Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India and the one who gave the slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, died on 11 January 1966. Shastri, famous for his clean image and simplicity, assumed the post of Prime Minister on June 9, 1964 after the death of the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. He remained the Prime Minister of the country for about 18 months. Under his leadership, India gave a crushing defeat to Pakistan in the 1965 war. He died under mysterious circumstances on the night of 11 January 1966 after signing an agreement to end the war with Pakistan President Ayub Khan in Tashkent.
Lal Bahadur Shastri’s tenure was very short, but during this time he set many examples on the basis of his simple nature and strong will. He took over the power of the country in difficult times and faced the challenges boldly. Here we are telling some interesting stories related to his life.
The whole country started fasting on the orders of PM
Lal Bahadur Shastri was the Prime Minister of India from June 1964 to January 1966. During this period there was a huge shortage of grains in India. India was dependent on America for food grains. Meanwhile, in 1965, Pakistan attacked India. The Indian Army gave a befitting reply to this, but the soldiers were facing food problems. In such a situation, the Prime Minister had appealed to all the countrymen to skip one meal. The people of the country also accepted this appeal. India gave a befitting reply to Pakistan in the war and in the coming years also became self-sufficient in food.
Shastri ji was disappointed after Tashkent agreement
During the war between India and Pakistan, the Indian Army had captured many areas of Pakistan. In such a situation, Pakistan sought help from the United Nations and the war stopped. After this, the Soviet Union called the prominent leaders of both the countries to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Here an agreement was signed between Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistan President General Ayub Khan. It was decided in the Tashkent Agreement that India and Pakistan would not use force. By 25 February 1966, the armies of both the countries would go to the border. Diplomatic relations between the two countries will be re-established and India will return the areas of Hajipir and Thithwal to Pakistan.
When Shastri talked to his daughter after the agreement, she said that she was not happy with the agreement. Pakistan was not to return Hajipir and Thithwal. After talking to his daughter, Shastri ji had said that how could other people like the agreement which was not liked by his family only. His dead body was found the very next day of this incident.
Got my own son’s promotion stopped
Lal Bahadur Shastri had stopped the promotion of his own son. His son was given unfair promotion while he was the Prime Minister. When Shastri ji came to know about this, he got angry at the officer who gave him the promotion. He had issued an order to immediately withdraw the promotion.
Opposition to VIP culture
Shastri ji was a person of simple nature and this was reflected in his every decision. While being the Home Minister, he once went to Calcutta. While returning, we got stuck in traffic and were afraid of missing the flight. The Police Commissioner wanted the Escort with siren to be brought forward. This will allow you to get space in the traffic and reach the airport on time. However, Shastri ji said that doing so would cause trouble to the common people and did not allow the vehicle with siren to proceed.
Went to jail 9 times, raised slogans of Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan
Shastri ji had given the slogan of Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan while being the Prime Minister of India. Shastri ji’s slogan had given hope in difficult times to the country which was struggling with food shortage and war with Pakistan and the country managed to deal with both the difficulties with strength. Before this, he had gone to jail nine times for the country’s independence. In 1930, he was jailed for two and a half years for his participation in the ‘Salt Satyagraha’. After this, he remained in jail for a year during the freedom movement. Due to his involvement in the Quit India Movement in 1942, he had to remain in jail for four years. He was released from jail in 1946. He went to jail nine times during the freedom struggle.
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