiment by announcing that English would continue as an official language of the country.

A gospel of nonviolence

Much before Shastri however, it was all about Mahatma Gandhi’s gospel of nonviolence. His ability to mobilise the masses for a common cause was not just critical for India’s independence in the face of adversity, but the technique has been used by many world leaders since to break free from oppressive regimes. Martin Luther King in the United States, Nelson Mandela in South Africa, and most recently Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar have shown the continued relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals.

Furthermore, Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of inclusive growth is something towards which every politician must pay close heed. Fundamental to the building of a resurgent rural India, he believed in production by the masses rather than mass production. Innovations in communication and information technologies today have made the development of rural areas an attainable target. Location and logistics are no more a limitation or a constraint for development for the most impoverished parts of the country.

Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan

Lal Bahadur Shastri, on the other hand, remains a beacon of leadership that the Indian National Congress craves. Shastri’s slogan— Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan  (Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer) — caught the imagination of the people as it underscored the need for involvement of people in both defence preparedness and food security at a critical juncture. Self-sufficiency was a far-fetched dream for India both in terms of armament and food grains. Food production and fertiliser supply were insufficient to meet the domestic demand. Even basic ammunition for the army had to be procured from outside. This left the country in a state of economic slavery.

Shastri’s slogan was more a call to action. Shortly after, the Green Revolution gathered pace in the country, and India’s soldiers reigned supreme against aggressor armies. Lal Bahadur Shastri’s inner fortitude, his citizen-centric leadership allowed India to become self-sufficient by the beginning of the 1970s. On the back of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) controversy and with the spike in farmer suicides, the slogan has assumed newfound importance.

Congress’s need for a visionary

The Grand Old Party of India—Congress—is in need of a visionary leader like Shastri to stem their decline. At a time when they lack emotional connect with the people, and a leadership crisis all the way to the top, a Lal Bahadur Shastri type figure is not just a want for the party, but a grave need.

As the days pass by after 2nd October, even the select few who do choose to remember the preachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri likely have but a hazy memory of the principles of these Indian greats. But we must remember that these men did not belong to a time; they did not belong to an era; they belong to humanity, for eternity.

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Biography Desk

Biography of Lal Bahadur Shastri

Biography of Lal Bahadur Shastri:- The beginning of his political biography consists of his active participation in different organizations, among them the movement of non cooperation with the British government in India led by Mahatma Gandhi.

This political career culminated when being chosen Prime Minister in 1964, after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru.

• Born:  2 October 1904, Mughalsarai, India
• Died:  11 January 1966, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Nickname:  Man of Peace
• Education: Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith (1925)
• Parents:  Ramdulari Devi, Sharada Prasad Srivastava
• Awards:  Bharat Ratna

Shastri was involved in the world of politics from an early age. As a result of his propaganda activities within Gandhi’s organization, he was imprisoned when he was only seventeen years old.

See Also: Biography of Muhammad Ayub Khan

This was not the only time that his actions resulted in his arrest by the British authorities, although, despite this, he was able to carry out his studies in the nationalist university Kashi Vidyapitha.

Prior to India’s proclamation of independence in 1947, Lal Bahadur Shastri acquired a significant political experience in the direction of the State of Uttar Pradesh, formerly known as the State of the United Provinces, an experience that added to that already acquired in the two, He was elected a representative in the legislatures of 1937 and 1946.

After independence and until his election as Prime Minister in June 1964, he held the posts of Minister of Railways and Transport (1952-1956), Commerce and Industry (1957-1961) and Interior (1961-1963).

As Prime Minister, his mandate was widely criticized, because at no time did he dictate enough, necessary and effective measures to counter the country’s economic situation and its grave consequences on the population.

However, it did triumph in the most important conflict of its period: the war with one of its neighboring countries, Pakistan. The reason for the dispute was the dispute of certain border territories, mainly the provinces of Jammu and Kashmir, also call Kashmir that had been annexed in 1965.

Lal Bahadur Shastri ended the conflict by signing a non-aggression treaty with the President of Pakistan, Ayub Khan, under the impetus of the Soviet Union.

