Lal Bahadur Srivastava was born on 2 October 1904 and passed away in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 11 January 1966. He was an Indian politician as well as a statesman who was appointed as the second prime minister of India from 1964 to 1966. Also, he served as the sixth home minister of the nation from 1961 to 1963. His passion for his land and his people is still saluted to this day. He coined and sustained many policies for India which have had a significant positive impact on the country to this day. Domestic policiesLal Bahadur Shastri helped many politicians hold their place in Nehrus Council of Ministers. T. T. Krishnamachari maintained his position as Indias Finance Minister. Yashwantrao Chavan stayed as the Defence Minister at the time. Minister of Home Affairs Gulzarilal Nanda also continued with his title. After retiring from the post himself, Shastri appointed Swaran Singh as the External Affairs Minister. Further, he appointed Indira Gandhi as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting.Lal Bahadur Shastris people-dealing skills helped to subside the riots that were arising in Madras during the ani-Hindi agitation in 1965. The Indian government was making efforts to declare Hindi as the sole national language of the nation. This was not received well by the predominantly non-Hindi-speaking state of Madras. Shastri assured that English would remain the official language of India as long as the non-Hindi speakers demanded it. This was valuable in calming down the heated atmosphere in the state. Economic policiesBeing economically sound is extremely crucial for any infrastructure to bloom to its full capacity. Shastri created and maintained many economic policies which helped India flourish. He continued Nehrus socialist economic policies by implementing central planning. The White Revolution was promoted by the politician, which was a national campaign to increase milk production and supply.He provided support to the Amul milk co-operative. On 31 October 1964, he went to Anand for the inauguration of Amuls Cattle Feed Factory in Kanjari. He stayed overnight in the village with the farmers and had dinner with a farmers family. By spending time with the farmers he was able to better understand the functioning and the success of the company. As a result of his findings, he was able to create the National Dairy Development Board.Lal Bahadur Shastri also made great efforts towards improving the condition of India during the food shortage period. He requested people to give up one meal to save food so that it could be distributed to the affected population. Being a man of social responsibility he made it a point to first implement the same in his own house. He received an overwhelmingly positive response. Foodjoints also obliged by closing their services on Monday evenings.Many regions in India observed the Shastri Vrat. Shastri ploughed the lawn at his official residence in New Delhi, to encourage the people of India to maximize food grains cultivation. Shastris promotion of the Green Revolution in 1965 led to food grain production being increased particularly in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The politicians government passed the National Agricultural Products Board Act. Also, he was responsible for starting the Food Corporation of India under the Food Corporation Act 1964.Foreign policiesThe late politician added a lot of value to India on the foreign front as well. He managed to make closer ties with the Soviet Union while continuing Nehrus policy of non-alignment. In 1962 post the Sino-Indian War, he worked towards the formation of military ties between Pakistan and China. Shastri was able to expand Indias defence budget which empowers the Indian military. In 1964, he encouraged the local governments to look after the repatriates and provide them with needed facilities upon their disembarkation on Indian land. Madras States Chief Minister of the time, Minjur K. Bhaktavatsalam, displayed support in providing rehabilitation for the returnees. In December 1965, Shastri visited Rangoon, Burma and rebuilt cordial relations with the Burmese Military Government of General Ne Win.The passionate politician Slogan Jai Jawan Jai KisanShastris leadership immensely helped to stop Pakistan from proceeding to invade India in 1965. His popular slogan Jai Jawan! Jai Kisan! is widely spoken even today throughout the land of India. It is a phrase spoken in praise of the farmers and soldiers of India, as they are the backbone of the food and safety of the country.His dedication towards his country is honoured even today:#WATCH | Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah pays floral tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his death anniversary, in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/pth6ZbIr1S— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2024 On late Lal Bahadur Shastris death anniversary we salute his service and passion towards Bharat.
