Born on October 2, 1904 in Kashi, Uttar Pradesh, Lal Bahadur Shastri became the Prime Minister of India after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964. Shastri dropped his caste identity and joined India's freedom movement in his early ages. Yet, there are many aspects of Shastriji's life that people seem to have forgotten today. Here are some interesting facts about him:
1. Shastriji was honored with the title 'shastri'(scholar) when he graduated from Kashi Vidyapeeth after joining freedom movement.
2. Shastriji was highly influenced by Lokmanya Tilak which attracted him to join freedom struggle.
3. Not many know that Shastriji went to jail when he was just 17-years-old for participating in non-cooperation movement. However, later he was released as he was only 17.
4. Shastriji spent almost nine years in jail in total during India’s Independence activism.
5. Very few know that Shastriji was the first Indian minister to appoint women conductors after becoming the transport-minister post independence.
6. His quick decision making skills as prime minister(June 1964 to January 1966) during the India-Pakistan war in 1965 won hearts of many Indians.
7. Lal Bahadur Shastri coined the phrase 'Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisaan' during India’s successful war against Pakistan in 1965.
8.As a minister of police department, Shastriji suggested use of jets of water instead of lathi to disperse the crowd.
9. Shastriji resigned as the Railway Minister taking responsibility of a railway accident in Mahbubnagar in 1956.
10. Shastriji's first broadcast as Prime Minister said, "There comes a time in the life of every nation when it stands at the cross-roads of history and must choose which way to go. But for us there need be no difficulty or hesitation, no looking to right or left. Our way is straight and clear—the building up of a socialist democracy at home with freedom and prosperity for all, and the maintenance of world peace and friendship with all nations."