Day 22 – Q.1 Assess the contribution of Lal Bahadur Shastri to reviving the morale of India as a nation.

Assess the contribution of Lal Bahadur Shastri to reviving the morale of India as a nation.

एक राष्ट्र के रूप में भारत के मनोबल को पुनर्जीवित करने में लाल बहादुर शास्त्री के योगदान का आकलन कीजिए।

Approach

Candidates can start the answer with giving short description about Lal Bahadur Shastri and then simply write about shastri’s contribution in raising morale bar in India.

Introduction

Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India was a great statesman known for his honesty and humility. He served the country in various roles and was one of the most down-to-earth personalities of our history.

Body

• During Shastri’s brief Prime Ministership, the country faced two major challenges. While India was still recovering from the economic implications of the war with China (1962), failed monsoons, drought and serious food crisis presented a grave challenge. The country also faced a war with Pakistan in 1965.
• Shastri’s famous slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’, symbolised the country’s resolve to face both these challenges it revived Indian masses morale.
• Shastri Ji as India knows him was a humble yet strong statement who guided India through tough times. Also, Shastri promoted White Revolution and Green Revolution.
• Against societal prejudice and discrimination: Shastri was born Lal Bahadur Shrivastava being against the prevailing caste system, he decided to drop his surname.
• The title ‘Shastri’ refers to a ‘scholar’ or a person, adept in the holy scriptures. During the adverse situations too, he came forward, made himself accountable and showed the signs of a true leader- one who leads from the front.
• Accountability: He served as the railway minister in Jawaharlal Nehru’s Cabinet and was so conscientious that he resigned following a train accident at Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu in 1956. His gesture was hailed by all including Nehru, whom he considered his “hero”.
• Practice before preaching: In 1965, India was embroiled in a war with Pakistan and the country was facing an acute food shortage. He asked his family to give up a meal a day. It is only after he was sure that his own family could survive this he announced on All India Radio, urging the public to sacrifice one meal at least once a week.
• Moral public and private life: Shastriji had a Chevrolet Impala car for official use, which his son once used for a drive. When Shastri learned about it, he asked his driver to check the distance the car was used for and later deposited the money in the government account.
• Believed in “Sheelam Param Bhushanam”: In his maiden Independence Day speech, he had laid emphasis on character and moral strength – not only for personal growth but for the development of the nation.

Conclusion

Shastri’s overall tenure helped India to become self-sufficient and later to become an exporter of the foodgrains mainly his ideas, body of work boosted Indian morale in 1960’s. Also, his tenure led the foundations on which industrial growth could be achieved later.