National Tributes Planned for Lal Bahadur Shastri’s 122nd Birth Anniversary

India will observe the 122nd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on October 2, 2026. The occasion will coincide with Gandhi Jayanti, another national holiday, and will be marked through tributes and programmes highlighting Shastri's contribution to India's freedom movement and public life. Shastri was born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, and grew up in modest circumstances after losing his father, a schoolteacher, at a young age.

Shastri became involved in India's freedom struggle as a teenager and participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921. He later studied at Kashi Vidyapith, where he received the title "Shastri", which he adopted in place of his family surname, Srivastava. After Independence, he served in several positions in Uttar Pradesh before moving to the Union government and taking on important ministerial responsibilities.

As Railway Minister, Shastri resigned following a major train accident in 1956, accepting moral responsibility for the tragedy. The decision has since been remembered as an example of accountability in public office. He later served as Home Minister before becoming Prime Minister on June 9, 1964, following the death of Jawaharlal Nehru. His tenure was relatively short but included several significant developments in India's domestic and foreign policy.

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During the 1965 India-Pakistan war, Shastri popularised the slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan", highlighting the importance of the country's soldiers and farmers. He promoted efforts towards food self-sufficiency and supported initiatives associated with the Green Revolution. His government also backed the White Revolution, which sought to strengthen milk production and the dairy sector, linking national development with agricultural and rural progress.

The 1965 conflict ended with the signing of the Tashkent Declaration by Shastri and Pakistan President Ayub Khan on January 10, 1966, in the then Soviet Union. Shastri died in Tashkent the following day at the age of 61 and was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna later that year. On his birth anniversary, political leaders traditionally pay floral tributes at Vijay Ghat, his memorial in New Delhi, while educational institutions and government bodies organise programmes recalling his life and public service.

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