The signing of the agreement took place in Tashkent, territory belonging to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). In this same city, a few days after ratification of the peace treaty, Shastri died as a result of a cardiac arrest.

He was succeeded by Indira Gandhi, the only daughter of the previous president to Shastri, Jawaharlal Nehru.

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LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI

Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of independent India. He took oath after the sudden demise of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister. Relatively new to the high office, he led the country successfully through Indo-Pakistan War in 1965. He popularized the slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’, recognizing the need for self-sustenance and self-reliance as the pillars to build a strong nation. He was a man of exceptional will power that was belied by his small frail stature and soft-spoken manner. He wished to be remembered by his work rather than well-rehearsed speeches proclaiming lofty promises.

     Early Life and Education

Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904, to Ramdulari Devi and Sharada Prasad Shrivastava, in Mughalsarai, United Provinces (modern day Uttar Pradesh). He shares his birthday with Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. Lal Bahadur was against the prevailing caste system and therefore decided to drop his surname. The title "Shastri" was given after the completion of his graduation at Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi in 1925. The title "Shastri" refers to a "scholar" or a person, adept in the "Holy Scriptures". His father Sharada Prasad, a schoolteacher by profession, passed away when Lal Bahadur was barely two years old. His mother Ramdulari Devi took him and his two sisters to their maternal grandfather, HazariLal's house. Lal Bahadur acquired virtues like boldness, love of adventure, patience, self-control, courtesy, and selflessness in his childhood. After completing his primary education at Mirzapur, Lal Bahadur was sent to Varanasi, where he stayed with his maternal uncle. In 1928, Lal Bahadur Shastri married Lalita Devi, the youngest daughter of Ganesh Prasad. He was against the prevailing "dowry system" and so refused to accept dowry. However, on the repeated urging of his father-in-law, he agreed to accept only five yards of khadi (cotton, usually handspun) cloth as dowry. The couple had 6 children.

POLITICAL CAREER

Following India's independence, Shastri was appointed Parliamentary Secretary in his home state, Uttar Pradesh. He became the Minister of Police and Transport under Govind Ballabh Pant's Chief Ministership on 15 August 1947 following Rafi Ahmed Kidwai's departure to become minister at centre. As the Transport Minister, he was the first to appoint women conductors. As the minister in charge of the Police Department, he ordered that police use jets of water instead of lathis to disperse unruly crowds. His tenure as police minister (As Home Minister was called prior to 1950) saw successful curbing of communal riots in 1947, mass migration and resettlement of refugees.

Prime Minister Of India (1964–66)

Jawaharlal Nehru died in office on 27 May 1964 and left a void.[citation needed] Then Congress Party chief Minister K. Kamaraj was instrumental in making Lal Bahadur Shastri Prime Minister on 9 June. Shastri, though mild-mannered and soft-spoken, was a Nehruvian socialist and thus held appeal to those wishing to prevent the ascent of conservative right-winger Morarji Desai. Shastri tackled many elementary problems like food shortage, unemployment and poverty. To overcome the acute food shortage, Shastri asked the experts to devise a long-term strategy. This was the beginning of famous "Green Revolution". Apart from the Green Revolution, he was also instrumental in promoting the White Revolution. The National Dairy Development Board was formed in 1965 during Shastri’s stint as Prime Minister.

SLOGAN OF JAI JAWAN JAI KISAN

लाल बहादुर शास्त्री एक ऐसी हस्ती थे जिन्होंने प्रधानमंत्री के रूप में देश को न सिर्फ सैन्य गौरव का तोहफा दिया बल्कि हरित क्रांति और औद्योगीकरण की राह भी दिखाई. शास्त्री जी किसानों को जहां देश का अन्नदाता मानते थे, वहीं देश के सीमा प्रहरियों के प्रति भी उनके मन में अगाध प्रेम था जिसके चलते उन्होंने जय जवान जय किसान का नारा दिया. पाकिस्तान ने 1965 में यह सोचकर भारत पर हमला किया कि 1962 में चीन से लड़ाई के बाद भारत की ताकत कमजोर हो गई होगी, लेकिन शास्त्रीजी के कुशल नेतृत्व ने पाक के नापाक इरादों को नाकाम कर दिया और उसे करारी शिकस्त भी दी.

