Tue Mar 18 17:43:50 UTC 2025: ## Chennai Writer Unearths Untold Madras Connections of Lal Bahadur Shastri

**CHENNAI, March 18, 2025** – A recent visit to Lal Bahadur Shastri’s understated memorial in Tashkent prompted writer and historian V. Sriram to delve into the late Prime Minister’s lesser-known connections with Madras (now Chennai). Sriram’s research revealed intriguing links, highlighting Shastri’s impact on the city beyond his national role.

While Shastri is remembered for the 1965 anti-Hindi agitation and his moral responsibility for a railway accident in Ariyalur, leading to his resignation as Railway Minister in 1956, Sriram uncovered a family connection. Shastri’s son, Hari Krishna, worked at Ashok Leyland in Madras. This connection, discovered through interviews and historical research, including S. Muthiah’s book “Moving India on Wheels,” paints a more personal picture of Shastri’s relationship with the city.

Hari Krishna’s employment at Ashok Leyland, and his training at Albion Motors in the U.K. – a company instrumental in establishing Ashok Leyland in Madras – revealed a previously untold chapter in Shastri’s life. His son’s presence in Madras made the city a frequent destination for Shastri himself, fostering friendships and influencing local initiatives, such as the establishment of Burma Colonies to house refugees. Sriram’s findings underscore Shastri’s lasting legacy in Madras, a legacy that extends beyond the political sphere.

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