Late.Lal Bahadur Shastri-The Prime Minister of India from 9 June 1964 to 11 January 1966
Hard to believe the level of simplicity & humbleness of this great man.
I was going through the biography of our late Prime minister Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri recently and was astonished to note his very strong principals and simple living. The level of simplicity is really very hard to believe now a days in this fast world of smartness and advancement. People would not believe that we were lucky enough to have such great leaders in the past who rendered their best for the country with a real patriotic feeling as well as whole heartedly without any flamboyant approach even while keeping the post of the Prime Minister of such a bigger democratic nation.
The Late Shastriji is best characterised as a living example of grandeur and simplicity. He was born on October 2, 1904, in Ramnagar, Uttar Pradesh, and died on January 11, 1966. After the death of a legendary and charismatic leader like Jawaharlal Nehru, he continued to serve as Prime Minister of India. Shastriji did not inherit the wealth that Nehru did, yet he attained such a high position to lead the nation to triumph and rekindle the courage and bravery of the armed forces simply through his sincerity, honesty, and commitment to the nation and its people.
He was one of the great heroes of our country because of his way of simple life and lofty thoughts. Many events in his life served as inspiration for us to serve the motherland and elevate her to the heights of glory and renown.
I shall talk about two incidents which reveal his simplicity with depth and grandeur.
I am the Prime Minister but I am not wealthy:
Shastriji once paid a visit to a textile factory. Then, he was prime minister. Naturally, he was joined by dignitaries such as the mill owner and high-ranking authorities. He visited the mill’s store and requested a saree after touring the facility. A lovely saree was unrolled in front of him by the mill owner and the police. Clearly, he inquired about the pricing and was informed that it is Rs. 800. Shastriji urged them to display some less expensive sarees, saying that these were too expensive for his budget. This occurred in 1965, a year in which the rupee was significantly more valuable than it is today.
He was shown cheaper sarees by the mill owner for Rs. 500 and Rs. 400, but he refused to purchase these, claiming that they were also too expensive for him. Show me some even more affordable sarees that I can buy for my wife, I say. These are too expensive.
“Sir,” the mill owner said, seeming bewildered, “you are the country’s prime minister. How is it that you claim to be poor? Also, we are giving these sarees to you; you are not required to purchase them. Shastriji kindly turned down his invitation. The mill owner, however, urged that the “gift” be accepted because it was his right to give it to “our prime minister”
Well, I am the prime minister, but that doesn’t mean I should accept things as “gifts” and give them to my wife, Shastriji replied. I am the prime minister, without a doubt, but I am not wealthy. Kindly display various affordable sarees for me to buy that fit my financial situation.
Notwithstanding the mill owner’s repeated demands, Shastriji used his own money to buy his family some of the less expensive sarees. He was such a wonderful son of Mother Bharat that no offer could entice him.
Here is yet another lesser-known fact of Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri which would move you:
“I am a worker in Indian Railway.”
How a Union minister of India be like?
He had not disclosed to his mother that he was a minister of the railways.
He had told her simply that “I work in railway.”
He once attended a Railway function where his mother also attended. She told the people in the event that her son was also in Railways and must be present in this event as well.
People there asked her about the name of her son.
Everyone was astonished when she revealed the name and said, “She is lying.”
She responded saying that she was right and her son had also come there.
She was brought in front of Lal Bahadur Shastriji, and was asked if she could confirm about her son.
So the mother acknowledged that he was her son.
The minister was asked, “Is she your mother?”
After calling his mother by her name, Shastri Ji sat with her for a while before sending her home.
Shastriji did not deliver the speech in her presence and did that only after his mother was sent back to home.
Hence, the journalists questioned, “Why didn’t you make a speech in front of her?”
Shastri ji said, “My mother does not know that I am a minister.” If she comes to know, she will start recommending people and I will not be able to refuse and she will also have arrogance. The response stunned everyone present there in the function.
We should learn lessons from such great leaders who simply give the message to the world through their actions.
Where have such great patriotic, selfless, humble and honest people gone now?
This excellent man was like that a real example.
Regrettably, his time in office was far too brief. He will nonetheless be revered for his magnificence and simplicity forever.
Gone are such politicians and gone are those days…….