Shri Lai Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of India. He was a great patriot. He was born in 1904 on 2nd October in Mughal Sarai He belonged to a Kayasth family.
His father was a teacher.
He died when Shastriji was only one and a half year old. He was brought up and educated by his maternal grandfather.
When he was a boy he joined the Congress. He was a born patriot. He took active part in the first Non-cooperation Movement. He left his studies and went to jail in 1920. He did great work for the freedom of India.
He was married in 1927. He became life-member of the Servants of People Society. He did a lot of work for the city congress.
He was elected the General Secretary of the U.P. Provincial Committee in 1935. In 1937 he fought the election for the U.P. Assembly
He worked as Home Minister of U.P. from 1946 to 1951. His selflessness for duty and his enthusiasm and fearlessness impressed national leaders.
In 1951 he was elected the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee. He was elected to Rajya Sabha in 1952.
He was the Union Minister for Transport and Railways. He became the Home Minister in 1961. He gave up his office in 1962 taking moral responsibility of a train accident. He never used politics for the upliftment of his family.
After the death of Shri Nehru, Shastriji became the Prime Minister of India. He remained Prime Minister for about 18 months.
He began his career under serious disadvantages. During this short period he showed that he possessed wonderful power to face every problem bravely.
He put down all the bad elements with a strong hand. He proved himself man of iron will. The country was suffering from corruption, nepotism, but Shastriji gave us a cleaner and healthier administration.
In September, 1965 he faced undeclared war with Pakistan. He faced the enemy with iron determination.
Army was given a free hand. It crossed international boundary. The enemy was given a bad defeat. The Tashkant Pact is his great achievement.
Shastriji died at Tashkant in the night soon after signing the historic pact. The nation mourned his death. May his soul rest in peace in heaven! India will never forget him for his selfless service.
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