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Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, a few hours after he signed the Tashkent Declaration, which ended the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War.
Lal Bahadur Shastri received India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in In 1966. (Image: Shutterstock)
India commemorates the death anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second prime minister of the country, on January 11. On this day in 1966, he died in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Shastri, one of the finest leaders in Indian independence history, was known as a man of the people.
Shastri was a leader shaped by traditional political methods. He gave the ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ slogan in 1965 at a public gathering in Prayagraj, then Allahabad. From an experienced freedom warrior, he developed into a capable head of the biggest democracy in the world.
Who Was Lal Bahadur Shastri?
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, and came from a very humble background. When Shastri was just a year and a half old, his father, Sharada Prasad Srivastava, who taught in schools, passed away. Shastri finished school despite extreme adversity.
After being moved by Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi, he joined the fight for freedom. Following India’s independence, Shastri went on to hold significant roles in the Congress and even held cabinet positions under Jawaharlal Nehru.
Shastri was chosen to succeed Nehru, who died in 1964. Because of his integrity and honesty, Shastri received praise from all political quarters.
10 Interesting Facts About India’s 2nd PM
- Originally named Lal Bahadur Shrivastava, Lal Bahadur Shastri chose to renounce his last name in defiance of the caste convention.
- He was greatly impacted by the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi. He was so touched by Gandhi that he joined the Indian National Congress in 1928.
- Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on the same day as Mahatma Gandhi.
- After finishing his education and earning a degree from Kashi Vidyapeeth, he was given the title ‘Shastri.’
- In 1947, he took the lead in appointing women as conductors while serving as Minister of Police and Transport.
- It was Lal Bahadur Shastri who initially ordered the deployment of water jets to disperse crowds instead of lathis.
- He served as prime minister when the Indo-Pak war broke out in 1965.
- In 1966, Shastri received India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. He was the first individual who was honoured posthumously.
- Shastri purchased a Fiat car by taking out a Rs 5,000 auto loan. After his death, his widow used the family pension to repay the loan.
- He passed away in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, a few hours after he signed the Tashkent Declaration, which ended the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War.
Lal Bahadur Shastri Death Anniversary: 10 Inspiring Quotes
- “We believe in the dignity of man as an individual, whatever his race, colour or creed, and his right to a better, fuller, and richer life.”
- “We can win respect in the world only if we are strong internally and can banish poverty and unemployment from our country.”
- “Discipline and united action are the real source of strength for the nation.”
- “Hard work is equal to prayer.”
- “We have to surmount the difficulties that face us and work steadfastly for the happiness for the happiness and prosperity of your country.”
- “I had always been feeling uncomfortable in my mind about giving advice to others and not acting upon it myself.”
- “India will have to hang down her head in shame if even one person is left who is said in any way to be untouchable.”
- “We believe in peace in the settlement of all disputes through peaceful means, in the abolition of war, and, more particularly, nuclear war.”
- If Pakistan has any ideas of annexing any part of our territories by force, she should think afresh. I want to state categorically that force will be met with force and aggression against us will never be allowed to succeed.”
- “No doubt we have to have bigger projects, bigger industries, basic industries, but it is a matter of the highest importance that we look to the common man, the weakest element in the society.”