Special envoy of Uzbekistan President, Ilhom Nematov, on Tuesday said that Tashkent is always ready to assist and provide everything to New Delhi with regard to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.
"India is always helpful. It is an important partner for us. Uzbekistan is ready to provide everything for India," Nematov told ANI in response to a question on whether Uzbekistan will provide information to India with regard to the death of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Shastri died in Tashkent, which was then part of erstwhile Soviet Union, in the early hours of January 11, 1966, after signing the Tashkent Accord with Pakistan President Mohammad Ayub Khan on January 10, 1966. He reportedly died of heart attack, but there have been various theories on how the former Prime Minister passed away. Some even suspect he died of poisoning. With the mystery surrounding Shastri's death, there have been demands for declassifying documents related to his demise.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's state visit to India, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Delhi, in cooperation with National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan, organised a series of cultural events dedicated to showcasing the shared legacy and deep cultural ties of the people of India and Uzbekistan.
The Uzbek exhibition features collections from the Rampur Raza Library, the National Museum of India, the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library and will be displayed at the National Museum of India from September 25 until October 26. The exhibition is accompanied by conference of scholars, a presentation of books to universities and cultural organisations of India and other special events at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Delhi.
A series of similar presentations will be held at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Islamic Cultural Centre of India. The first of these events was held on January 20 at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial, where the Shastri Museum, was gifted a unique collection of books. Illustrated in 10 volumes, the collection of books depicts the vibrant legacy of the Republic of Uzbekistan that is highlighted in art collections from all over the world.
Admired by several generations of Uzbeks, Shastri is remembered fondly for the historic declaration of 1966 between India and Pakistan, which he signed in Tashkent, shortly before his death. The Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture, which works under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), was established in Tashkent in 1995 and has been a household name in Uzbekistan for its cultural activities.
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