Lal Bahadur Shastri:
The second Prime Minister of an independent India was Lal Bahadur Shastri. After the unexpected passing of the
first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, he took the oath. He was very fresh to the position of
power when he successfully guided the nation through the Pakistan war in
1965. He made the phrase ''Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' well known by emphasizing
the importance of self-sufficiency and independence as the cornerstones of a powerful nation. His diminutive,
weak frame and soft-spoken demeanour belied a guy of extraordinary
willpower. He preferred to be known for his work than for carefully
prepared speeches making lofty claims.
Lal Bahadur Shastri Early Life and Education:
Ramdulari Devi and Sharada Prasad Shrivastava welcomed Lal Bahadur Shastri into the world on 2 October 1904 in
Mughalsarai, United Provinces (modern-day Uttar Pradesh). The nation's
founding father, Mahatma Gandhi, also has the same birthday as him. Lal
Bahadur wanted to abandon his last name because he disagreed with the
current caste system. After he graduated from Kashi Vidyapeeth in
Varanasi in 1925, he was given the title ''Shastri. A ''scholar'' or
someone skilled in the ''Holy Scriptures '' is referred to by the
term ''Shastri''.
When Lal Bahadur was just two years old, his father Sharada Prasad, a school
teacher by profession, went away. He and his two sisters were taken to
their maternal grandfather Hazarila Lal's home by their mother Ramdulari
Devi. In his early years, Lal Bahadur earned the virtues of bravery,
love of exploration, patience, self-control, courtesy, and
selflessness. Lal Bahadur was moved to Varanasi to finish his primary/schooling there
before staying with his maternal uncle. The youngest daughter of Ganesh
Prasad, Lalita Devi, was married to Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1928. He declined to accept dowry because he
disagreed with the current ''dowry system''. But after persistent
prodding from his father-in-law, he consented to accept as a dowry
merely five years of khadi ( cotton that is often handspun). The couple
has six kids.
Political Career Lal Bahadur Shastri
After India's independence, Shastri's political career blossomed.
He served as the Minister of Police and Transport in Uttar
Pradesh, introducing progressive reforms like employing female
conductors and using water jets instead of lathis to disperse
crowds.
Shastri's journey with the Indian National Congress began in
1937, leading to his imprisonment for supporting individual
Satyagraha. He was pivotal in the party's electoral victories in
1952, 1957 and 1962.
Key Ministerial Roles
Shastri's contributions extended to various minister positions, such as
Railways, Commerce and Industry and Home Affairs. His vision led to the
foundation of the Mangalore Port in 1964.
Prime Ministerial Tenure
In 1964, after the passing of Jawaharlal Nehru, Shastri assumed office as India's second Prime Minister. His leadership
was marked by several critical events:
1- Official Language Controversary: Shastri defused the Madras anti-Hindi agitation by assuring that English
would remain an official language as long
as
non-Hindi-speaking states.
2- Economic Policies: He continued Nehru's socialist economic
policies and initiated the White Revolution to boost
milk production, founding the National Dairy Development Board.
3- Foreign Relations: Shastri upheld India's non-alignment policy
while strengthening
ties with the Soviet Union. He increased the defence budget
after the Sino-Indian War and established relations with Egypt, Yugoslavia and
other nations.
4- Sirima-Shastri Pact: He signed an agreement with Sri Lankan
Prime Minister
Bandaranaike regarding the status of Indian Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Indo-Pak War and Tashkent Agreement:
Shastri's most significant challenge came in 1965 during the Indo-Pak
War. Employing the slogan ''Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'', he rallied soldiers
and farmers lie. The war ended with a United Nations-ordered ceasefire,
leading to the Tashkent Agreement in 1966, where he met with Pakistan
President Ayub Khan.
Lal Bahadur Shastri's Passing
Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away on 11 January 1966, from a third
cardiac arrest while in office. His sudden death raised questions
and conspiracy theories, but medical experts determined it to be due
to heart failure. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat
Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.
Legacy:
Lal Bahadur Shastri's legacy endures as a symbol of integrity, humility
and dedication to the nation. He maintained a simple lifestyle and was
known as ''The Man of Peace'' for his commitment to nonviolent means is
resolving conflicts. His contributions to India's development and his
leadership during challenging times continue to inspire
generations.
Lal Bahadur Shastri Death:
Lal Bahadur Shastri, who had already experienced two heart attacks,
passed away on 11 January 1966, from a third cardiac arrest. The
only current Indian Prime Minister to have passed away abroad was in 1966, Lal Bahadur Shastri received a posthumous Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.
Many questions were raised when Shastri passed away unexpectedly soon
after agreeing to the Tashkent Pact with Pakistan. Shastri was allegedly
poisoned, and the Russian butler who was serving the Prime Minister was
detained, according to his wife Lalita Devi. However, he was later freed
after medical experts determined that Shastri had died of heart arrest.
The CIA may been involved in Shastri's death, according to a potential
conspiracy theory that was reported in the media. The Prime Minister's
Office rejected the RTI request made by author Anuj Dhar, citing a
potential deterioration in relations with the US.