Shastri, Lal Bahadur; Prime Minister of India

b. 1904; d. 1966

Prime Minister of India (1964-66), educated at Kashi Vidyapith, Benares. He was active for the Indian National Congress from 1921 and served a time in prison in 1930. He was general secretary, UPCC, 1935-38; minister of police and transport UP, 1947; general secretary of the Indian National Congress, 1951; minister for transport and communications in the Indian government, 1957-8; commerce and industry, 1958-61; home affairs, 1961-63; minister without portfolio, 1964; and became prime minister on 12 June 1964 on the death of Nehru. He died in Tashkent in the USSR on 11 January 1966.

Two things became clear during Shastri's short term of office. One was the typified the highest qualities of the Hindu mind, the search for synthesis in agreement in the face of disagreement. The other was that peace remained his constant purpose, however much circumstances embroiled him at the centre of strife.

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