Who was Lal Bahadur Shastri?
Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of independent India, taking office after Jawaharlal Nehru. His popular slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” raised awareness about the importance of self-reliance and self-sustenance as the pillars of a strong nation.
Struggle for Independence
Shastri was inspired to join the struggle for independence after listening to a speech of Mahatma Gandhi’s in 1915. He was also well-read and followed the writings of foreign authors like Marx and Lenin. He later became the President of the Allahabad Congress Committee and played an important role in Gandhi’s Salt Satyagraha.
Second Prime Minister India
His methods of protest were civil and non-violent in nature. He believed that disobedience did not have to be violent in nature. Through these manners of protest, he was able to influence laws involving poverty, women’s rights and religious freedoms. After independence, he led India through the Indo-Pak war of 1965 successfully as Prime Minister.