New Delhi, October 2: On October 2, while the nation celebrates Gandhi Jayanti on account of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, it is also important to remember the man who contributed towards the growth of India. Shastri played a prominent role during the 22-day Indo-Pak war, which led to the country's eventual victory. His slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" is to date among the most popular slogans used for issues pertaining to farmers and youth.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904, to Sharada Prasad Srivastava and Ramdulari Devi in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh. Lal Bahadur Shastri lived a life of simplicity. Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti 2023 Date & Significance: From His Political Career to the Green Revolution of India, Everything To Know About the 2nd Prime Minister of India.

Before assuming the office of the second Prime Minister of independent India between 1964 and 1966, Shastri was made Minister of Railways and Transport in the first cabinet of India on May 13, 1952. Lal Bahadur Shastri also served as the Minister of Commerce and Industry in 1959 and the Minister of Home Affairs in 1961. He became the Prime Minster on June 1964 after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru died in office in May 1964. Gandhi Jayanti 2023 Date, History and Significance: Know All About the Day That Marks the Birth Anniversary of the Father of the Nation.

Here Are Some Interesting Facts About Lal Bahadur Shastri

  1. Lal Bahadur got the title ‘Shastri’ in Kashi Vidyapeeth university in 1926 as a mark of scholarly success. In fact, it was a degree.

  2. Under Shastri's rule, the White Revolution was promoted, which saw the country increase its milk production exponentially in a matter of a few years.

  3. Shastri was also instrumental in promoting the Green Revolution in India, the agricultural revolution which saw India's food output rise rapidly in food-growing states.

  4. It was during his tenure that the first women bus conductors were appointed.

  5. He resigned from his post when he was a railway minister, blaming himself for being responsible for a railway accident that took lives.

  6. After he became the prime minister he had to apply for a bank loan of Rs 5,000 to buy his first car on the insistence of his family. After his loan was approved quickly, he reportedly asked whether the common person could expect such speedy processing as well.

  7. During the Indo-Pakistan war in 1965, the country faced a shortage of food and at the time he stopped drawing his salary. 

  8. He is the first Indian to posthumously receive the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.

Lal Bahadur Shastri died on 11 January 1966 in the then USSR’s Tashkent due to heart failure. However, but his death has always been shrouded with mystery.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 02, 2023 06:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).