Lal Bahadur Shastri
Share this inspirational story of Lal Bahadur Shastri
The Inspirational Story of "Lal Bahadur Shastri"
In this episode of “Famous Indian Personalities”, let us second prime minister of India- Lal Bahadur Shashtri.
Lal Bahadur Shastri was a statesman from India who served as the country’s second Prime Minister. He advocated for the White Revolution, a nationwide push to boost milk production and supply. He also led the country through warfare and brought peace, earning him the nickname “Man of Peace.”
Birth: Shastri was born in the home of his maternal grandparents on October 2, 1904. His father, Sharada Prasad Srivastava, was a schoolteacher, and his mother, Ramdulari Devi, was the daughter of a headmaster and an English teacher.
Childhood: Shastri was educated in Urdu, a language and culture he grew up with. He was homeschooled until he was in sixth grade. Shastri afterwards moved to Varanasi and enrolled in Harish Chandra High School’s seventh grade. He decided to shed his caste-derived surname “Srivastava” at that time.
Adult Life: Shastri was intrigued by the independence movement and began to research its history as well as the works of various notable figures, including Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, and Annie Besant. Gandhi and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya arranged a public gathering in Benares, which he attended. Shastri was so moved by it that he dropped out of school and volunteered with the Congress Party’s local organization.
Independence Activism: Shastri joined the Indian National Congress as an active and mature member in 1928. In 1937, he worked as the Organizing Secretary of the U.P. Parliamentary Board. He was imprisoned for a year in 1940 for providing individual Satyagraha support to the freedom struggle.
Political Career: After becoming the prime minister, he lead to many developments like “White Revolution”. He also lead the country through the war times and lead to peace, this giving him the nickname “Man of Peace”. He also believed that farmers are as important for the country as soldiers, therefore he gave the slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisaan”
Memorial: Throughout his life, Shastri was recognized for his honesty and modesty. He received the Bharat Ratna posthumously, and a memorial called “Vijay Ghat” was constructed in Delhi in his honour. There are several educational institutions bearing his name.
Stay tuned and listen to more episodes of our podcast “Famous Indian Personalities” where we keep bringing stories from the lives of the greatest personalities of India.
