Although Lal Bahadur Shastri had been a cabinet minister for many years in the 1950s, he was poor when he died.
All he owned at the end was an old car, which he had bought in installments from the government and for which he still owed money.
He was a member of the Servants of India society (which included Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai, Gopal Krishna Gokhle) which asked all its members to shun accumulation of private property and remain in public life as servants of the people.
Did Jawaharlal Nehru join this group or his father ?
As PM; Shasri's stint was very short and yet his regime has a richer legacy than that of Manmohan Singh who was in office for 10 years.
Shastri was the first Railway minister who resigned from office following a major train accident as he felt moral responsibility.
Now that element of moral responsibility has gone for a toss !!
There are modern examples when convicted Netas go around the country and speak about many virtues including Corruption and Sickularism.
The biggest tragedy of Bihar polls in 2025 is no body is talking about the infamous Fodder scam.
Kuldip Nayar, Shastri's media advisor from 1960 to 1964, recalls that, during the Quit India Movement, his daughter was ill and he was released on parole from jail. However, he could not save her life because doctors had prescribed costly drugs.
Later on in 1963, on the day when he was dropped from the cabinet, he was sitting in his home in the dark, without a light. When asked about the reason, he said as he no longer is a minister, all expenses will have to be paid by himself and that as an MP and minister he didn't earn enough to save for times of need.
Lal Bahadur Shastri is just not a role model in a state like Nagaland. The 'party with difference' shares power in the state with a regional player. In the Bolero-rich state --- cash comes without stating - the regional pride Cock could be "caged" soon.
All these to serve 'regionalism' etc etc !!
This is just an example.
In neighbouring Assam; joblessness and economic hardships haunt people even in the regions which are rich in coal, tea and oil.
That's India for you and us ??
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| Shastri oversaw highly successful 1965 war against Pakistan |
On 1 August 1965, major incursions of militants and Pakistani soldiers began, hoping not only to break down the government but incite a sympathetic revolt.
The revolt did not happen, and India sent its forces across the Ceasefire Line (now Line of Control) and threatened Pakistan by crossing the International Border near Lahore as war broke out on a general scale.
Massive tank battles occurred in the Punjab, and while the Pakistani forces made gains in the northern part of subcontinent, Indian forces captured the key post at Haji Pir, in Kashmir, and brought the Pakistani city of Lahore under artillery and mortar fire.
The India-Pakistan war ended on 23 September 1965 with a United Nations-mandated ceasefire. In a broadcast to the nation on the day of the ceasefire, Shastri stated:
"While the conflict between the armed forces of the two countries has come to an end, the more important thing for the United Nations and all those who stand for peace is to bring to an end the deeper conflict.... How can this be brought about?
In our view, the only answer lies in peaceful coexistence. India has stood for the principle of coexistence and championed it all over the world.
Peaceful coexistence is possible among nations no matter how deep the differences between them, how far apart they are in their political and economic systems, no matter how intense the issues that divide them."
He gave the nation an inspiring slogan, "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" (Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer).
His leadership boosted national morale, and his decisive role in the war is considered a significant part of India's modern history, culminating in a ceasefire and the Tashkent Declaration in January 1966, shortly before Shastri's death.
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