Gandhi Ji’s birthday falling on the same date has somewhat obscured the birthday of another great son of India Lal Bahadur Shastri, born 2nd October 1904. Shastri did not get an opportunity like Nehru, Patel or Tilak to move closely with Gandhi Ji. Shastri was however magically drawn by Gandhi’s simplicity, honesty and integrity, which Shastri embraced by letter and spirit.
Born in Uttar Pradesh in a poor family, Shastri had to carry his books on his head and cross the river to reach the school every day. He forsook his inherited Srivatsava title abhorring caste and community titles, but adopted ‘Shastri’ title, conferred to him on his literary accomplishments.
He quit his studies and joined Gandhi’s Non-cooperation Movement against the British. Yielding to the tradition of taking dowry for his marriage, he merely accepted a ‘Charka’ and a few meters of Khadi cloth. Shastri served many jail terms, and in one such occasion, he was allowed parole to visit his ailing daughter. His daughter succumbed to the illness, at which point Shastri cut short his parole and returned to the jail, stating that he was out to serve his ailing daughter, who is no alive anymore.
He lived on the doles paid by the party and came to know that his wife was saving a bit even out of such small assistance received. Shastri promptly informed the party to reduce financial aid.
As a minister of railways and after a train accident leading to 112 deaths, he promptly tendered his resignation on September 1956, which was rejected by Nehru. He again resigned three months later after another train accident in Ariyalur claiming 144 lives.Declining a government vehicle, he walked back home. Nehru informed the parliament that he was accepting the resignation, because it exemplified the constitutional propriety, though Shastri was not responsible for the accident.
He led India during the Indo-Pak war of 1965, immortalising the slogan, ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan.’ After signing a peace accord with Pakistan at Tashkent, he died on 10th January 1966.
Many have lived and fought with Gandhi, but Shastri stands tall by adhering to Gandhiji’s principles throughout his life.
Sampath Kumar
