Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri

Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri , 1904-66, Indian political leader. He joined Mohandas Gandhi's noncooperation movement in 1921 and studied at the nationalist Kashi Vidyapeth school, where he was given the title Shastri [learned in the scriptures]. Elected to the central legislature in 1952, he served as minister for railways (1952-56), minister of commerce and industry (1957-61), and minister of home affairs (1961-63) before succeeding Jawaharlal Nehru as prime minister in 1964. Following the India-Pakistan War of 1965, Shastri met in Tashkent with President Ayub Khan of Pakistan and signed a "no-war" declaration. He died the next day (Jan. 11, 1966).

Bibliography: See biography by J. N. Yadav (1971); study by R. C. Gupta (1966).

Shastri, Lal Bahadur (1904–66) Indian statesman, Prime Minister (1964–66). Shastri had been a member of Mahatma GANDHI's non-cooperation movement against British rule and was imprisoned several times. He served in regional government and was elected to the central legislature in 1952, becoming Minister of Home Affairs in 1961. In 1964 he succeeded Nehru as Prime Minister and was praised for his handling of the conflict in 1965 with Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir. He died shortly after completing a peace agreement.

Shastri, Lal Bahadur (b. 2 Oct. 1904, d. 11 Jan. 1966). Prime Minister of India 1964–6 Born in Moghalsarai, he joined Gandhi's call for non-cooperation in his first satyagraha in 1921, and dropped his studies. He resumed his degree afterwards, and graduated in 1926 with a first-class degree ( Shastri), from which he took his name. Deeply impressed and influenced by Gandhi's ideals, he became a loyal follower, first of Gandhi, and then of Nehru. He joined the latter's government and became one of Nehru's principal lieutenants, first as Minister for Railways (1951–6), and then in a variety of other functions, including Minister of Home Affairs. He was chosen as Nehru's successor owing to his conciliatory manner. He was a remarkably skilful politician, and defended India well against attack in the second Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. The war was formally ended in the Tashkent Agreement of 10 January 1966; he died the following day, still in Tashkent, of a heart attack.