LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI

Book excerpt: Famous for the inspiring slogan, 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan', Lal Bahadur Shastri's prime ministership saw India ensuring respect for the farmer and the soldier. In his brief yet eventful tenure of nineteen months, he resolved some of the most contentious problems facing the country, by taking all segments of society along. The book takes a closer look at his pioneering efforts at ensuring self-sufficiency in foodgrains by ushering in the Green Revolution. As the inspiration behind the original 'surgical strikes', it also highlights the laudatory manner in which Shastri motivated the soldiers to effectively respond to Pakistan's military adventurism, by giving the green signal to the military to enter Pakistani soil. Insightful, thought-provoking, and written in a lucid style by one of India's most respected political commentators, Lal Bahadur Shastri focuses on the leader's greatest strengths-integrity, humility, simplicity and a self-effacing nature.