Insaaf Times Desk

Every year on October 2, the nation commemorates the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Amidst the echoes of non-violence, truth, and the spinning wheel, the day also marks the birthday of India’s second Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri. Born on October 2, 1904, Shastri reshaped Indian politics through simplicity, honesty, and strong leadership.

Influenced by Gandhi’s ideals, Shastri abandoned his studies at the age of just 17 to join the Non-Cooperation Movement and played an active role in the freedom struggle. His participation in the Salt Satyagraha and the Quit India Movement led to multiple imprisonments, with Shastri spending a total of nine years behind bars.

Following the death of Jawaharlal Nehru on May 27, 1964, when the nation was facing uncertainty and challenges, Lal Bahadur Shastri was unanimously chosen as Prime Minister on June 9, 1964. Initially labeled a “compromise candidate,” he proved within just 18 months that he was in fact a strong and decisive leader.

Shastri’s hallmark was his simplicity. Even as Prime Minister, he rejected special privileges and was once seen standing in line to collect ration for his household. Through his conduct, he sent a powerful message that true leadership lies in setting an example.

During the 1965 India-Pakistan war and the food crisis, Shastri gave the nation the iconic slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” (Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer), placing farmers and soldiers on equal footing and guiding India towards self-reliance. This was also the period when he laid the foundations of key institutions such as Operation Flood, the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

However, on January 11, 1966, shortly after the Tashkent peace talks, Shastri died suddenly under circumstances that remain a mystery to this day. Yet, his short tenure proved that he was not merely a Prime Minister by circumstance but a true leader who took the right decisions at the right time.

Amid the grandeur of Gandhi Jayanti, Shastri’s name often fades into the background, but his simplicity, integrity, and foresight have made him an enduring symbol of Indian politics.