Shri Sunil Shatri

About Late Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri

“There comes a time in the life of every nation when it stands on the crossroads of history and must choose which way to go. But for us there need be no difficulty or hesitation, no looking to right or left. Our way is straight and clear the building up of a social democracy at home with freedom and prosperity for all and the maintenance of world peace and friendship with all other nations. To that straight road and to these shining ideals we rededicate ourselves today”

"My meeting with Major Bhupendra Singh was touching. He is a brave officer. He suffered injury in every part of the body and blood oozed from every part. He could not even open his eyes. When he was told of my arrival in the hospital he opened his lips to say : "I am sorry, Sir, that I am unable to get up to show the respect due to my Prime Minister." I was overwhelmed to see him lying in that condition. Major Bhupendra Singh told me that he was not deterred by a hail of artillery fire. Despite injuries, he continued to fight and succeeded in destroying seven Pakistani tanks. His unit destroyed 31 tanks.

The deeds of his valour will be written in letters of gold in the history of the war and will continue to inspire generations. This spirit of sacrifice raises our national prestige and our morale.

I am not a man of war. How can I be one? I am so short. Unlike Lt. General Harbaksh Singh, I am not strong. I love peace and try to resolve disputes peacefully. But if there is aggression on our territory I will discharge my responsibilities fully. The nation will stand upto fight off aggression and defeat the aggressor. That is our firm resolve."

– Lal Bahadur Shastri

Genesis of a Tribute

He was not just a great personality or a great individual but an institution in himself. His ideals of simple living and high thinking endeared him to the people and his remarkable qualities of leadership gave them hope.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was a man of the masses. He had a deep-rooted concern for the upliftment of the people of India especially the farmers and the rural poor. He believed the real industry for the rural areas was agriculture and every effort should be made to develop it. He also took keen interest in Khadi and village industries and had a vision of setting up a vast network of processing industries in the villages.