October 2nd is historically a very important date for India, as two of its greatest leaders were born on the date. First one was Mahatma Gandhi 2nd October 1869 and another one was Lal Bahadur Shastri born on same date in the year 1904. Shashtri was keen follower of Mahatma Gandhi’s principle and in fact it was Gandhi who provoked Shashtri’s attention towards Independence movement.
Lal Bahadur Shashtri was also ardently believed in economic policies of Jawaharlal Nehru, not only this he was also made as a Second Prime Minister of India, after the death of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964. However, there are number of episodes that every Indian must know about Shashtriji.
Shashtri was born Kayastha family of Ramnagar in Varanasi, since Shashtri did not believed in cast discrimination he dropped the title of ‘Kayastha’ from his name. It was after he graduated from Kashi Vidhiyapeeth, he was give the title of ‘Shashtri’ – which literary means a scholar.
It is widely known that Lal Bahadur Shashtri was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, but during in his early days was also touched by Bal Gangadhar Tilak – also known as Lokmanya Tilak, who was among one of the first and strongest advocates of ‘Swaraj’ (Self-Rule).
Lal Bahadur Shashtri first joined the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921, on call of Mahatma Gandhi’s desire of youths to come out of schools and colleges and contribute in the movement.
Shashtri was first jailed in the age of 17 years, but was freed as he was considered to be a minor. His active participation in Non-Cooperation movement and other supporting movements kept Shashtri behind the bars for 9 years, although it was not a consecutive imprisonment. First long imprisonment was in 1930 which was of two and half years, followed by arrested in year 1940, 1941 till 1946.
Lal Bahadur Shashtri served India on many positions, on which he did a remarkable work record. One among them is when he was serving Transport Minister of Independent India. He holds the credit of introducing women as a conductor in transport facilities.
It was Lal Bahadur Shashtri who ordered use of jets of water instead of ‘Lathi’ (wooden sticks) to disperse the crowd, during his charge as a minister of Police department. Apart from this credit of appointing the committee for prevention of corruption also goes to this great man.
He was the one who coined phrase of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan’ which means Hail Soldier, Hail Farmer to boost the morale of India, during the war against Pakistan in 1965. Lal Bahadur Shashtri was considered as successful Indian politician after India became victorious in battle of 1965.
Shashtri became the first Indian prime Minister to die on a foreign soil. He died due to a cardiac arrest during his visit to USSR on 11th January 1966 at the age of 62 years, there is a number or controversy attached to his death, while rumors says that he was poisoned.
In present we are celebrating 111th Birth Anniversary of this great Indian politician, who not only taught us the true principles of Independence, but also fought for it and became the individual who laid the foundation free India.
