
Born: 2nd October 1904
Died: 11th January 1966
Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji was an Indian Politician and the Second Prime Minister of India. He was born to Sharada Prasad Srivastava and Ramdulari Devi on 2nd Oct 1904 in Mughalsarai and studied at Harish Chandra High School and East Central Railway Inter College. He left his education in between to join the non-cooperation movement and dropped his caste derived surname “Srivastava”. He also worked for the betterment of Harijans at Muzaffarpur. Being influenced by the thoughts of Swami Vivekanand, Annie Besant, and Gandhiji in the 1920’s he joined the Indian Independence Movement.
Shasrtiji founded Lok Sevak Mandal (Servants of the People Society) served as the President of the Society. In 1947, following the Independence Shastri Ji held prominent positions in Indian National Congress, joined the Indian Government, and became the Prime Minister’s cabinet colleagues, primarily as Railway Minister, numerous other positions which include Home Minister and finally as the Prime Minister of India after Nehruji’s demise.
Addressing the shortage of milk, Shastriji started the White Revolution (a national campaign to increase the production and supply of milk) by giving support to Anand- the Amul milk cooperative, Gujarat, and developed a National Dairy Development Board.
While speaking on the chronic food shortages across the country, Shastri started the Indian Green Revolution and urged people to voluntarily hand over one meal in order that the food saved might be distributed to the affected populace. However, he ensured that he first implemented the system in his circle of relatives before appealing to the country. He went on the air to appeal to his countrymen to skip a meal every week. The response to his appeal was overwhelming. Even restaurants and eateries downed the shutters on Monday evenings. “Shastri Vrat” was observed all around the country. He took the initiative of plowing the lawn, at his official residence in New Delhi to motivate the country’s people. In 1965, during the Indo-Pakistan War Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri led the country with his slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” Urwa in Allahabad that became the National slogan during the war. Underlining the necessity to spice up India’s food production, Shastri Ji also promoted the revolution in India in 1965 which led to an increased food grain production in some parts of the country such as Punjab, Haryana, and U.P. Major milestones during this undertaking were the event of high-yielding sorts of wheat and rust-resistant strains of wheat.
Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was one among those great Indians who have left an indelible impression on our collective life. Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri’s contribution to our public life was unique therein they were made within the closest proximity to the lifetime of the commoner in India. Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri was looked upon by Indians together of their own, one who shared their ideas, hopes, and aspirations. His achievements were looked upon not due to the isolated achievements of a person but of our society collectively. Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri’s slogan Jai Jawan! Jai Kisan!! is carved in our minds. Underlying this is often the innermost sentiment ‘Jai Hind’. The Indo-Pakistan war was fought and won for our self-respect and our national prestige.
The Indo-Pakistan War ended formally with the Tashkent Agreement on January 10, 1966, Shastriji died the next day in Tashkent and cardiac arrest was reported as the cause of his death, which was not accepted by his family.
He was awarded Bharat Ratna, posthumously. Swami Vivekanand Subharti University remembers Shastriji as a national hero on his 54th Death Anniversary.