INDEPENDENCE ACTIVISM

1 9 28 में शास्त्री गांधीजी के आह्वान पर कांग्रेस के सक्रिय और परिपक्व सदस्य बन गए। शास्त्री ने 1 9 30 में नमक सत्याग्रह में भाग लिया। उन्हें साढ़े सालों तक कैद किया गया। बाद में, उन्होंने यूपी के संसदीय बोर्ड के आयोजन सचिव के रूप में काम किया। 1 9 37 में, स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन के लिए व्यक्तिगत सत्याग्रह समर्थन की पेशकश के लिए उन्हें 1 साल तक जेल भेजा गया था। 8 अगस्त 1 9 42 को, महात्मा गांधी ने मुंबई में गोवालिया टैंक में भारत छोड़ो भाषण जारी किया, मांग की कि अंग्रेजों ने भारत छोड़ दिया है। शास्त्री, जो एक साल बाद जेल में आए थे, इलाहाबाद गए थे। एक हफ्ते तक, उन्होंने जवाहरलाल नेहरू के घर, आनंद भवन से स्वतंत्रता कार्यकर्ताओं को निर्देश भेजे। कुछ दिनों बाद, उन्हें गिरफ्तार कर लिया गया और 1 9 46 तक कैद कर दिया गया। [14] शास्त्री ने लगभग नौ साल जेल में बिताए। [15] जेल में रहने के दौरान, उन्होंने किताबें पढ़ने में समय बिताया और पश्चिमी दार्शनिकों, क्रांतिकारियों और सामाजिक सुधारकों के कार्यों से परिचित हो गए।

All his lifetime, Shastri was known for honesty and humility. He was the first person to be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, and a memorial "Vijay Ghat" was built for him in Delhi. Several educational institutes, Shashtri National Academy of Administration (Mussorie) is after his name these were some examples. The Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute was named after Shastri due to his role in promoting scholarly activity between India and Canada..

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Lal Bahadur Shastri Biography

Lal Bahadur Shastri the second prime minister of India, was born on October 2, 1904, in a Kayastha family of Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh. He served as sixth home minister of India from 1961 to 1963. He became the second prime minister of India from 1964 to 1966. He gave the slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kishan” which emphasized the importance of both soldiers and farmers to build and develop a nation. He is always remembered for his simplicity and great leadership during the Indo-Pak War of 1965 earned him the nation’s respect.

In this article, we will see about Lal Bahadur Shastri’s biography in detail.

Overview of Lal Bahadur Shashtri

Early life of lal bahadur shashtri.

Lal bahadur shastri is born on October 2, 1904. Ramdulari Devi and Sharada Prasad Shrivastava are the parents of Lal Bahadur Shastri. When Shastri Ji was 2 years then his father Sharada Prasad who was a school teacher passed away. His mother, Ramdulari Devi, took him and his two sisters to their maternal grandfather Hazari Lal’s home. After completing his early education in Varanasi, Shastri Ji moved to stay with his maternal uncle. Upon graduating from Kashi Vidyapeeth in Varanasi in 1925, he was conferred with the title “Shastri”, which signifies a “scholar” or someone proficient in the “Holy Scriptures.”

Lal Bahadur Shastri Family

Shastri Ji’s father was a schoolteacher and his mother was a homemaker. After the early loss of his father Shastri Ji faced many challenges. Shastri Ji married Lalita Shastri the youngest daughter of Ganesh Shastri. The couple was blessed with 6 children of which 4 are sons(Hari Krishna Shastri, Anil Shastri, Sunil Shastri, and Ashok Shastri) and 2 are daughters(Kusum Shastri, and Suma Shastri).

