Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti 2025: On October 2, along with Gandhi Jayanti, there is also the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of the country. Know the story of his life, contribution to the freedom struggle and how he also gave up his salary for the countrymen.
Lal bahadur shastri biography: Every year on 2 October, the whole country celebrates the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. But on this day another great leader was born, whose story is a source of inspiration for every Indian, they are Lal Bahadur Shastri. Often people forget that along with Gandhiji, Shastri ji’s birthday is also. The second Prime Minister of the country, Shastri ji, who always kept simplicity and ground connectivity even after reaching the pinnacle of success, who had abandoned his salary for the countrymen. Know interesting things about him on the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Lal Bahadur Shastri’s early life
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on 2 October 1904 in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh. In the house, everyone lovingly called him ‘Nanhe’. His father was a school teacher, but when his younger was just one and a half years old, his father passed away. After this, his mother returned to his father’s house and raised three children there.
Education of Lal Bahadur Shastri and childhood difficulties
Shastri’s family was very simple. His early studies were in his small town school. He was sent to his uncle in Varanasi for high school. He was so poor that many times he did not get shoes to go to school and had to walk barefoot several kilometers in summer.
Lal Bahadur Shastri gets inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi
From young age, a sense of patriotism was awakened in Shastri ji. At the age of 11, he made up his mind to fight for the country. Gandhiji’s non -cooperation movement impressed him so much that at the age of 16 he decided to leave studies and jump into the freedom struggle. His mother did not like it at all, but Shastri ji remained adamant in his decision.
Shastri ji’s contribution to freedom struggle
In 1927, Shastri ji was married to Lalita Devi. After Dandi March in 1930, the movement spread against the British rule across the country and Shastri ji participated actively. He led several movements and also suffered British jails for about 7 years.
Also read- Gandhi Jayanti 2025: Know the answers to 20 important questions related to Mahatma Gandhi
How ‘Shastri’ associated with the name of Lal Bahadur Shastri
Shastri was not associated with his childhood in the name of Lal Bahadur Shastri. He studied Philosophy and Ethics from Kashi Vidyapeeth. From this institute, he received the title of ‘Shastri’, which joined his name and later everyone came to know him as Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Shastri ji’s politics and journey till becoming Prime Minister
His contribution to the freedom struggle made him a popular leader. When the Congress government was formed in 1946, he was made the Parliamentary Secretary of Uttar Pradesh and later Home Minister. He came to Delhi in 1951 and held important positions like Rail, Commerce, Industry, Transport, Communications and Home Ministry in the Union Cabinet. He was made the ‘Minister of Portfolio’ during the illness of the country’s first Prime Minister Nehru ji.
Lal Bahadur Shastri, second Prime Minister of India
After Nehru’s death on 27 May 1964, Shastri ji became the second Prime Minister of India on 9 June 1964. During the Indo-Pakistan War in 1965, his slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ became famous all over the country. He also stopped his salary as PM and applied it to the needy. But unfortunately, Shastri ji could not remain the Prime Minister for a long time. Just 19 months later, he died in Tashkent on 11 January 1966. There are many speculation about his death even today, but no concrete evidence came out.
Also read- Mahatma Gandhi Education: From college dropout to law degree, know interesting things about Gandhiji’s school-college