Lal Bahadur Shastri, was the former Prime Minister of the Republic of India and a leader of the Indian National Congress party. He joined the Indian independence movement in the decade of 1920. He was sworn in as the second Prime Minister of India on June 9, 1964. He led the country during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. His slogan of 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' ('Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer') became very popular during the war and even now.
Lal Bahadur Shastri joined the freedom struggle during the decade of 1920. Mahatma Gandhi's march to the sea beach at Dandi to break the salt law inspired him to actively engage in the national movement.
Shastri played an instrumental role during Indo-Pak war in 1965. The war came to an end in September 1965 when United Nations mandated both the country to ceasefire. Shastri and Ayub Khan together signed the Tashkent Declaration on 10th January 1966.
During his short tenure, he came across many problems but faced each with flexibility and firmness. He was an able administrator.
Lal Bahadur Shastri died on 11 January 1966 in Uzbek city of Tashkent just few hours of signing a peace agreement. In 1966, he was posthumously awarded with the Bharat Ratna award. A memorial was built at Vijay Ghat, New Delhi to honor the great son of India.
