Lal Bahadur Shastri-Second Prime Minister of India | Biography

Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on 2nd October, 1904 in Mughalsarai town of Uttar Pradesh. He is known as 'Man of Peace'. His father's name was Sharada Prasad Srivastava and mother's name was Ramdulari Devi. Ramdulari affectionately called him 'Nanhe'.

Once Ramdulari went to take a bath in the river Ganga with her son Nanhe. Then suddenly Nanhe slipped from her lap. For many days, she remained troubled in search of her son. With God's grace, she found her son safely. That is why it is said that Ganga had special grace on Shastriji.

At the age of one and a half, his father died. The responsibility of his future had come to Ramdulari. They were struggling with financial constraints. The school he entered was across the river Ganga. So he had to go to school in the boat. Many times, due to lack of money he used to swim in Ganga to go to school.

He got a lot of support from his grandparents. By staying with them, he studied up to the sixth grade. After that, he started living with his warts, Raghunath Prasad. Raghunath Prasad lived in Banaras. Lal Bahadur took admission in Harish Chandra High School of Banaras. He had become very dear to teachers by his good thoughts, good habits and sweet behavior. He was started counting in good students.

He was married to Lalita Devi at the age of only 16. He once praised his wife and said that thanks to the invaluable contribution of Lalita, I was able to use my power by staying among great people like Gandhiji and Nehruji.

Jawaharlal Nehru was very impressed by his work. That's why he made Lal Bahadur Shastri the president of Allahabad Mahanagar Congress Committee in 1930. Jawaharlal Nehru had full faith that Lal Bahadur would fulfill the work that he would be entrusted to. In 1921, Lal Bahadur left the School and joined the Non-Cooperation Movement. He also worked in the Servants of Indian Society. He studied for 4 years in Kashi Vidyapith. From there he got the title of Shastri. In 1937, he was elected the Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He was arrested during the Satyagraha movement in 1941 and remained in jail for 5 years.

He was also the Railway Minister in Nehruji's Cabinet. In 1956, there was a train accident in Mahabubnagar in which hundreds of people were killed. Then, while taking moral responsibility, Shastri gave a resignation letter to the Railway Minister. But the work done by him was greatly appreciated. He was also the General Secretary of All India Congress Committee in 1952. Despite having high positions, he did not had any kind of pride. In 1957, he was elected to Lok Sabha from Allahabad. This time he was appointed Union Minister of Transport and Communications. After the death of Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant in 1961, he was given the post of Home Minister. But he resigned from the post in 1963.

Nehruji died on May 27, 1964, and on June 9, 1964, Shastriji became the Second Prime Minister of India. When Pakistan invaded India in 1965, on the orders of Sashtriji, the Indian Army dumped Pakistan. Russia had arranged a negotiation agreement between India and Pakistan in 1966. It is known as the Taskent Agreement. Lal Bahadur Shastri attended this conference but on 10th January, 1966 he passed away due to a heart attack.

The Indian government honored him with 'Bharat Ratna' on 26th January, 1966. Today Lal Bahadur Shastri is not among us, but we remember him with great pride.

We believe in the dignity of man as an individual, whatever his race, colour or creed, and his right to better, fuller, and richer life.

- Lal Bahadur shastri