Lal Bahadur Shastri Independent Activism

Lal Bahadur Shastri, inspired by his teacher Mr. Mishra, became interested in India’s fight for freedom. He read stories of brave leaders like Gandhi and Vivekananda. In 1921, while still in school, Shastri attended a meeting led by Gandhi and Madan Mohan Malaviya where he was inspired by Gandhi’s words and then Shastri Ji left school and joined the freedom movement. He joined the local Congress party as a volunteer and took part in protests against the British government.

He was soon caught and put in jail, but because he was young, he was released. J.B. Kripalani, a leader close to Gandhi, recognized the need for young people to continue their education. He and a friend started a special school, Kashi Vidyapith, where students learned about India’s history and culture. Shastri Ji was among the first students to graduate from the Vidyapith, earning a degree in philosophy and ethics. He was given the title “Shastri” (scholar), which became part of his name.

After that Lal Bahadur Shastri became a member of Lala Lajpat Rai’s Party (Lok Sevak Mandal) and started working for the betterment of the Harijans in Muzaffarpur under Gandhi’s leadership. He later became the Party’s President.

Shastri Ji joined the Indian National Congress as an active member in 1928 at Gandhi’s request. He spent two and a half years in jail. After that in 1937, he served as the Organising Secretary of the U.P. Parliamentary Board. He was imprisoned for a year in 1940 for his involvement in the independence movement.

In 1942, Gandhi gave a famous speech demanding the British to leave India. Shastri Ji who was just out of jail and then joined the movement in his city. He was also elected to the state government in 1937 and 1946.

Lal Bahadur Shastri’si Political Career

• In 1946 Shastri was appointed as parliamentary secretary of Uttar Pradesh
• In 1951 Shastri ji became General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee where he played a crucial role in the party’s election victories.
• From 1951-1956 he served as a minister for railways and transport.
• From 1956-1963 he held various cabinet positions including Minister for Commerce and Industry and Home Ministry.
• In 1961 he established the Committee on prevention of Corruptionn that demonstrates commitment to good governance.
• In 1964 he became prime minister after the death of Jawaharlal Lal Nehru.

Lal Bahadur Shastri PM Tenure

Shastri Ji became PM in 1964. Though his short tenure of 18 months he worked on various challenges.

• Food Shortage: During the tenure of Shastri Ji, India was facing a big problem with not enough food to feed everyone. then he started the green revolution in which he encouraged the use of new farming techniques and high-yielding crops, which became the foundation of the Green Revolution that helped India become more self-sufficient in food production.
• 1965 Indo-Pak War: Pakistan attacked India in 1965 but Shastri Ji showed strong leadership. The Indian army fought bravely, and under Shastri Ji, India emerged strong. After the war, Shastri Ji played a key role in bringing peace by signing the Tashkent Agreement with Pakistan PM Ayub Khan.
• Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan: Shastri Ji launched this popular slogan to emphasize the importance of both the soldiers who defend the nation and the farmers who grow the food.
• White Revolution: Shastri Ji recognized the need for more milk. He supported initiatives to increase milk production in India, which is called the White Revolution.

His leadership style is very simple and honest. He is known for his down-to-earth personality and his commitment to honesty. He is always remembered as one of the best Prime Minister of India.

Lal Bahadur Shastri Achivements

• He Laid the foundation stone for Bal Vidya Mandir,  a prestigious school in Lucknow, on November 19, 1964.
• He Opened the Central Institute of Technology Campus  in Tharamani, Chennai, in November 1964.
• He Opened the Chennai Port Trust’s Jawahar Dock  in November 1964.
• He Laid the foundation stone for the Almatti Dam  in Karnataka.
• He Approved the development of nuclear explosives  as suggested by Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha.
• He Opened the Plutonium Reprocessing Plant  in Trombay in 1965.
• He Opened the Sainik School Balachadi  in Gujarat.
• He Established the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute  to promote scholarly activity between India and Canada.
• He was Awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously (highest civilian honor).
• A memorial was established in Delhi in his honor named “Vijay Ghat”.

LalBahadurr Shastri Death

Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away on January 11, 1966 , in Tashkent, Uzbekistan due to a heart attack. His death occurred just one day after he signed a peace treaty to end the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War.

