Context:
Birth anniversary of former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri commemorated on October 2.
Lal Bahadur Shastri:
- Birth – 2nd October 1904, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
- Title “Shastri” (Scholar) was awarded by Vidya Peeth.
- Known for his slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”.
- Death – January 10, 1966, in the city of Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- The cause of death was reported as cardiac arrest, but it remains a mystery, as there are many conspiracy theories about his death.
- Bharat Ratna – Awarded posthumously in 1966.
Contributions:
- Active member of Servants of the People Society (founded by Lala Lajpat Rai), focused on uplifting backward classes.
- Participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement and Salt Satyagraha.
- Created the “Shastri Formula” for language agitations, while serving as the Home Minister of India.
- Served as the 2nd Prime Minister of India.
- Prompted the initiatives of White Revolution and Green Revolution
- Srimavo-Shastri Pact (1964) – Agreement with Sri Lanka on the status of Indian Tamils.
- Tashkent Declaration (1966) – Signed with Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan to end the 1965 war.
Source: Press Trust of India
Previous Year Question
He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna, stayed in America for some time; and was also elected to the Central Assembly. He was:
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) Aurobindo Ghosh
(b) Bipin Chandra Pal
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai
(d) Motilal Nehru
Answer: (c)
