Yes alright, I do know that he ain't the Prime Minister anymore.
Yes, many have also come and gone (and again come and again gone) after Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri.
However, to me, if there is any one politician I have always looked up to, without fail, and always felt inspired, it has always been Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri.
To me, the term or designation of a 'Prime Minister' in the real sense of the word, is not someone who simply happens to occupy that chair at that given point of time. No sir/madam, won't do for me.
To me, the term does not just refer to any PM who has been a PM or is even seen as an incumbent, PM-material.
To me, a Prime Minister is someone who has led from the front, with example, dignity, courage, integrity, and most of all, worked with genuine values along with taking every action keeping in mind, the true care and concern for his people.
Which is why, Shastri ji, to me, is truly a 'prime' minister among all Prime Ministers past and present, and of course a jewel who outshone and shall always outshine any and every minister/MP I have ever seen/known.
No wonder, I have always genuinely believed him to be a true Bharat Ratna, in every sense of the term:
Led by example
In today's times, the government of the day puts the Anna Hazare's of today behind bars for fasting peacefully, how many Netas (forget PMs!) can you expect to see who would lead by example?
Can we, in our sane minds, expect our PMs to go on fast for a day each week, and THEN, (remember only THEN) appeal to the country to follow suit?
And all of this not for publicity, but just with the noble intention of the sheer welfare and self-reliance of our nation.
Austerity
For all his deeds and popularity, he remained the most simple, soft-spoken, dignified and humble gentleman you can ever know.
Despite having become a Prime Minister, there were hardly any assets he left for his own (or his kin's) self.
Forget today or later, just how many in the entire world can do that? Ever?
Integrity
There is a train accident, and nobody bays for the Railways Minister. However, the Minister himself, voluntarily puts in his papers without any fuss, taking complete responsibility for the accident.
No, I am not referring to Satyug. I am just referring to a Yug Purush who happened to be the Railways Minister then.
What a great day today, the 2nd of October indeed is - two of my favorite personalities who have led by example and led austere, simple as well as upright lives, were born on this day!
However, what I always find all the more laudable is that though Gandhiji never entered active politics, Shastri ji did do so, and still remained as clean, as respected and as honorable as always (in fact, even more!), without getting besmirched in that mud-slinging, vitriolic gutter called politics.
So while we always (and ofcourse, rightly and most deservedly) remember our beloved Bapu today, I feel that somehow, we tend to not remember Shastri ji even half as much.
Here's to you, Sir - the little big man of Indian politics and my favorite political leader ever - Happy Birthday!!
If only we could get some leaders even a fraction as good, as upright, as sharp and as humble and still as genuinely simple as you, there's no stopping our country!!
Yes, many have also come and gone (and again come and again gone) after Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri.
However, to me, if there is any one politician I have always looked up to, without fail, and always felt inspired, it has always been Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri.
To me, the term or designation of a 'Prime Minister' in the real sense of the word, is not someone who simply happens to occupy that chair at that given point of time. No sir/madam, won't do for me.
To me, the term does not just refer to any PM who has been a PM or is even seen as an incumbent, PM-material.
To me, a Prime Minister is someone who has led from the front, with example, dignity, courage, integrity, and most of all, worked with genuine values along with taking every action keeping in mind, the true care and concern for his people.
Which is why, Shastri ji, to me, is truly a 'prime' minister among all Prime Ministers past and present, and of course a jewel who outshone and shall always outshine any and every minister/MP I have ever seen/known.
No wonder, I have always genuinely believed him to be a true Bharat Ratna, in every sense of the term:
Led by example
In today's times, the government of the day puts the Anna Hazare's of today behind bars for fasting peacefully, how many Netas (forget PMs!) can you expect to see who would lead by example?
Can we, in our sane minds, expect our PMs to go on fast for a day each week, and THEN, (remember only THEN) appeal to the country to follow suit?
And all of this not for publicity, but just with the noble intention of the sheer welfare and self-reliance of our nation.
Austerity
For all his deeds and popularity, he remained the most simple, soft-spoken, dignified and humble gentleman you can ever know.
Despite having become a Prime Minister, there were hardly any assets he left for his own (or his kin's) self.
Forget today or later, just how many in the entire world can do that? Ever?
Integrity
There is a train accident, and nobody bays for the Railways Minister. However, the Minister himself, voluntarily puts in his papers without any fuss, taking complete responsibility for the accident.
No, I am not referring to Satyug. I am just referring to a Yug Purush who happened to be the Railways Minister then.
What a great day today, the 2nd of October indeed is - two of my favorite personalities who have led by example and led austere, simple as well as upright lives, were born on this day!
However, what I always find all the more laudable is that though Gandhiji never entered active politics, Shastri ji did do so, and still remained as clean, as respected and as honorable as always (in fact, even more!), without getting besmirched in that mud-slinging, vitriolic gutter called politics.
So while we always (and ofcourse, rightly and most deservedly) remember our beloved Bapu today, I feel that somehow, we tend to not remember Shastri ji even half as much.
Here's to you, Sir - the little big man of Indian politics and my favorite political leader ever - Happy Birthday!!
If only we could get some leaders even a fraction as good, as upright, as sharp and as humble and still as genuinely simple as you, there's no stopping our country!!
