New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat in New Delhi, marking the 122nd birth anniversary of the leader remembered for his simplicity, integrity and firm commitment to national service.
In a post on X, Modi described Shastri’s simplicity and dedication to the nation as deeply inspiring. He also recalled the former prime minister’s gentle personality and strong resolve, highlighting a legacy that continues to hold a special place in India’s public life.
Shastri’s birth anniversary falls on October 2, the same day India observes Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. While Modi paid homage to Gandhi at Rajghat, Shastri was remembered at Vijay Ghat, where political leaders and citizens also paid their respects.
Born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, Shastri grew up in modest circumstances. His father died when he was very young, and his family faced financial difficulties. As a student, he walked long distances to school and later became deeply influenced by India’s freedom movement. At the age of 16, he responded to Mahatma Gandhi’s call to join the Non Cooperation Movement and eventually spent about seven years in British prisons during the freedom struggle.
After Independence, Shastri took on several important responsibilities, both in Uttar Pradesh and at the Centre. He served in key Union portfolios, including Railways, Transport and Communications, Commerce and Industry, and Home Affairs, before succeeding Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister in June 1964.
His tenure was brief but came during a challenging period for India. The 1965 India-Pakistan war brought his leadership into sharp focus, while his famous call of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” underlined the importance of both soldiers and farmers to the country.
Shastri travelled to Tashkent in January 1966 for negotiations following the war. The Tashkent Agreement was signed on January 10. Shastri died in Tashkent the following day, January 11, 1966, at the age of 61.
More than six decades after his death, Shastri remains remembered for a style of leadership centred on humility, discipline and public service. On his birth anniversary, the tributes once again bring attention to the legacy of a prime minister whose time in office was short, but whose words and example continue to be recalled across India.
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