Lal BahadurShastri’si legacy

Shastri Ji was always known for his simple lifestyle and dedication to public service. Shastri Ji promoted unity and resilience. Shastri Ji was also a great leader who believed in peace. Shastri Ji’s contributions to India’s development and his leadership during challenging times continue to inspire generations.

FAQs on Lal Bahadur Shastri

When lal bahdur shastri was born.

Lal Bahdur Shastri was Born October 2, 1904, in a Kayastha family of Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh.

What is the Lal Bahadur Shastri Slogan?

Famous slogan of Lal Bahadur Shastri is “ Jai Jawan Jai Kishan “

What are the inspiring quotes of Lal Bahadur Shastri?

“We believe in peace and peaceful development, not only for ourselves but for people all over the world.”

When Lal Bahadur Shastri Died?

Lal Bahadur Shastri died on January 11, 1966 , in Tashkent, Uzbekistan due to heart attack.

Which agreement Lal Bahadurr Shastri signed with Ayub Khan for peace?

Lal Bahdur Shastri signed Tashkent Agreement with Pakistan PM Ayub Khan for peace between the two nations.

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Lal Bahadur Shastri Age, Caste, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Lal Bahadur Shastri

• Did Lal Bahadur Shastri smoke?: Not Known
• Did Lal Bahadur Shastri drink alcohol?: Not Known
• He shares his birthday with Mahatma Gandhi; fondly called the father of the nation in India.

• Since his childhood, he had inculcated the attributes of morals, honesty, simplicity, and sheer ethics.
• He was against the prevailing caste system, so, he decided to drop his surname “Shrivastava.”
• In 1925, after he completed his graduation from Kashi Vidyapeeth in Varanasi, he got the title “Shastri” meaning “Scholar person.”
• Young Shastri was inspired by the work and patriotism of  Swami Vivekananda , Gandhiji , Annie Besant, etc.
•  J.B Kripalani, along with one of his friends V.N. Sharma, had formed an informal school centred around “nationalist education” to educate the young activists. Shastri was inspired from their institution and also joined them.
• He went to jail for the first time at the age of seventeen; for his active participation in Non-Corporation Moment.
• In 1928, he got married to Lalita Devi, the youngest daughter of Ganesh Prasad. Since he was against the Dowry-system, he refused to accept the Dowry that his father-in-law gave to him. On being consistently forced by his father-in-law, he accepted only five yards of khadi (a type of cotton, usually handspun) cloth as dowry.

• He also joined Servants of The People’s Society (founded by Lala Lajpat Rai), as a life member and worked for the betterment of the Harijans under Gandhi’s direction at Muzaffarpur. Later, he became the President of the Society.
• In 1928, he became an active member of Congress and he got behind the bars for two and a half years for being a supporter of Salt March in 1930.
•  In 1940, he was jailed for one year for offering individual Satyagraha support to the independence movement.
• On 8 August 1942, Gandhi issued speech on Quit India Movement; challenging the British Government to leave India, Shastri who had just come out of prison, gave instructions to Independence Activists from Nehruji’s home. He was again arrested and imprisoned till 1946.

• Soon after India’s independence, Shastri was elected as Parliamentary Secretary in his home state, Uttar Pradesh.
• Being the Minister of Police and Transport (Uttar Pradesh), he was the first to allow women to become conductors. He was also the first one to introduce water cannons/jets, instead of Lathis, for crowd control.
• He was chosen as the General Secretary of All-India Congress Committee in 1951 when Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister. As General Secretary, he was handed all the responsibilities related to the elections.
•  He played a vital role in the consecutive successes of the Congress Party in the Indian General Elections of 1952, 1957 and 1962.

• Shastri was made Prime Minister on 9 June 1964, after the demise of Jawaharlal Nehru on 27 May 1964. He was the second Prime Minister of India.

