Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India, shares his birth with Mahatma Gandhi on October 2. Lal Bahadur Shastri followed the principles of Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak were also his inspiration. He was born October 2, 1904, at Mughalsarai currently known as Pandit Dindayal Junction in Uttar Pradesh. Lal Bahadur Shastri lost his father when he was only one. Therefore his life was difficult, but he fought against all the odds and did hard work. He actively participated in the freedom struggle and was jailed for 9 years of his life.
He was the one who raised the voice in the favor of farmer “Annadata” and raised the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” during the war between India and Pakistan in 1965 and paved the way for India’s food self-sufficiently.
He was the only leader with a clear image of selflessness and he never took advantage of being a leader of the nation. He believed in simple living and high thinking that is why despite being a prime minister he did not crave the luxury life. He had the concern for the poor as well as for those who were criticized by the cast system. He wanted to drag the attention that equality is the first most nature of humanity. Humanity could not be described without the existence of equality.
Life of the second prime minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri, holds several lessons in honesty, integrity, and simplicity for children and adults alike. Here are some fact and anecdotes from his life that extremely gives a positive perspective toward life and achievements.
Honesty is the best policy: As he followed the ideology of Gandhi ji and admired his views too. Shashtri Ji believed in honesty and his value teaches us the honesty must be a part of life. He showed the vibrant of honesty in his life by being an honest man. He never took undue advantage of his power and position unlike the present leader is doing. He never allowed his children to take advantage of his position in their life.
Maintain integrity: Everyone looks up to a man with integrity. Therefore integrity will lead you to a happy and satisfying life. He resigned as railway minister, taking moral responsibility for a rail accident. Lal Bahadur was the first person to appoint a committee on the prevention of corruption during his tenure as Home Minister because he was a man of integrity. He believed in unity and said if you want to run the life or any organization or even nation you have to understand the core of integrity.
Hard work and dedication: we all know how dedicated he was throughout his life. It was his dedication towards the nation that made him a man of peace and recognized as a leader of the nation. His hard work can be seen from his childhood when he lost his father at an early age and took responsibility for his life and educate himself for the betterment of the nation.
Be human and humanity: Lal Bahadur Shastri was a soft-hearted man who cared about everyone, every religion, and cast. As minister of police, he introduced water-jets to disperse the crowd instead of lathi-charge. He never missed a chance to help people. He declared himself as a common man who can understand the pain of needy people. He believed humans and humanity lead the happy and peaceful life and life begins with altogether. Respect and love is for all living being.
Always be open-minded and compassionate: Shastri was always forward-minded. He even removed his surname because he was strictly against the caste system. He believed that it is a cast system that brings the discrimination among human who is created by God with the same stuff. But we humans still taking the cast system seriously and allow people to burn in the flame of untouchability. The title “Shastri” was given to him by Kashi Vidhyapith on his graduation. He was always raised his voice against social issues like the dowry system, women predicament, and untouchability.
The perseverance of freedom is not the task of soldiers alone. The whole nation has to be strong. –Lal Bahadur Shastri
These are the life lessons we should follow to understand the responsibility towards life and lesson. Only living is not the way of living, living by helping is the far better than only living. Selfless was his best friend that is why he earns respect from all generations. So much we have to learn from the legend. Life that seeks for peace.
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