October 2 is the birth anniversary of #LalBahadurShastriJi the man who gave the immortal slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" to enthuse the soldiers to defend India and simultaneously cheering farmers to do their best to increase production of food grains to reduce dependence on import.

Shastri Ji had entered politics at a young age as a satyagrahi in the Indian National Movement. He became the 2nd PM of India in 1964. In his 1st broadcast as Prime Minister on 11th June, 1964, he stated, "There comes a time in the life of every nation...

when it stands at the cross-roads of history and must choose which way to go. But for us, there need be no hesitation, no looking to right or left. Our way is straight and clear...."

Some facts:
Lal Bahadur Shrivastava was born to Sharada Prasad & Ramdulari Devi in Varanasi, UP.

His father worked as a clerk in the Revenue Office of Allahabad. When he was one year old, his father passed away due to bubonic plague.
Opposing the deeply ingrained caste-system in India, at the age of 12 in 1917, Shastri Ji dropped his surname ‘Shrivastava’.

After he completed graduation, he was given the title ‘Shastri’. In 1927, he got married to Lalita Devi. The wedding was traditional in all senses but one. The dowry was a spinning wheel and a few yards of handspun cloth. He would accept nothing more.

He led many defiant campaigns during the freedom movement and spent seven years in jails.
He became a known face and after the independence, he played a major role in governance. It was during his tenure as Minister of Police and Transport, first women conductors were appointed.

It was Shastri Ji, who suggested the use of jets of water instead of lathis to disperse unruly crowds. He became Railway Minister but he resigned from his post after a train accident in Tamil Nadu killed around 150 passengers.

He promoted the White Revolution – a national campaign, to increase the production and supply of milk by supporting the Amul milk co-operative of Anand, Gujarat. The National Dairy Development Board was formed in 1965. He also promoted the Green Revolution.

During the India-Pakistan war in 1965, Shastri Ji took the bold step and asked the army to take action. Under his leadership, India won the war. This win also helped to boost the confidence Indian army lost after its war with China in 1962.

During his tenure, there was an acute food shortage. To ensure that food could be distributed equally, he urged people to skip one meal a day. He went on air to appeal people to skip one meal in a week. The appeal got a great response and people started calling it ‘Shastri Vrat’.

His family asked him to buy a car when he was the PM. The Fiat car he bought was for Rs 12,000. He applied for a bank loan of Rs 5,000 from the Punjab National Bank as he had only Rs 7,000 in his bank account, The car is kept at the Shastri Memorial in New Delhi.

He had Chevrolet Impala car for his official use. Once his son used the car for a drive. When Shastri Ji learned about it, he asked his driver to check the distance the car was used and later deposited that money in the Govt account.

He died in Tashkent on 11th January, 1966, 'reportedly' due to cardiac arrest. Just a day after he signed the Tashkent Declaration. His death was surrounded by several mysteries as no postmortem was carried out on his body, and it remains a mystery even today.

"Generations have gone by, but conspiracy theories about what caused Shastri’s death have not ceased. In some other country, the strange case of a PM’s death would have been inquired into by a high-powered team long ago... " writes @anujdhar
Do read. https://www.dailyo.in/lite/politics/lal-bahadur-shastri-tashkent-kgb-russia-rti-congress-pmo-mea-tn-kaul/story/1/8393.html

#ShastriJayanti