2017-01-11 Wed

“Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” – L. B. Shastri.

Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of Independent India was born on 2nd October 1904. He was chosen as Nehru’s successor owing to his adherence to Nehruvian Socialism after Nehru’s daughter Indira Gandhi turned down K. Kamraj’s offer of Prime Ministership. He became a national hero post India’s victory in the Indo-Pak War (1965).

Shastri was elevated as the Prime Minister of India on 9th June 1964 post Nehru’s death. He encouraged White and Green Revolution and maintained that though a socialist, India cannot have a regimented type of economy.

He continued Nehru’s policies of Non-Alignment but also built closer relations with Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In 1961, he signed the Sirimavo-Shastri Pact with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike regarding the status of Indian Tamils in the then Ceylon.

In October 1965 Pakistani troops disguised as civilian volunteers infiltrated into Kashmir in another attempt to surprise India and capture the state. Shastri’s decisive handling resulted in a victory for India. A peace conference was arranged in Tashkent, Moscow where President of Pakistan Ayub Khan and Shastri met from 4th January- 10th January and signed the Tashkent Declaration (10th January 1966). Shastri died the following day, 11th January at Tashkent of a heart attack.

Hungary’s Magyar Posta released this 1 Hungarian forint commemorative stamp of Shastri on 24th February 1966.

To know more about stamps on Lal Bahadur Shastri Click here