Hiralal Shastri was born on November 24, 1899 at Jobner in Jaipur District. Born in a peasant family, he had his early education in Jobner. Hiralal secured the degree of Sahitya Shastri in  1920.  He took B.A. degree in 1921 from Maharaja's College,  Jaipur,  securing the first rank.

From early childhood Hitalal had a burning desire to go to some village and devote his life to the service of the down­trodden. Though he joined Jaipur State Service in 1921 and had a meteoric rise to become Secretary in the Home and Foreign Departments, he resigned the  same  in 1927. While in  administrative service  he displayed qualities of hard work, efficiency and fearlessness.

In 1929, in fulfillment of  his childhood resolve, Hiralal Shastri selected a  remote and  backward  village Banasthali, 45 miles from Jaipur and founded 'Jeevan Kutir' there. Here he trained a band of dedicated social workers  and endeavoured to implement a programme of rural reconstruction.  These  workers  later became the heralds of political awakening in many of the Rajputana States.  He himself was drawn to political arena when he; was drafted to re-organise Jaipur Rajya Praja Mandai in 1937 of which he was twice elected General  Secretary and twice President. In 1939 he led the Praja Mandai's Satyagraha for achievement of civil liberties and suffered a six-month imprisonment. In 1947 he was  appointed General Secretary of All India States Peoples Conference. The same year he was elected to the  Constituent  Assembly.

On the installation of representative Government in Jaipur State in 1948 Hiralal Shastri took over as the Chief Minister and when Rajasthan State was formed on March 30, 1949 he became its first Chief Minister. On him fell the herculean task of integrating the diverse princely units into effective modern administration. He  accomplished this  complex task ably  in a short period.  He resigned on January 5,1951 and later became member  of  the Second Lok Sabha.

Banasthali Vidyapith, founded by Hiralal Shastri, has today become a premier national institution for women's education.

Hiralal Shastri passed away on December 28, 1974. Forthright and fearless  in his views, an Indian to the core  of his heart, a selfless social  worker, Pandit Hiralal Shastri was  a farsighted  and  popular leader. To him  goes largely the credit of laying the foundation of  a strong, unified and progressive Rajasthan.

The Posts & Telegraphs Department feels privileged to bring out a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Pandit Hiralal Shastri.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India