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. 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. Due to the clean image of Lal Bahadur Shastri, after the death of Nehru ji on 27th May 1964, Shastriji was given the responsibility of the country. He took over the reins of the country as the second Prime Minister of Independent India. He died on January 11, 1966 in Tashkand. Here are some facts about Lal Bahadur Shastri, a tiny man who dwarfed the arrogant army general Ayub Khan in Tashkent and died by leaving only one dhoti-kurta and few books as property for his family.
1. On the occasion of his birth centenary in 2004, the RBI issued a Rs.100 coin with his portrait on it, commemorating his life. The coin is non-circulating and is available on order alone.
2. Shastri’s mother had lost Shastri while taking a bath in the Ganges when he was 3 months old. Following an FIR, a cowherd who had no children, unwillingly returned him to his mother.
3. In school days, Shastri would swim across the Ganges twice a day with his book tied on top of his head since he didn’t have enough money to take the boat.
4. Shastri ji was the person who gave us third class also in the railway. He made a great difference in the rent of First Class and Third Class. This helped the people of the weaker sections to get relief. After a rail accident, he resigned from his position in 1956. This was an example of his humanity.
5. Lal Bahadur Shastri had promoted white Revolution / milk revolution only during his tenure. Anand, along with Amul Milk Cooperative of Gujarat, established the National Dairy Development Board.
6. In 1964, when Shastriji became the Prime Minister of the country, grains from the US were used and in 1965 India was hit by drought, when the US refused to give wheat, then Shastriji should not have said we should have you -Supply wheat and appealed to the citizens that fasting one day a week so that there is a low cost of grain.
7. Shastri had a habit of revising drafts endless number of times. In 1964, he revised his speech for a conference in Cairo so many times that by the time he went to speak it could not be typed in full.
8. Pakistan attacked India in 1965 thinking that in 1962, the power of India would have weakened after the war with China, when the President convened an emergency meeting and the three army chief said that tell us what to do now, then Shastri The immediate answer was that you protect the country and tell us what to do. Under the leadership of Shastri, India defeated Pakistan.
9. Shastri’s family was surviving on a pension of Rs. 50 per month, when he was in jail during the freedom struggle. His wife informed him that she saved Rs.10 from that money. Shastri asked the Servants of People’s Society for his pension to be reduced and Rs.10 to be paid to some needy
10. Shastri’s death remains a mystery till date. After signing the Tashkent Agreement, he died from a heart attack in China. His sudden passing away raised many questions. His people and followers believed that he was killed by poisoning. If that day had been post mortem then the whole truth would have been revealed but it could not be done. Even today Shastri ji is remembered by the entire India for his simplicity, patriotism and honesty. He was also honored with Bharat Ratna in the year 1966.
Daphne Diggory - CMRTC
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