THE POWER OF LEADING BY EXAMPLE
This inspiring anecdote from the life of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the former Prime Minister of India, takes us back to 1965—a time when the nation was facing immense challenges. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was underway, and India was also struggling with a severe shortage of food grains.
During this period, India depended heavily on wheat imports, including supplies from the United States under the leadership of Lyndon B. Johnson. Due to the ongoing war and global political tensions, these supplies became uncertain, adding to the country’s difficulties.
Faced with this dual crisis of war and food scarcity, Lal Bahadur Shastri chose a path that reflected both courage and responsibility. He neither gave in to external pressures nor ignored the hardships of his people. Instead, he turned to the strength of the nation itself.
Shastri appealed to the citizens of India to observe a voluntary fast one day every week, in order to conserve food and share the burden collectively. It is widely believed that he followed this principle in his own life as well, encouraging his family to adopt the practice before asking the nation to do the same. Whether symbolic or literal, this gesture reflected his belief in leading by example.
The response was remarkable. Across the country, people willingly began observing weekly fasts. What started as a response to crisis soon became a powerful expression of unity, discipline, and national spirit.
This story, often shared about Shastri ji, may have been simplified over time, but it truly captures the essence of his leadership—simple, sincere, and deeply connected to the people.
