CM Fadnavis pays tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri on birth anniversary
Synopsis
On Lal Bahadur Shastri's birth anniversary, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute to the former PM and Bharat Ratna, honouring his legacy of simplicity and his iconic 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' slogan that continues to inspire India.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary, 2 October 2026 .
Shastri, born 2 October 1904 , was India's second Prime Minister , serving from 1964 to 1966 .
His slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' was coined during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War and remains a touchstone in Indian public life.
Shastri was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1966 , the first person to receive it posthumously.
Fadnavis posted his tribute in both English and Marathi , anchoring the homage in Maharashtra's bilingual identity.
2 October is also Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary , making it one of India's most resonant dates of national remembrance.
A slogan born in the crucible of war and agrarian hardship still echoes across India six decades later — and on Friday, 2 October 2026, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis joined the nation in honouring the man who gave it those words. On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Lal Bahadur Shastri, CM Fadnavis offered humble tributes to a leader he described as one of 'remarkable simplicity' who dedicated his life to the service of the nation.
'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' — a slogan that outlived its era
CM Fadnavis recalled Shastri's enduring rallying cry — 'जय जवान, जय किसान' ('Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer') — calling it an inspirational slogan that continues to guide India's approach to its defence and agricultural sectors. The phrase, coined by Shastri amid the pressures of the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, was a moral compact with two pillars of the Indian republic: the men guarding its borders and the men feeding its people. That it remains currency in political and public discourse today is a measure of how deeply it cut.
The man behind the slogan
Lal Bahadur Shastri, born on 2 October 1904 in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, rose from modest origins to become India's second Prime Minister, serving from 1964 to 1966. He succeeded Jawaharlal Nehru at one of the most turbulent junctures in independent India's history — steering the country through food scarcity and external conflict with a quiet, resolute hand. His personal austerity was legendary: he reportedly urged his own family to skip a meal in solidarity with a famine-struck nation. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 1966 — the first person to receive it posthumously. He passed away in Tashkent on 11 January 1966, the day after signing the Tashkent Declaration that ended the 1965 war.
Fadnavis's tribute in the context of Maharashtra
CM Fadnavis posted his message in both English and Marathi, reflecting the bilingual public life of Maharashtra and addressing audiences across the state and beyond. The hashtag #Maharashtra alongside #LalBahadurShastri and #जय_जवान_जय_किसान signals a deliberate grounding of the tribute in state identity — a reminder that Shastri's vision of an agrarian, defence-strong India resonates with equal force in a state that is simultaneously India's industrial engine and one of its largest farming communities.
On a day shared with Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary — another towering figure of simplicity and service — the tributes to Shastri carry added weight. Both men, in different ways, asked India to look inward for its strength. Shastri's answer was two words: the farmer and the soldier. That answer has not aged.
Point of View
Tying the BJP's governance narrative to a Congress-era PM whose legacy of frugality and agrarian focus transcends party lines. Invoking 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' carries particular resonance in Maharashtra, a state where farmer distress and border-security discourse are live political currents. The tribute also reflects the BJP's broader strategy of appropriating cross-party nationalist icons to build a wider civilisational tent. On a date shared with Gandhi Jayanti, aligning with Shastri reinforces a message of austere, service-oriented leadership that the party projects as its own hallmark.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Lal Bahadur Shastri's birth anniversary?
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on 2 October 1904 , and his birth anniversary is observed every year on 2 October — the same date as Mahatma Gandhi's birthday.
What is the meaning of 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'?
'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' translates to 'Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer.' The slogan was coined by Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War to honour India's defence forces and agricultural community.
Why was Lal Bahadur Shastri awarded the Bharat Ratna?
Lal Bahadur Shastri was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1966 for his exemplary leadership as India's second Prime Minister, his role in guiding India through the 1965 war, and his lifelong service to the nation. He was the first recipient to receive the honour posthumously.
What did Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis say on Shastri Jayanti 2026?
CM Fadnavis described Shastri as 'a leader of remarkable simplicity' who dedicated his life to the service of the nation, and paid tribute to his inspiring 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' slogan and his invaluable contributions to India's agriculture and defence sectors.
How did Lal Bahadur Shastri die?
Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away in Tashkent on 11 January 1966 , the day after signing the Tashkent Declaration that formally ended the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War. The cause of his death was reported as a heart attack.
