Within just seven months of taking over as prime minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri faced a dual challenge of defending the borders as well as the home front. But with the strategy he adopted, his stature became very big with the victory. His cheer was in every part of the country and on every tongue. The country was united on his call.
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Within just seven months of assuming the office of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri Along with the domestic front, there was a dual challenge of protecting the borders. in the Rann of Kutch Pakistan opened the front. In February 1965, a patrol squad of Gujarat Police saw a 32 km long trail within 2.4 km of the border. Pakistan made it for heavy vehicles. His airport was also nearby. From a strategic point of view, he was in a better position. America was helping him. The Soviet Union was also on the way to improve relations with Pakistan. The British Prime Minister persuaded him to mediate a third party. It was a huge discount. But there was a condition to avoid the war. Later on 18 February 1968, India’s full right over the Rann of Kutch was not recognized. Of the total area of 3500 square miles, 300 square miles of area went to the part of Pakistan.
America’s inclination towards Pakistan, threat from China, indifference of Soviet Union
But this effort for peace was futile. Pakistani firing on the Kashmir front increased. Rebellion in Kashmir was being created largely through trained infiltrators from the Pak Army. India’s objections on the diplomatic front were ineffective. Soviet Prime Minister Kosygin’s letter of 4 September 1965 was a big blow to India. Kosygin wrote, “This is not the time to judge right and wrong. It is time to immediately end the military action, stop the tanks and silence the guns.” America’s tilt towards Pakistan. In the midst of China’s threat and the Soviet Union’s apathy, India had to defend both its land and its honor.
Three-pronged response to Pakistani attack
On September 1, Pakistan attacked the Akhnoor-Jammu sector of Kashmir by violating the ceasefire border. On September 3, Shastriji ordered to cross the international border in Punjab and travel to Pakistan. He told General JN Choudhary that before he reaches Kashmir, I want to reach Lahore. The truth is that India had learned a lot from the lessons of defeat at the hands of China. Since the military activities of Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch, the Indian army was ready for war. To reduce the pressure on the Kashmir front, a three-pronged attack was launched from Amritsar, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur. After two days, the front of Sialkot was also opened.
To stop the advancing Indian army had to struggle
On 23 September 1965, India-Pakistan declared a ceasefire. Shastri ji had to struggle hard to persuade the soldiers of the Firozpur sector of the advancing Indian Army. He was informed about the pressure of international and especially the US. In this war, India was successful in capturing 470 square miles of Pakistan and 270 square miles of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. 210 square miles of India had gone under the occupation of Pakistan. Chief of Army Staff General JN Choudhary was asked why the advance of Indian forces was slow? The general’s reply was that we were fighting to destroy Pakistan’s weapons reserves, not to capture the area. This was also confirmed by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Arjun Singh. According to Lieutenant General Har Baksh Singh, the head of the Western Command, the capture of Lahore was not included in the military goal. Lahore would have been a burden. War was imposed on us. We were completely successful in teaching a lesson to the enemy.
The bread of dishonor deserves the death of honor
With this victory, Shastri ji’s stature became very big. His cheer was in every part of the country and on every tongue. The country was united on his call. In the hour of national crisis, all the differences and shortcomings were side by side. In the midst of the food crisis and America’s aid conditions, he said that the bread of dishonor deserved the death of honor. If there is a vegetable in the plate, then leave the dal. Fast one evening a week. People were ready to go beyond that. Just not ready It has been shown to do so in a large part of the population. Why ? People knew that their hero, who grew up in poverty, just did not live that life. Living on the biggest chair is still living. Their speech and conduct are one. His Jai Jawan Jai Kisan slogan resonated from door to door. Rich and poor all gathered with body, mind and money for service and cooperation. For the Congress, he handed over the traffic control system of Delhi to the RSS during the war.
Shastri ji was like a whiff of fragrance between arrogant, arrogant leaders
After leaving the cabinet under the Kamaraj scheme, Shastri’s food plate was limited to one vegetable. He had given up eating his favorite potato vegetable, because potatoes had become expensive in those days. Shastri ji’s humility-hardiness-honesty was like a whiff of fragrance in the crowd of arrogant, arrogant and wealthy politicians. The population, struggling for daily necessities, wanted to inhale it for the journey ahead.
There was tremendous pressure for a deal
There was something left. In the form of conversation. For which there was tremendous pressure to be ready. On 20 September 1965, the Security Council unanimously passed the resolution. With the instruction of the armies of both India and Pakistan to go back to the position before 5 August 1965. Both the US and the Soviet Union were intent on implementing this proposal. The Tashkent talks were part of that. Kosygin succeeded in getting the two countries to sign the Tashkent Declaration on 10 January 1966. The essence was, “It has been agreed between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Pakistan that all men from both the countries will be taken to the places before 25th February 1966, before 5th August 1965 and both the countries will agree to ceasefire on the ceasefire line. will abide by the conditions.”
The family was not even together on the question of agreement.
Shastriji was worried about the country’s reaction to the agreement. Shastri ji first talked to his son-in-law at eleven o’clock in the night. Then his daughter Kusum was on the phone. How did you feel? The daughter’s answer was, we did not like it. How did Amma (wife Lalita Sastri) feel? They didn’t like it either. Shastri ji said get him to talk. Lalita, the wife who supported her at every turn of life, was not ready to talk that day. Daughter said she does not want to talk. Sad Shastri ji said that if the family members do not like it, then what will the outsiders say?
Tears… won the battle to be defeated at the negotiating table and to lose the beloved hero
That night at 1.20 Shastri ji reached the door of the servant Jagannath’s room. Could hardly ask for a doctor. Jagannath and his associates carried him to the bed. Immediately the doctor also reached Chug. But by then it was too late. Ejections in the arm and directly into the heart and attempts to give artificial respiration through the mouth were ineffective. To hoist the tricolor, he fought for freedom. After independence, whose pride was filled with enthusiasm. That tricolor was spread over his languishing body. Two days ago, both sides of the streets of Tashkent were chirping in welcome. Today was filled with sadness. …and India! There were only tears in the eyes of the people. Tears won on the negotiating table to lose the war! Tears of losing your beloved hero.
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