<P> On 8 August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi issued the Quit India speech at Gowalia Tank in Mumbai, demanding that the British leave India . Shastri, who had just then come out after a year in prison, travelled to Allahabad . For a week, he sent instructions to the independence activists from Jawaharlal Nehru's home, Anand Bhavan . A few days later, he was arrested and imprisoned until 1946 . Shastri spent almost nine years in jail in total . During his stay in prison, he spent time reading books and became familiar with the works of western philosophers, revolutionaries and social reformers . </P> <P> Following India's independence, Shastri was appointed Parliamentary Secretary in his home state, Uttar Pradesh . He became the Minister of Police and Transport under Govind Ballabh Pant's Chief Ministership on 15 August 1947 following Rafi Ahmed Kidwai's departure to become minister at centre . As the Transport Minister, he was the first to appoint women conductors . As the minister in charge of the Police Department, he ordered that police use water jets, whose instructions was given by him, instead of lathis to disperse unruly crowds . His tenure as police minister (As Home Minister was called prior to 1950) saw successful curbing of communal riots in 1947, mass migration and resettlement of refugees . </P> <P> In 1951, Shastri was made the General Secretary of the All - India Congress Committee with Jawaharlal Nehru as the Prime Minister . He was directly responsible for the selection of candidates and the direction of publicity and electioneering activities . His cabinet consisted of the finest business men of India including Ratilal Premchand Mehta . He played an important role in the landslide successes of the Congress Party in the Indian General Elections of 1952, 1957 and 1962 . In 1952, he successfully contested UP Vidhansabha from Soraon North cum Phulpur West seat and won getting over 69% of vote . He was believed to be retained as home minister of UP, but in a surprise move was called to Centre as minister by Nehru . Shastri was made Minister of Railways in First Cabinet of Republic of India on 13 May 1952 . </P> <P> Jawaharlal Nehru died in office on 27 May 1964 and left a void . Then Congress Party chief Minister K. Kamaraj was instrumental in making Shastri Prime Minister on 9 June . Shastri, though mild - mannered and soft - spoken, was a Nehruvian socialist and thus held appeal to those wishing to prevent the ascent of conservative right - winger Morarji Desai . </P>

Short note about lal bahadur shastri in hindi