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an old friend of his visited his house. Shastry was then the Home
Minister. He told his friend that his wife was away and as such he
could not offer him dinner. The friend was surprised to know that
Shastry’s wife was still engaged in cooking. He suggested Shastry
Not to be republished
to appoint a cook. Then Shastry told him that he had no money to
pay for the cook.

7. Though Lal Bahadur Shastry looked physically short and weak,
he was strong in mind and action. He was tactful and firm. He
©KTBS
showed that he could take bold decisions. He abolished the control
on cement and steel. Violent agitations broke out in South India,
because people thought that the Government was forcing Hindi on
them and that it would be made the sole Official Language. Shastry
announced that English would continue to be an associate official
language of India.

8. When Pakistan attacked Jammu and Kashmir, Shastry declared in
the Parliament : ‘force will be met with force’. He gave freedom to
the Army to take action against Pakistan and teach it a lesson. The
Indian Army entered Pakistan and won the war. Pakistan learnt a
lesson it could never forget.
glossary :

vitality : vigour, energy
stroll : walk

vendor : seller on the street
facilities : comfort

anxiety : concern
scarcity : non-availability

austere : simple
abolished : did away with, stopped

sole : only, single
associate : additional

tactful : intelligent in handling people
obsequies : rites performed after death

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