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Lala Lajpat Rai made groundbreaking contributions in the fields of education, social reform and journalism. His legacy went on to inspire a generation of future freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad.
Lala Lajpat Rai left an indelible mark in India’s fight for independence. (Image: Shutterstock)
Lala Lajpat Rai’s 160th Birth Anniversary: The country is ready to commemorate the 160th birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai on Tuesday, January 28. Counted among one of the most revered freedom fighters, politicians and respected authors, Lala Lajpat Rai left an indelible mark in India’s fight for independence, emerging as a key figure in the Indian National Congress and Arya Samaj.
Known for leading the protest against the Simon Commission, he strongly embodied the spirit of non-violent resistance against the British government.
Lajpat Rai also made groundbreaking contributions in the fields of education, social reform and journalism. His legacy went on to inspire a generation of future freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad.
Not to forget, he was also a part of the famous trinity of “Lal Bal Pal” alongside Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal.
On the occasion of Lala Lajpat Rai’s 160th birth anniversary, let’s dive deeper to learn more about the ‘Punjab Kesari’ or the ‘Lion of Punjab.’
All You Need To Know About Lala Lajpat Rai
- Lala Lajpat Rai was born on January 28, 1865, to Urdu and Persian government school teacher Munshi Radha Krishan and his wife Gulab Devi, in Dhudike, Punjab.
- Since his childhood days, Lala Lajpat Rai has been determined to serve his country.
- In 1886, he moved to Hisar and started practicing law, becoming a founding member of the Bar Council of Hisar alongside Babu Churamani.
- It was then that he founded the Hisar district branch of the Indian National Congress.
- He also became a member of the existing Arya Samaj Lahore and the founder editor of the Lahore-based Arya Gazette.
- In a bid to save the political policy of India to gain independence, Rai indulged in journalism and became a regular contributor to several newspapers including The Tribune.
- Eventually, in 1914, he quit law practice to dedicate himself completely to the freedom fight.
- As a part of the Indian National Congress, Lajpat Rai took part in several political agitations in Punjab and was even deported to Mandalay without trial. However, he was soon allowed to return and was elected the President of the Indian National Congress in the Calcutta Special Session of 1920.
- A year later, he founded Servants of the People Society, a non-profit welfare organisation to empower the Hindu society to fight their own battle against the caste system, position of women and untouchability. He believed everyone should be allowed to read and learn from the Vedas irrespective of their caste or gender.
- One of the key moments in Rai’s historical legacy was the non-violent march that he led against the Simon Commission in 1928. Then superintendent of police, James A. Scott ordered the police to lathi-charge the protesters and personally assaulted Rai. Having been seriously injured in the protests, Rai failed to recover and passed away on November 17, 1928.
Apart from playing a crucial role in India’s freedom movement, Lala Lajpat Rai was also an eloquent speaker and openly voiced his ideas to inspire the audience and motivate them. He was an avid supporter of the Swadeshi Movement, emphasising the message that using indigenous products can give a major boost to the local economy.
Lala Lajpat Rai: Inspiring Quotes
- “Defeat and failure are sometimes necessary steps of victory.”
- “I declare that the blows struck at me will be the last nail in the coffin of British rule in India.”
- “A person should be courageous and honest in worshipping the truth, without being concerned about receiving worldly benefits.”
- “I always believed that my silence on several topics will be an advantage in the long run.”
- “The process of building a nation is a moral process. You cannot engage in work of this kind with success by practising duplicity.”
- “No nation was worthy of any political status if it could not distinguish between begging for political rights and claiming them.”