Lal Bahadur Shastri’s birth anniversary falls today, youngsters still unaware

Shivani Bhakoo

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 1

The birth anniversary of the second prime minister of India falls tomorrow, but unfortunately, the younger generation is not even aware of who the great leader is. They know well why Gandhi Jayanti is a holiday on October 2, but when asked that the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri falls on October 2, the youngsters gave a blank look. The educationists have held media responsible for this to an extent which never made the masses aware about Shastri’s personality.

The Ludhiana Tribune spoke to youngsters of schools and colleges but barring one or two students, none was able to provide any satisfactory reply when asked about the great personality.

A college-going student here when asked if she knew about Lal Bahadur Shastri’s birth anniversary, she said: “Okay, it must be October 2 but I just know about Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday.”

When the youngsters were told that Shastri led the country successfully through the India-Pakistan war in 1965, and that Shastri only made popular the slogan, “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”, the youngsters expressed that this was news to them as not at school or home, they were told about the great personality.

On this matter, a few educationists were asked about the reason why such a personality was not remembered on his birthday, the principal of Nankana Sahib Public Schoool, Harmeet Kaur, Waraich, said it was too sad. She agreed that anyone hardly remembered Shastri or his birth anniversary. “To an extent, the media is responsible too. They focus on one aspect alone which is always there in the minds of masses but they hardly throw light on the contributions made by Shastri or on what kind of person he was. Even now, we get circulars to promote khadi which is good. But why particularly on celebrating 150 years of Gandhi Jayanti, it should be a continuous process. Not much in curriculum is there about Lal Bahadur Shastri,” she rued.

The principal of BCM School, Paramjit Kaur, said the media should generate more awareness about personalities who had contributed in the welfare of nation. “On October 3, during the morning assembly, I will make sure to give knowledge to children on both Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri,” she said.