Lal Bahadur Shastri

“There comes a time in the life of every nation when it stands at the cross-roads of history and must choose which way to go.”

“Our way is straight and clear—the building up of a socialist democracy at home with freedom and prosperity for all, and the maintenance of world peace and friendship with all nations.”

“Among the major tasks before us none is of greater importance for our strength and stability than the task of building up the unity and solidarity of our people.”

“Our country has often stood as a solid rock in the face of common danger and there is a deep underlying unity which runs like a golden thread through all our seeming diversity.”

“The unique thing about our country is that we have Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis and people of all other religions. We have temples and mosques, gurdwaras and churches.”

“But we do not bring all this into politics. This is the difference between India and Pakistan.”

“India will have to hang down her head in shame if even one person is left who is said in any way to be untouchable.”

“The claims of the most backward sections like the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, who have suffered neglect and have hard to endure disabilities for many centuries.”

“We are yet very far indeed from realizing it; we have made only a humble beginning. We might, as is only natural, make mistakes and have to retrace our steps if the conditions so demand in order to serve better.”

“Even if we fail or falter, the laudable ideal will ever remain before us as a beacon light to lead us to individual, social, political — and may I also add — spiritual progress.”

“Their production, if tackled properly, may well pave the way for further progress.”

“Officers at the top and even those below work on the basis of reports and not on what is actually happening in the fields.”

“A complete survey of each and every village should be the first and most essential part of our scheme.”

“All this should be done with military precision. It is in that spirit that “Grow More Food” has to be worked.”

“An army of land workers should not remain merely a slogan. Every cultivator should be made to feel that he is a soldier of that army and should report at the village panchayat how he is faring with the work allotted to him.”

“We must make ourselves self-supporting in cereals as it is a matter of shame to all of us not to be able to do so with the huge resources at our disposal.”

“Khadi should be given the utmost encouragement and the people encouraged to use it even if it is somewhat costly. Government should also patronise it fully.”

“If we want to make people work-minded, engender a creative spirit and teach them the dignity of labour, the easiest solution is to go in for small-scale industries.”

“the government of India should, in addition to relaxing restrictions in migration of people belonging to the minority communities from East Pakistan to the Indian Union”

“An armed conflict creates more problems than it solves. It is an impediment to understanding and agreement. On the other hand, in an atmosphere of peace, we can make real progress towards solving differences between us.”

“Instead of fighting each other, let us start fighting poverty, disease and ignorance. The problems, the hopes and the aspirations of the common people of both the countries are the same.”

“They want not conflict and war, but peace and progress. They need not arms and ammunition, but clothing and shelter.”

“We have sought peace and friendship with our neighbours. Our faith in the forces of peace was so genuine and so strong that we did not pay the requisite attention to building up adequately the defence forces of the country.”

“India needs Socialism in action. What we do for our masses to make them self-sufficient in regard to their food, clothing, shelter, medical aid and employment is the important thing.”

“We can win respect in the world only if we are strong internally and can banish poverty and unemployment from our country.”

“We must inject new elements in the services. Let us introduce professors, economists, teachers, engineers and others, even outsiders, so that there is some freshness, a real exchange of views, a meeting of different approaches.”

“The kisan is as much a soldier as the jawan.”

“Pakistan has invaded Kashmir. I use the word 'invasion' deliberately.”

“We want peace in Kashmir. But when we are attacked, it becomes the responsibility of the Government to meet force with force.”