Lal Bahadur Shastri was born at Moghul Sarai in Uttrar Pradesh on 2nd of October, 1904. It is a coincidence that 2nd of October also happens to be the date of birth of Mahatma Gandhi. Both have become world renowned leaders. Shastri’s father was a teacher. Shastri spent his childhood in poverty and penury. He was a Kayasta by birth and Shastri is the degree he got after studying at Kashi Vidyapeeth.
After completing his education, Shastri became a full-time member of the Servants of Peoples Society founded by Lala Lajpat Rai and started doing social service. He was attracted towards the freedom movement when he was still a student. He took active part in the Non-cooperation Movement and was jailed in 1920. He had to leave his studies and go to jail.
He returned from jail and married in 1927 at the age of 23. He actively associated himself with the Congress movement and was elected as General Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Assembly in 1937 and again in 1946. He became the Home Minister of Uttar Pradesh and served there till 1951. He attracted the attention of Jawaharlal Nehru by his sincerity, integrity and hard work and was drafted as General Secretary of All India Congress Committee, in 1951.
He shifted his venue of work to New Delhi. He became a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1952 and became Minister for Railways. He resigned that post on account of Railway accident, accepting moral responsibility. Thus he set a good percent for others to follow. In 1958 he took over as Minister for Commerce and Industry. Later he was shifted to Home Ministry in 1961. He gave up this office under Kamaraj Plan.
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After the demise of Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri became the Prime Minister of India in 1964. He served as Prime Minister for a short period of 18 months. During that short period, he had to lead the country in and undeclared war with Pakistan. His leadership was so dynamic that Indian forces crossed the international border and made Pakistan accept peace. It was during this period he gave the slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”.
The peace treaty with Pakistan was signed at Tashkent (USSR) on January 11, 1966. Sri Shastri breathed his last at Tashkent itself a few hours after the India-Pakistan agreement was signed. His remains lay buried at ‘Vijaya Ghat’, New Delhi.
Lal Bhadur Shastri was a simple man all through his life. His integrity and sincerity are unquestionable. He gave a clean administration, shedding aside corruption and nepotism. Thotgh his period as Prime Minister was short, it was a golden period in Indian history. He was awarded the ‘Bharat Ratna’, the highest civilian award posthumously.