The Great Conciliator: Lal Bahadur Shastri and the Transformation of India

by Sanjeev Chopra

Lal Bahadur Shastri, a man of slight stature, took a larger-than-life stand as India's prime minister. A man of few words, his correspondence was to the point, his speeches succinct. His silence, which some understood as willingness to acquiesce, was both a strength and a weakness. But in fact, during his short term of just about eighteen months, he established institutions that brought India on the path of self-sufficiency and helped defend against external aggression.

Prime Minister Shastri galvanized the nation with his slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan', recognizing the farmers for contributing to both food and national security. He is credited with laying the foundation of the Green Revolution, providing an institutional format to the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices and the Food Corporation of India, and establishing the National Dairy Development Board.

Shastri is also strongly etched in public memory as the first Indian prime minister to direct the army to cross the border. To his leadership therefore goes the credit for the first 'surgical strike'. He established key national and domestic security organizations like the Border Security Force and the Central Bureau of Investigation.

In The Great Conciliator, Sanjeev Chopra draws on meticulous research to turn the spotlight on an often overlooked figure in Indian politics and makes a case for reassessing the legacy of India's unassuming second prime minister.

524 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2025

Reviews

[Sagar Sumit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always wanted to learn more about the life of Lal Bahadur Shastri, and not just his prime ministerial tenure (which was definitely very eventful). I wanted to learn more about the man who succeeded Pandit Nehru, at a time when Indian strength and unity was at its nadir (Sino-India War, issue of linguistic identity, more divided polity). There must be something resolute about such a man who brought India out of this morass to form a more cohesive and strengthened nation. And this book tells us why. He had the qualities right from his school days. He appeared so clam on surface and he packed more iron and steel in his character than that appeared on the surface. It's only befitting of such character that even your enemy is the pall bearer of your dead body! This book is well researched and we must read this to remind us of the great sacrifices Shastri ji made and not take our freedom for granted.

[Prakash Holla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is more of a look into his functioning as a politician/prime minister rather than a biography..his dealing with green/white revolutions, Pakistan war, his forthright nationalism are well discussed..it doesn’t subscribe to any of the many conspiracy theories relating to his abrupt demise at Tashkent..it gives a concise picture as to how a humble, diminutive person left lasting mark on Indian politics..