Jai Jawan Jai Kisan

Jai Jawan Jai Kisan (English: "Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer") was a slogan given to India by the Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1965 at a public gathering at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi.[1][2]

Soon after Shastri took over the prime ministership of India after Nehru's death, India was attacked by Pakistan. At the same time there was scarcity of food grains in the country. Shastri gave the slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kisan to enthuse the soldiers to defend India and simultaneously cheering farmers to do their best to increase the production of food grains to reduce dependence on import. It became a very popular slogan.[1][3]

In popular culture

After the Pokaran tests in 1998, Atal Bihari Vajpayee added Jai Vigyan (Hail knowledge) to the slogan to underline the importance of knowledge in India's progress.[4]

During the acceptance speech of Sunil Bharti Mittal delivered at Teen Murti Bhavan on 15 December 2009 after receiving the 10th Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award from the President of India, the Director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, Delhi, Dr Kailash Chandra Mishra, restated the slogan as

Jai Jawan! Jai Kissan! Jai Vigyan! Jai Vidwan!

Jai Vidwan means "hail the learned" to signify knowledge working as the driver of India's current significant economic growth.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India) commemorated Shastri on his 48th martyr's day:

Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was one of those great Indians who has left an indelible impression on our collective life. Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri's contribution to our public life were unique in that they were made in the closest proximity to the life of the common man in India. Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri was looked upon by Indians as one of their own, one who shared their ideals, hopes and aspirations. His achievements were looked upon not as the isolated achievements of an individual but of our society collectively.

Under his leadership India faced and repulsed the Pakistani invasion of 1965. It is not only a matter of pride for the Indian Army but also for every citizen of the country. Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri's slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kisan reverberates even today through the length and breadth of the country. Underlying this is the inner-most sentiments 'Jai Hindustan'. The war of 1965 was fought and won for our self-respect and our national prestige. For using our Defence Forces with such admirable skill, the nation remains beholden to Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri. He will be remembered for all times to come for his large heartedness and public service.[5]

In 2015, a film based on Shastri's life was released which was named after this slogan only.

References

  1. ↑ "The ground beneath her feet". Livemint. April 5, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  2. ↑ "State to usher in `Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' era". The Hindu. Dec 9, 2006. Archived from the original on 6 Apr 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "'Jai jawan, jai kisan aur jai vigyan,' Vajpayee coins new slogan". Rediff.com. May 20, 1998. Archived from the original on 27 Apr 2006. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Hindustan Times, New Delhi Friday, January 11, 2013 page no 5
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