The author of the book – Lal Bahadur Shastri: A life of truth in politics, is a retired Indian civil

servant and international administrator and diplomat. After serving as the district administrator in
meerut and lucknow, he was chosen to serve as the joint secretary of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji,
the then prime minister of India. Having worked so closely with Shastri Ji, the author provides an
authentic and detailed account of his life and works.

In the initial chapters there is a vivid description of the childhood, upbringing and rise to
eminence of Shastri Ji. Even minute details regarding development of behavioral and attitudinal
characteristics of Lal Bahadur Shastri have been mentioned through specific incidents of his life;
so much so that one can truly experience Shastri Ji coming alive through the pages of the book.
Next few chapters of the book talk about the political scenario of India during the period 1929,
when shastri Ji started his actual political career and became a member of the servants of the
people society, to 1965, when shastri ji showed immense courage and determination as the leader
of the nation and helped its citizens sail through the tough times of war.

The author also gives insightful understanding of the life and doings of all those who have been a
source of influence and inspiration( Lala Lajpat Rai, Pt. Nehru etc.) for Shastri Ji. Thus, we get
to know that how a young man from a completely non-political and non-influential background
rose to the highest levels of democratic India and displayed such high devotion towards a
national cause.

The book further provides a comprehensive analysis of the period of war with Pakistan. Despite
several efforts to strengthen the Indo-Pak ties, shastri Ji had to take a front foot at the warfront
when Pakistan decided to invade India. India-US, India-USSR relationships and the political,
social and economical impact of the cold war on India have been explained in detail.

The author has taken pains to combine information from relevant research documents and his
personal interaction with Shastri ji and others in the political arena so as to provide a clear
picture of the ’65 war, its consequences and results. Specific and separate chapters have been
dedicated to specific war operations. The war objectives have been clearly defined. The author
has also made explicit use of maps and photographs for providing better understanding.

The book is the first and only biography for the general reader based on detailed and impeccable
scholarship. The author, himself, was a part of the Tashkent conference and was with Shastri ji
until the last day of his life. Thus, these events have also been profoundly described in the book.