“The Great Conciliator: Lal Bahadur Shastri and Transformation of India”, authored by Sanjeev Chopra and published by Bloomsbury India, is a comprehensive tribute to India’s second Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri. The book highlights Shastri’s political journey, leadership, and contributions to India’s growth, despite being often overlooked in historical narratives.
About Book
- The book chronicles Shastri’s rise in Indian politics and administration, detailing the socio-political factors that shaped his leadership.
- Shastri is portrayed as a statesman, administrator, and problem-solver who steered India during challenging times, particularly after Jawaharlal Nehru’s passing.
- Despite an illustrious career spanning over four decades, Shastri’s legacy has not been widely documented, and this book seeks to rectify that gap.
- The book delves into Shastri’s pragmatic approach, highlighting his role in economic policies, governance reforms, and 1965 India-Pakistan war.
- It presents a detailed examination of his leadership style, decision-making abilities, and impact on India’s development.
- The book reintroduces Lal Bahadur Shastri’s contributions to modern India, ensuring his legacy is not overshadowed.
- The book sheds light on his role in 1965 war, particularly his decisive leadership during the conflict with Pakistan.
- It explores Shastri’s policies on agriculture and self-sufficiency, including his famous slogan, “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.”
About Author- Sanjeev Chopra
- Sanjeev Chopra is a retired IAS officer who served for 36 years in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
- He superannuated as the Director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, a premier training institute for Indian civil servants.
- He is a member of the Academic Council of the National Centre for Good Governance and the National Institute of Disaster Management.
- Chopra is a columnist for ThePrint and is also the Director of the Valley of Words Literature and Arts Festival.