Lal Bahadur Shastri
Introduction
Lal Bahadur Shastri was an Indian political leader and the second Prime Minister of India. He was born on 2 October 1904 in Mughalsarai, a small town in present-day Uttar Pradesh. His full name was Lal Bahadur Shrivastava, but he later dropped his surname and became known simply as Lal Bahadur Shastri. Shastri was a simple and humble man, known for his integrity and dedication to the country. He played a crucial role in India’s struggle for independence and worked tirelessly for the betterment of the country until his untimely death in 1966.
Early Life and Education
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born to Sharada Prasad Shrivastava and Ramdulari Devi in a poor family in Mughalsarai. His father was a school teacher and died when Lal Bahadur Shastri was only one year old. His mother Ramdulari Devi, who was illiterate, worked hard to raise her children on her own.
Shastri’s childhood was marked by poverty and hardship. He studied at the local school in Mughalsarai, and later moved to Varanasi for further education. He joined the Kashi Vidyapeeth, a university founded by Mahatma Gandhi, where he studied philosophy and ethics.
During his college days, Shastri was deeply influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and became an ardent follower of the non-violent movement. He actively participated in the Indian independence movement and was jailed several times for his involvement in various protests.
Social and Political Career
Lal Bahadur Shastri’s political career began in 1928 when he was elected as the Secretary of the Congress Party in Allahabad. He became the President of the Congress Party’s youth wing in 1937, and was later elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1937.
In 1942, Shastri was arrested by the British authorities for his participation in the Quit India Movement, and was jailed for two years. After his release, he continued to work for the Congress Party and was appointed as the Minister of Police and Transport in the Uttar Pradesh government in 1947.
In 1951, Shastri was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. He served as the Minister of Railways from 1952 to 1956, and was credited with the introduction of several reforms in the Indian Railways. In 1957, he was appointed as the Minister of Transport and Communications.
Shastri’s rise in the political arena was slow but steady. He was known for his honesty, simplicity, and hard work, and was respected by his peers and opponents alike. In 1961, he was appointed as the Minister of Home Affairs, and was given the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the country.
Achievements as Prime Minister
Lal Bahadur Shastri became the Prime Minister of India in 1964, following the sudden death of Jawaharlal Nehru. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by several significant achievements.
One of his most significant achievements was the successful resolution of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Shastri’s firm leadership during the war earned him the nickname “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”, which translates to “Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer”.
Shastri was also known for his efforts to improve the economic condition of the country. He launched the “Green Revolution” to increase agricultural productivity, and introduced several measures to reduce poverty and unemployment in the country.
Another major achievement of Shastri’s tenure was the signing of the T