Devanjana Mukherjee, Khabri Media
Remembering the Man who walked on the Path of Peace on his 119th birth anniversary.
Pic: Social Media
Born on 2nd October 1904, in Mughalsarai (Uttar Pradesh), Lal Bahadur Shastri was popularly known for his simple living, soft nature, honesty, and perseverance. Being an integral part of Mahatma Gandhi’s team, he took an active part in India’s freedom fight. His quotation includes one of the most popular slogans, ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ which is still relevant in today’s date.
MUST READ: Chaar Dhaam Yatra via Helicopter
Early Life & Education
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born in 1904 in Mughalsarai (Uttar Pradesh) to Munshi Sharda Prasad Srivastava in a Kayastha family. [2] His father was a primary school teacher, hence everyone called him Munshiji. Later he took up the job of clerk in the Revenue Department. Lal Bahadur’s mother’s name was Ramdulari.
Being the youngest in the family, the family members fondly called him Nanhe. When the little one turned eighteen months old, unfortunately, his father passed away. His mother Ramdulari went to her father Hazarilal’s house in Mirzapur. After some time, even his maternal grandfather was no more. His maternal uncle Raghunath Prasad helped his mother a lot in raising the child without a father.
Pic: Social Media
He received primary education while living in his maternal home. His subsequent education took place in Harishchandra High School and Kashi Vidyapeeth in Varanasi. Rumors state that he took part in India’s freedom struggle at the mere age of 16 hence leaving his studies in the middle followed by his first jail term at the age of 17. But there is no such proof of it. Reports confirm that after receiving the title of Shastri from Kashi Vidyapeeth, he removed the caste word ‘Srivastava’ which was prevalent since birth, and added ‘Shastri’ in front of his name. After this, the word Shastri became synonymous with the name of Lal Bahadur.
Pic: Social Media
Married Life
He was married to Lalita, daughter of Ganesh Prasad, a resident of Mirzapur in the year 1928. Lalita and Shastriji had six children, two daughters – Kusum and Suman, and four sons – Harikrishna, Anil, Sunil, and Ashok. Of his four sons, two – Anil Shastri and Sunil Shastri are still alive by the grace of God, the remaining two have passed away. Anil Shastri is a senior leader of the Congress Party while Sunil Shastri is a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Pic: Social Media
Freedom Movement
After majoring in Sanskrit language from Kashi Vidyapeeth, Lal Bahadur Shastri joined Bharat Seva Sangha from where he took a vow to serve the country for his entire life. His political journey officially began in Varanasi. Being a true Gandhian, he lived his entire life in simplicity and devotion to public service. He actively took part in all important national programs as well as Indian freedom struggle movements like the Non Co-Operation Movement in 1921, the Dandi March in 1930, and the Quit India Movement in 1942, due to which he had to stay behind bars several times.
Pic: Social Media
During the Second World War, England was highly entangled, to which Netaji raised a slogan of “Dilli Chalo” to its Azad Hind Fauj. It became a roar to the entire nation. Grasping the seriousness of the situation, Gandhiji too raised a slogan of “Quit India” and “Do or Die” in August 1942. Shastri Ji led the operation for straight 11 days by roaring the quotation “Don’t Die, Kill” and finally got arrested on the 19th of August 1942.
DON’T MISS: Punjab CM raises serious issues
Political Life
Lal Bahadur Shastri joined the Bharat Seva Sangha, Allahabad branch as Chief Secretary in 1929 with the help of Purushottam Das Tandon. He continued his tenure with Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant and Jawahar Lal Nehru. During this time, Nehru Ji grew fond of him thus raising various statures in life. Soon, he handled the position of Union Home Minister in Nehru’s cabinet followed by the positions of Union Railway Minister and finally taking charge as Minister of External Affairs.
Pic: Social Media
After the demise of India’s first Prime Minister, Shastri Ji was made the second Prime Minister of India in the year 1964. In his first press conference, he stated that his top priority was to stop the rise in food prices. His activities were not ideological but were completely practical and in accordance with the needs of the people.
In 1965, our neighboring country Pakistan suddenly launched an air strike on India around 7:30 PM. The then President, Dr. Servapalli Raghakrishnan called an emergency meeting which included the heads of all Defence systems and cabinet ministers. Shastri then urged the experts to get hold of the situation and reclaim the border, meanwhile, he appealed to the general public to grow vegetation in every empty field. This is the time he raised the slogan of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.
Pic: social Media
The quotation created a revolution for India, as the production of agriculture and dairy rose twice the actual numbers. He also worked for women’s empowerment, poverty, disease, brotherhood, social ignorance, and so on.
The Controversy
After serving the country for a very short tenure from June 9, 1964, to January 11, 1966, Lal Bahadur Shastri’s sudden demise shook the nation. As per the official record, he was assassinated in a foreign land.
During the India-Pakistan war, the Indian Army attacked Lahore after facing a ruthless attack from Pakistan. Seeing this unexpected attack, America demanded a ceasefire for some time to evacuate the American citizens living in Lahore. After the talks between Russia and America, the Prime Minister of India was invited to the Tashkent Agreement in Russia.
Pic: Social Media
He agreed to sign the agreement but refused to return the land won from Pakistan during the war. However, under international pressure, Shastri ji had to sign the Tashkent Agreement and soon after signing the memorandum of ceasefire with Pakistan’s then Prime Minister Ayub Khan, Lal Bahadur Shastri died mysteriously in Russia, on the night of 11th January 1966. The reason for his demise was stated as cardiac arrest.
Shastriji was cremated with full state honors on the banks of Yamuna in front of Shantivan (Nehruji’s mausoleum) and the place was named Vijay Ghat.
Quotations
During his tenure as cabinet minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri raised a lot of slogans which became a roar amongst the public. Below are listed a few quotations by Shastri Ji.
- Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan
- Economic issues are most important for us so that we can fight our biggest enemies ‘poverty’ and ‘unemployment’.
- For the progress of the country, instead of fighting among ourselves, we have to fight poverty, disease, and ignorance.
- We believe in peace, development and welfare not only for ourselves but for the entire world.
- If any person is ever called an untouchable in our country then India will bow its head in shame.
- The law should be respected so that the basic structure of our democracy remains intact and our democracy also becomes stronger.
- Loyalty to the country comes before all loyalties and it is absolute loyalty because one cannot wait for what one gets in return.
- People can never achieve true democracy and swaraj through violence and untruth.
Khabri Media team wishes all Indians a Happy Shastri Jayanti by remembering his golden words by heart.
