Introduction After Nehru The Lal Bahadur Shastri Years ( June 1964 - January 1966 )

Introduction After Nehru

 Towards the last years of Nehru's prime ministership itself . there were serious debates on what would happen to India after him . And when he died in May 1964 , many in India and abroad were almost sure that the Indian political system would be severely and adversely affected , could even collapse . with a fight within the Congress party over who would take charge . However , there was no such turmoil ; a smooth succession took place . Indeed , since the Nehruvian era , India has seen not only several prime ministers but also certain changes in its political history . Down the years there have been some upheavals to threaten the smooth functioning of a vibrant democracy , but these challenges have been met and overcome . Amidst the coups and military takeovers in the neighbouring countries , India has managed to survive as a democracy and witness smooth change of government from time to time though democratic elections . Immediately after Nehru's death , Gulzarilal Nanda was appointed as the interim prime minister , pending the election of a new parliamentary leader of the Congress party who would then become prime minister .

The Lal Bahadur Shastri Years ( June 1964 - January 1966 )

 It is generally accepted that a group within the Congress , formed in 1963 , which came to be known as the Syndicate and included the president of the party , K. Kamaraj , and some others , guided the succession to the prime minister's post after Jawaharlal Nehru . The choice was between Morarji Desai and Lal Bahadur Shastri . The former was the senior and experienced Congressman who was known for his administrative skills and honesty but also considered to be conservative , somewhat rigid and leaning towards the ' right ' ; the latter was seen to be mild , soft - spoken and flexible even though a man of integrity and of incorruptible nature . Shastri was supported more widely across the party than was Desai . In the end , Shastri was chosen by the party as the next parliamentary leader , hence the prime minister , as Desai decided not to contest .

Early Life

 Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2 , 1904 , in Uttar Pradesh ( known as United Provinces at the time ) . Firmly opposed to the caste system , he decided to leave out his surname of Srivastava . ' Shastri ' was a title he got on completing his graduation at Kashi Vidyapeeth , Varanasi , in 1928. When he married Lalita Devi in 1928 , Lal Bahadur Shastri , very much opposed to the idea of dowry , is said to have accepted just five yards of khadi and a spinning wheel on the insistence of his father - in - law to accept something .

 Swayed by Mahatma Gandhi , Lal Bahadur Shastri joined the freedom movement ; in the Non - cooperation Movement of 1921 he was arrested for taking part in a demonstration but , as he was then a minor , he was let off . Later he was part of the major movements of the struggle against the British rule , such as the Salt Stayagraha and the individual satyagraha movement and then in the 1942 Quit India Movement . Imprisoned several times , he made use of his time in prison reading the works of the social reformers and western philosophers .

 Shastri was very much part of the Congress political organisation , becoming the secretary of the local unit of the party and later the president of the Allahabad Congress Committee . He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the United Provinces in 1937 .