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Major Developments in post independent India in Shastri Era



Published on 29 Sep 2025

Lal Bahadur Shastri served as the Prime Minister of India from 1964 to 1966. During his short tenure, he faced several significant challenges and problems.

Major challenges

Government response

  • Indo-Pak War of 1965: One of the most significant challenges during Shastri's time in office was the Indo-Pak War of 1965. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated over the Kashmir issue, leading to a full-scale war.

  • Food Shortages and Famine: India was facing severe food shortages during Shastri's tenure, which contributed to a looming famine. The country had to deal with the consequences of two consecutive years of drought. 

  • Economic Challenges: India's economy faced various challenges, including inflation and balance of payments issues. 

  • Political Opposition: Shastri faced political opposition from various quarters. The opposition parties, including the Swatantra Party and the Jan Sangh, criticized his government's policies and decisions, adding to the political challenges he had to contend with.

  • Language Agitations: Shastri's tenure also witnessed language-related agitations in some southern states of India. Protests and demands related to language policies added to the social and political challenges he faced.

    • Example: Protests in Tamil Nadu for continuation of English as official language, beyond the period of fifteen years as provided by the Constitution.

  • Indo-Pak War of 1965: Shastri provided strong leadership to the Indian armed forces and made crucial decisions to manage the conflict. His resolve and effective diplomacy eventually led to the signing of the Tashkent Agreement, which ended the war.

  • Food Shortages and Famine: The government under Shastri took measures including launching the "Green Revolution" to increase food production. Shastri also called upon the citizens of India to skip one meal a week to save food for those in need, setting a personal example by doing the same.

  • Economic Challenges: Shastri's government took steps to stabilize the economy and address inflation and balance of payments issues. He urged austerity measures and appealed to the public to reduce non-essential consumption.

  • Political Opposition: Shastri faced political opposition, but he maintained a non-confrontational approach and sought cooperation across party lines. His willingness to engage with the opposition in a constructive manner helped maintain political stability.

  • Language Agitations: He gave reassurance to non-Hindi states on their right to conduct official affairs in their respective regional languages. Additionally, he affirmed the continuity of using English as the medium of communication.


Despite challenges, Lal Bahadur Shastri is remembered for his calm and composed leadership style, his humility, and his ability to connect with the common people. His slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" (Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer) reflected his commitment to both national security and agricultural development.

Significance of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan

Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" is a slogan that translates to "Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer" in English. This slogan was popularized by the country's second Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri.

  • Self-sufficiency in Food Production: In the 1960s India was facing severe food shortages, primarily due to successive droughts. Shastri called upon the nation to prioritize agriculture and boost food production.

    • Example: Success of Green Revolution in the 1960s.

  • Promotion of Agriculture: The slogan served as a rallying cry to galvanize support for the Green Revolution, a period of rapid agricultural growth and increased crop yields in India.

    • Example: Faster adoption and use of high-yielding crop varieties, modern farming techniques, and improved irrigation systems

  • Acknowledgment of Soldiers:  During Shastri's time, India was grappling with conflicts, including the 1965 Indo-Pak War. The slogan helped to boost the morale of the armed forces and fostered a sense of national pride.

  • Unity and Nationalism: "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" emphasizes that soldiers and farmers, representing different aspects of society, work together to build a strong and prosperous nation. It underscores the idea that every citizen has a role to play in the nation's progress and security.

  • Shastri's leadership: By coining and promoting this slogan, he demonstrated his commitment to addressing critical issues of the time and his ability to inspire the nation to work together for a better future.

Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan

  • Jai Vigyan: Later in 1998, in the backdrop of India’s second nuclear bomb test, the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee improvised the slogan to include ‘Jai Vigyan’ to underline the importance of science and technology in developing the country.

  • “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jan Anusandhan”: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a step further by adding Jai Anusandhan, to highlight importance of research and development. 

    • He called for time-bound solutions for real life challenges in healthcare, housing, clean energy etc. through research.

Tags:
History & Culture

Keywords:
Major Developments in post independent India in Shastri Era Lal Bahadur Shastri Indo-Pak War of 1965 food shortage Language Agitations Tashkent Agreement Green Revolution Significance of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Hail the Soldier Hail the Farmer Unity and Nationalism Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Jai Vigyan Jai Anusandhan Jai Anusandhan

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 1

Topics:
Post-Independence Consolidation

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