• He took the oath of office on 11 June 1964 and stated: “There comes a time in the life of every nation when it stands at the crossroads of history and must choose which way to go. But for us, there need be no difficulty or hesitation, no looking to right or left. Our way is straight and clear—the building up of a secular mixed-economy democracy at home with freedom and prosperity, and the maintenance of world peace and friendship with select nations.”

• He gave the slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” during the war; when the country was also facing food shortage problems.
• He was the first person to be awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously.
• His commendable leadership was admired and extolled all across the world. He lived his life with the sheer simplicity and truthfulness and was a great source of motivation and inspiration to all the Indians.

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PM pays tributes to Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries

Taking to twitter, modi said that mahatma gandhi's principles are relevant all across the world and give strength to millions of people. “i bow to respected bapu on gandhi jayanti. his noble principles are globally relevant and give strength to millions,” pm modi wrote on the microblogging site..

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries. Taking to Twitter, Modi said that Mahatma Gandhi's principles are relevant all across the world and give strength to millions of people. “I bow to respected Bapu on Gandhi Jayanti. His noble principles are globally relevant and give strength to millions,” PM Modi wrote on the microblogging site.

Mahatma Gandhi, who is considered as the Father of the Nation, was a lawyer and an anti-colonial nationalist, who played a crucial role in India's Independence from British rule. Every year, his birth anniversary on October 2 is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti and is observed as a national holiday. This time, it is his 152nd birthday.

People across India observe Gandhi Jayanti through prayer services and tributes. Similar events also take place at the Raj Ghat in New Delhi, a memorial to the Mahatma. Last year, Prime Minister Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind paid tributes to Gandhi at the Raj Ghat. Modi was seen laying a wreath and offering prayers at the Gandhi Samadhi in the memorial.

In 2007, the United Nations said that October 2 will be observed as the International Day of Non-Violence which aims to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness."

While paying tributes to Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary, PM Modi said that Shastri's life, which was based on values and principles, will always remain a source of inspiration for India's citizens.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of India from 1964-66 and earlier served in key positions in Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet. He was a key figure in India's independence movement along with Mahatma Gandhi. Shastri was regarded as a secularist who rejected the mixing of politics and religion. He led India during the war with Pakistan in 1965 and is known for his slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’.

• Narendra Modi
• Lal Bahadur Shastri
• Mahatma Gandhi

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Morarji Desai Death Anniversary 2024: Lesser-known Facts About the Fourth Prime Minister of India

M orarji Desai was a political figure known for his contributions to the independence of India against the British and his tenure as the fourth Prime Minister of India. He is remembered for his simplicity, integrity, and dedication to public service. He became a civil servant and served as the Deputy Collector for over 12 years. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology, Desai joined the Independence movement. He served as the Prime Minister of India from 1977 to 1979. He was also the Deputy Prime Minister of India from 1967 to 1971. Desai died on April 10, at the age of 99.

Facts about Morarji Desai You Probably Didn’t Know

• Morarji Desai was born on February 29, 1896, in Bhadeli, Gujarat, British India (now in Gujarat, India). He belonged to a Gujarati Anavil Brahmin family.
• He pursued his education at the University of Mumbai.
• Desai was deeply involved in the independence movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. He took part in various protests including the Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement.
• Desai served as the Chief Minister of Bombay State, now Maharashtra and Gujarat, from 1952 to 1956, under the Indian National Congress.
• He was the Finance Minister of India from 1958 to 1963 under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He implemented several economic reforms during his tenure, including the abolition of the gold control laws.
• In 1963, he resigned from the Union Cabinet under the Kamraj Plan. Lal Bahadur Shastri, who succeeded Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister, persuaded him to become Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission at the time.
• In 1967, Desai joined the Indira Gandhi cabinet as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of Finance.
• Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister of India from 1977 to 1979 and headed the Janata Party coalition government. He improved relations with neighboring countries – Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• Morarji Desai got married to Gujraben in 1911 and had 5 children, out of which only 2 are currently alive.
• Morarji Desai reportedly practiced urine therapy, which involves drinking one’s own urine for health reasons.
• Morarji Desai died on April 10, 1995, at a hospital in Mumbai.