Lâl Bahâdur Shâstrî

Lâl Bahâdur Shâstrî (October 2nd 1904 - January 11th 1966) was the second Prime Minister of India and an important figure of the fight for independence.

Lâl Bahâdur is born in Moghalsarai close to Vârânasî. It gives up its studies to take part in the movement of civil disobedience launched by Gandhi in 1921. It receives the title of Shâstrî - that which makes , one of the name of Brahmâ - with Kashi Vidya Peetha in 1926. It passes during its life nine years on the whole in the British jails, the greatest part after the movement Satyagraha launched in 1940 what is worth to him to remain in prison until in 1946.

After independence, he will be elected general secretary of the party of the Congress in 1952, then becomes Minister for the Railroads of 1952 with 1956, year when he resigns following a railway catastrophe close to Ariyalur. After the legislative elections, it turns over to the government where it occupies the post of minister of Transport of 1957 with 1961, then that of minsitre of the Interior of 1961 with 1963.

Jawaharlal Nehru dies the May 27th 1964, leaving one vertiginous vacancy of the capacity after 17 years with the report heading. The principal figures of the party of the Congress are unable to be decided on a successor among them, also Shâstrî seems a candidate of compromise and becomes Prime Minister the June 9th.

The main issue remains the Pakistan, UNO made it possible the engagements along the Rann de Kutch to stop, but the conflict remakes surface with the Jammu and Cachemire. The second Indo-Pakistani war starts and the Indian forces reach Lâhore before the signature of a cease-fire.

In January 1966, Shâstrî and Muhammad Ayub Khan attend a top organized with Tachkent by Kossyguine. Shâstrî signs the Déclaration of Tashkent with Pakistan the January 10th, but Shâstrî dies the following day of an heart attack.

Shâstrî receives on a purely posthumous basis the Bharat Ratna and a memorial is built for him in Delhi.

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