Kejriwal pays tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri on birth anniversary
Synopsis
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on 2 October 2026 paid tribute to former PM and Bharat Ratna Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary, honouring his patriotism, simplicity, and unblemished honesty as an enduring guide for the nation.
Key Takeaways
Arvind Kejriwal paid homage to Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary on 2 October 2026 .
Shastri, born 2 October 1904 , served as India's second Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966 .
He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1966 , India's highest civilian honour.
Kejriwal highlighted Shastri's 'boundless patriotism, simplicity, and unblemished honesty' as values worthy of national reverence.
Shastri's iconic 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' slogan remains a cornerstone of India's national identity.
2 October is also Gandhi Jayanti , one of India's most symbolically significant dates.
On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Lal Bahadur Shastri, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal offered his respects on Friday, 2 October 2026, calling Shastri's simplicity and unblemished honesty a model worthy of reverence for all of India.
Kejriwal posted in Hindi: 'पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री 'भारत रत्न' श्री लाल बहादुर शास्त्री जी की जयंती पर उन्हें सादर नमन।' ('Respectful homage to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary.') He added that Shastri's 'boundless patriotism, skilled leadership and great ideas strengthened the nation,' and that 'his life will always show us the right path.'
A leader defined by simplicity
Lal Bahadur Shastri, born 2 October 1904 in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, served as India's second Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966. He is remembered for steering the country through the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 with quiet resolve and for coining the rallying call 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' — honouring both the soldier and the farmer in a single breath. The slogan became a cornerstone of India's national identity during a period of acute military and food-security pressure.
Shastri was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — in 1966, the same year he passed away in Tashkent following the signing of the peace agreement that ended the 1965 war. His personal frugality and refusal of privilege during his years in public life have kept his legacy a touchstone in Indian political discourse across party lines.
Why Kejriwal invokes Shastri
For the Aam Aadmi Party, which has long anchored its brand in the language of honesty, austerity, and common-man governance, a tribute to Shastri carries particular resonance. Kejriwal's specific emphasis on 'saadgi aur bedaag imaandaari' ('simplicity and unblemished honesty') echoes the party's founding rhetoric and places Shastri within a lineage of leaders AAP holds up as ideals of clean public service.
Note that 2 October is also the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, observed nationally as Gandhi Jayanti — making it one of the most symbolically loaded dates on India's political calendar, when tributes from leaders across the spectrum converge.
In a political moment when integrity in public life remains a live and contested theme, Kejriwal's invocation of Shastri's 'unblemished' record is as much a statement of aspiration as it is a historical tribute.
Point of View
' Kejriwal subtly reinforces his party's positioning as the inheritor of clean-politics idealism in an era of heightened scrutiny of public officials. The tribute also reflects a broader pattern across Indian politics where Shastri's memory is claimed by leaders of varied ideological hues, underscoring how his image as the 'common man's PM' transcends party affiliation. For AAP, such invocations serve both as historical tribute and as a soft reminder of the values the party argues are absent in its rivals.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Lal Bahadur Shastri's birth anniversary?
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on 2 October 1904 , so his birth anniversary is observed every year on 2 October , the same date as Gandhi Jayanti.
What did Arvind Kejriwal say about Lal Bahadur Shastri?
Kejriwal praised Shastri's 'boundless patriotism, skilled leadership, and great ideas' and called his simplicity and unblemished honesty 'worthy of reverence for the entire country,' adding that Shastri's life will always show India the right path.
Why is Lal Bahadur Shastri called Bharat Ratna?
Lal Bahadur Shastri was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna , India's highest civilian honour, in 1966 in recognition of his extraordinary service to the nation as Prime Minister, his leadership during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War , and his unwavering personal integrity.
What is the meaning of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan?
'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' — meaning 'Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer' — was a slogan coined by Lal Bahadur Shastri to honour both the armed forces and agricultural communities, becoming one of India's most enduring national rallying calls.
Why does AAP pay tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri?
AAP, which brands itself on honesty and simple governance, often invokes Shastri because his personal austerity and reputation for clean public service align closely with the party's founding ideology and political messaging.
