Early Life and Education

• Birth: Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on 2^nd October 1904 in Mughal Sarai, Uttar Pradesh.
• He faced humble beginnings and lost his father when he was just one year old.
• Moral Values: He was raised in an environment that emphasized strong moral values.
• Education: Despite financial hardships, Shastri was determined to pursue his education and graduated from Kashi Vidyapeeth in 1926.
• Caste-Based Surname: During his student years, he dropped his caste-based surname Srivastava to demonstrate his commitment to breaking social barriers.

Contribution in Indian National Movement

• Response to Non-Cooperation Movement: At age sixteen, he immediately decided to abandon his studies when Gandhiji called for participation in the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• Support for Salt March: In 1930, he actively supported Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March, which defied the imperial salt law.
• Active Participation: He dedicated himself fervently to the freedom struggle, engaging in various activities to promote independence.

Tenure as Prime Minister of India

• He served as Prime Minister from 9^th June 1964 -11^th Januaryn1966.
• Continuation of Policies: He upheld Nehru’s socialist economic policies, focusing on central planning.
• Green Revolution Foundation: His vision for self-sufficiency in food grains contributed to the early stages of the Green Revolution in India.
• Support for White Revolution: Shastri promoted the White Revolution, aimed at increasing milk production, by supporting the Amul cooperative in Anand, Gujarat, and establishing the National Dairy Development Board.
• Response to Food Shortages: In the face of chronic food shortages, he encouraged citizens to voluntarily skip one meal to ensure food distribution to those in need.
• Famous Slogan: Shastri coined the enduring slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” which continues to inspire Indians.
• Indo-Pak War Contributions: His role during the 1965 Indo-Pak War and in facilitating the Tashkent Declaration marked a key moment in modern Indian history.
• Advocate for Peace: Although India won the war, Shastri aimed for a peaceful resolution between the two nations, emphasizing that their focus should be on the basic needs of their citizens rather than on conflict.

Lal Bahadur Shastri (1904-1966)