Lal Bahadur Shastri: A Leader's Journey

1. Introduction

• Lal Bahadur Shastri (2 October 1904 – 11 January 1966) served as the third Prime Minister of India and was a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress party.

2. Early Years and Gandhi's Influence

• Shastri joined the Indian independence movement in the 1920s.
• He was deeply inspired and influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, becoming a devoted follower of both Gandhi and later, Jawaharlal Nehru.

3. Salt Movement and Quit India

• During the "Salt Movement," Shastri led a door-to-door campaign, encouraging people not to pay land revenue and taxes to the British authorities.
• He actively participated in the Quit India movement, called by Mahatma Gandhi.

4. Political Journey

• In 1937, Shastri was elected to the UP Legislative Assembly.
• Post-Independence, he served as the Minister of Police in Uttar Pradesh and introduced reforms, like the use of "water-jets" instead of sticks for crowd control.

5. Entry into Union Cabinet

• Impressed with his efforts, Jawaharlal Nehru invited Shastri to join the Union Cabinet as the Minister for Railways.

6. Commitment to Morality

• Known for his ethics and morality, Shastri resigned from his post in 1956 following a train accident near Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu, that claimed around 150 lives.
• Jawaharlal Nehru once said, "No one could wish for a better comrade than Lal Bahadur, a man of the highest integrity and devoted to ideas."

7. Contributions as Prime Minister

• Shastri succeeded Nehru on 9 June 1964.
• He followed Nehruvian socialism and addressed fundamental issues like food shortages, unemployment, and poverty.
• Under his leadership, the "Green Revolution" was initiated to combat food scarcity.
• Shastri also promoted the "White Revolution" and established the National Dairy Development Board in 1965.

8. Indo-Pak War and Tashkent Declaration

• The 1965 Indo-Pak war occurred during Shastri's tenure, concluding on 23 September 1965 after a UN resolution demanded a ceasefire.
• Russian Prime Minister Kosygin offered to mediate, and on 10 January 1966, Shastri and his Pakistani counterpart Ayub Khan signed the Tashkent Declaration.

9. Tragic Demise

• Despite earlier health issues, Shastri passed away on 11 January 1966 due to a third cardiac arrest.
• He is the only Indian Prime Minister to have died in office while overseas.

10. Bharat Ratna

• Posthumously, Lal Bahadur Shastri was the first individual to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor.

Lal Bahadur Shastri's journey from a dedicated follower of Mahatma Gandhi to becoming India's Prime Minister and his impactful contributions to the nation's growth and stability remain a significant part of India's history.