Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of India, serving from 1964 to 1966. He was born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, in the United Provinces of British India (present-day Uttar Pradesh). Shastri was known for his simplicity, humility, and dedication to public service.
Key Contributions:
- Shastri became the Prime Minister of India on June 9, 1964, succeeding Jawaharlal Nehru after his death.
- His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by significant challenges, including the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Shastri’s leadership during the conflict earned him respect and admiration.
- The Tashkent Agreement: Shastri played a pivotal role in negotiating a peace agreement with Pakistani President Ayub Khan in Tashkent (now in Uzbekistan) in January 1966, ending the war. Unfortunately, Shastri passed away shortly after signing the agreement.
Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away on January 11, 1966, in Tashkent, the day after signing the Tashkent Agreement.