Death of Lal Bahadur Shastri
.jpg) Shastri in 1966 | |
| Date | 11 January 1966 |
|---|---|
| Location | Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union |
| Type | Sudden death |
| Cause | Officially reported as myocardial infarction |
| Participants | Lal Bahadur Shastri |
| Outcome | Official cause attributed to heart attack; ongoing controversy and demands for investigation |
The death of Lal Bahadur Shastri, India’s second Prime Minister, took place in the early hours of 11 January 1966 in Tashkent, then in the Soviet Union. He was 61 and the official cause was reported as a myocardial infarction (heart attack).[1][2]
Shastri had been in Tashkent since 4 January 1966 for peace talks brokered by Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin between India and Pakistan. The Tashkent Declaration was signed on 10 January, and within hours Shastri complained of chest pain and died suddenly in the Soviet-provided villa. News of his death prompted nationwide shock and a state funeral in New Delhi.[3][4]
Despite the official ruling, the absence of an on-site post-mortem and reports of unexplained marks on his body when it returned to India have led Shastri’s family and some colleagues to question the natural-causes verdict.[5][6]
Over time, numerous conspiracy theories have arisen, alleging anything from foul play to foreign involvement. RTI requests for related documents have been repeatedly denied by the Prime Minister’s Office on grounds of national security.[7][8]
Following his death, India observed twelve days of national mourning. His body was flown home on a Soviet aircraft accompanied by Premier Kosygin, and in Tashkent a gun-carriage procession—with Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan as pallbearer—escorted the casket.[9] In New Delhi, the coffin lay in state at Parliament House before a full military funeral on 13 January 1966 at Vijay Ghat. Officers of the three Services fired volleys, army buglers sounded the Last Post, and President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan led the mourners.[10][11]
Shastri’s simple state funeral and the establishment of his memorial at Vijay Ghat cemented his reputation for humility and service. His slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” (“Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer”) continues to be invoked in India’s public life, symbolizing his dual focus on national defence and agricultural self-reliance.[12]
See also
[edit]- Lal Bahadur Shastri
- Tashkent Agreement
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
- List of conspiracy theories
- Right to Information Act, 2005
References
[edit]- ^ "Lal Bahadur Shastri". Britannica. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Lal Bahadur Shastri's 57th death anniversary: 8 facts about India's second PM". The Times of India. 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Tashkent Declaration". Britannica. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "'On January 10, 1966, Shastri had signed the Tashkent Agreement and hours later he died'". The Times of India. 2019-06-11. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "After Bose, now Shastri family wants government files declassified". The News Minute. 2015-09-27. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "'We have a right to know': Former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri's son wants files on his death declassified". Hindustan Times. 2019-06-12. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Central Information Commission directs MHA, PMO to consider declassification of Shastri files". The Times of India. 2018-01-18. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Foul play in Lal Bahadur Shastri's death, release related files: Son". Hindustan Times. 2015-09-26. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "1966: Fifty years ago: State funeral for Shastri". Dawn. 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "HT This Day: Jan 13, 1966 – Shastri cremated near Shanti Vana". Hindustan Times. 2021-01-13. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Cremation ceremony of Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat". The Times of India. 1966-01-13. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Lal Bahadur Shastri's 58th death anniversary: 10 inspiring quotes by India's second Prime Minister". Hindustan Times. 2024-01-10. Archived from the original on 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2025-05-08.