Jai Jawan Jai Kisan

Lal Bahadur Shastri

Why has History forgotten this Giant ?

Seven miles from Kashi in Uttar Pradesh is Mughalsarai. A hundred and one years ago, Lal Bahadur, India's second prime minister, was born there on October 2, 1904, the same day as India's greatest statesman Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, born 35 years before Shastriji.

Though his parents Sharada Prasad and Ramdulari Devi were Srivastavas, Shastri dropped his caste identity in his early years. In 1921, inspired by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Gandhi, he cut short his studies to join India's freedom movement.

Later he joined the Kashi Vidyapeeth and earned the epithet 'Shastri' by obtaining a degree on philosophy.

He won the hearts of Indians when he showed exemplary courage in taking quick decisions as prime minister June 1964 to January 1966) during the India-Pakistan war in 1965. His leadership in war was an answer to that most often asked question at that time: 'After Nehru, who?'

But his untimely death on January 10, 1966 in Tashkent, in suspicious circumstances, deprived him the chance for history to sit in judgement.

The 'Gentle Giant' led India through the critical years after succeeding Nehru. The nation has forgotten Shastri. It seems that, Shastri who epitomised honesty and sincerity in public life, has become irrelevant today. I don't see his name being pronounced anywhere in the congress party today. I have never heard of anything from Anil Shastri, one of the late prime minister's six children and member of the Congress party.

What was the mystery behind his untimely death in Tashkent, today in Uzbekistan ? Inspite of winning the war against all odds why did he gave back the crutial posts "Haji Pir and Tithwa" back to General Ayub Khan of Pakistan ? These mysteries will remain mysteries for ever I guess.

Whatever may be said and done, His contribution to Pre/Post Independent India is unparelled by his honesty, courage and sincerity in public life.

Here is a glimpse of what he was !!!

Shastri appeared very modest but was a man of steel. He had the ability to take quick decisions. It was demonstrated on August 31, 1965. The three chiefs visited him to inform him that the Pakistan army had crossed the international border with 100 battle tanks in the Chamb sector of Jammu. They told him that in a short span of time the Pakistan army would cut off Kashmir from the rest of India.

Without losing time he asked for the opening of a new front including Lahore. Retaliate with full force, he said. That historic meeting lasted less than five minutes.

He told them, "Be prepared for war." He called Defence Minister Y B Chavan and informed him of the decision. He responded positively and expressed his support. He didn't wait for international reactions. The next day, newspapers reported that the Indian army was marching towards Lahore. It was a big morale booster for the country.

During those tense days, in his address to the nation from Red Fort on Independence day, he said: "Hathiyaron ka jawab hathiyaron se denge. (Force will be met with force.) Hamara desh rahega to hamara tiranga rahega. (Our flag will survive only if our country does)"

When the Chamb border was attacked Shastri was asked to take a tough decision whether to cross the international border. The army chief said it would be difficult to hold on for long at Chamb. Shastri gave the order saying -- before they can capture Chamb you should capture Lahore. I wonder whether Nehru would have taken such a decision. Even Vajpayee didn't have the guts to do it in Kargil war.

In 1956, he was the railway minister. When a train accident killed 144 passengers near Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu, Shastriji resigned. Nehru refused to accept the resignation but he prevailed upon Nehru to accept it. On the following day in Parliament, Nehru said no one could wish for a better comrade than Lal Bahadur. A man of the highest integrity and devoted to ideas is called Lal Bahadur, said Nehru.

He was a Politician Who made absolutely no money !!! Shastri stands for austerity, simplicity and consensus.

Shastri represents an ideology that was right of Centre but not left of Centre. After all, he is the man who said we need the five-year plan but let us have a one year holiday from plan.

His toughness was evident at Tashkent. When Russian Prime Minister Alexei Kosygin wanted Shastri to sign the agreement for peace with General Ayub Khan of Pakistan after the 1965 war, Shastri insisted on adding the assurance, "never again will weapons be used to sort out problems between India and Pakistan."

Ayub was maintaining a vague stance by quoting UN resolutions. "Then you will have to find another PM," said Shastri during the arguments. In the final agreement General Ayub Khan had not mentioned those words but Shastri continued to press for it.

Ayub finally wrote it at the very last moment. General Ayub's handwritten assurance is still preserved in the Indian archives. (Though they have breached it many a times after this in 1971/75 and 99). India honoured the Tashkent accord. But Pakistan never implemented it. Shastri was a slight person but with a strong mind.

When he died there was a strong resistance against his cremation in the area where Gandhi and Nehru had been laid to rest. Most Congressmen wanted his body taken to Allahabad. When Mrs Lalita Shastri said she would go public only then did the Congressmen relent. They even protested against inscribing the slogan -- Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan on his samadhi. Then again, only when Mrs Shastri threatened to go on a hunger strike was it was allowed.

His contribution to Pre/Post Independent India is unparelled by his honesty, courage and sincerity in public life.

I salute the Giant. Jai Jawan Jai Kisan.