Nation Remembers its 'Lal'

January 28th marks the birth anniversary of one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian Independence movement, also known to us as Punjab Kesari, Lala Rajpat Rai's birth anniversary is celebrated each year as Lala Lajpat Rai Jayanti. Prime Minister Modi took to twitter to express his tribute:

Lala Lajpat Rai was an outstanding leader of the Congress, a statesman, historian and educationist. He was also a distinguished editor, ardent social and religious reformer and powerful orator. He was one of the three "Lal Bal Pal" triumvirate. The other two being Bipin Chandra Pal and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

After joining the Indian National Congress and taking part in the political agitation in Punjab, Lala Lajpat Rai was deported to Mandalay, but there was insufficient evidence to hold him for subversive activity. Lajpat Rai's supporters attempted to secure his election to the presidency of the party session at Surat in December 1907, but he did not succeed. Later, he was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress in the Calcutta Special Session of 1920. In 1921, he founded Servants of the People Society, a non-profit welfare organisation.

Lala Lajpat Rai was against the caste system in Hinduism. He despised the fact that the lower castes were not allowed to read the scriptures and were treated as untouchables. He firmly believed that everyone should be allowed to read the scriptures. 

While in America he had founded the Indian Home Rule League in New York and a monthly journal "Young India" and "Hindustan Information Services Association". 
He had also petitioned the Foreign affairs committee of Senate of American Parliament giving a vivid picture of mis-administration of the British Raj in India, the aspirations of the people of India for freedom amongst many other points, strongly seeking the moral support of the international community for the attainment of independence of India.
 

Protest against Simon Commission:

In 1928, the British government set up the Commission, headed by Sir John Simon to report on the political situation in India. The Indian political parties boycotted the Commission, because it did not include a single Indian in its membership, and it met with country wide protests. When the Commission visited Lahore on 30 October 1928, Lajpat Rai led a non-violent march in protest against it. The protesters chanted "Simon go back" and carried black flags.

The superintendent of police, James A. Scott, ordered the police to lathi  charge at the protesters and personally assaulted Rai. Despite being extremely injured, Rai subsequently addressed the crowd and said, "I declare that the blows struck at me today will be the last nails in the coffin of British rule in India".

He did not fully recover from his injuries and died on 17 November 1928. However, when the matter was raised in the British Parliament, the British Government denied any role in Rai's death. The young revolutionary Bhagat Singh, who was a witness to the event, vowed to take revenge.

Institutions founded by Lala Lajpat Rai:

Some of the prominent institutions founded by Lala Lajpat Rai include:
⦁    Arya Gazaette
⦁    Hisar congress, Hisar Arya Samaj & Hisar Bar Council
⦁    National DAV Managing Committee
⦁    Lakshmi Insurance Company (later merged with Life Insurance Corporation of India)
⦁    Gulab Devi Chest Hospital (still serves in Pakistan)

His Works:
⦁    The Story of My Deportation, 1908
⦁    Arya Samaj, 1915
⦁    The United States of America: A Hindu’s Impression, 1916
⦁    The problem of National Education in India, 1920
⦁    Unhappy India, 1928
⦁    Young India: An Interpretation and a History of the Nationalist Movement from Within, 1916
⦁    England's Debt to India, 1917

Some of his famous quotes:
⦁    “The shots that hit me are the last nails to the coffin of British rule in India.”
⦁    “The government which attacks its own innocent subjects has no claim to be called a civilised government. Bear in mind, such a government does not survive long. I declare that the blows struck at me will be the last nails in the coffin of the British rule in India.”
⦁    “If I had the power to influence Indian journals, I would have the following headlines printed in bold letters on the first page: Milk for the infants, food for the adults and education for all.”
⦁    “Defeat and failure are sometimes necessary steps of victory.”

Several Netizens also expressed their gratitude to the fallen leader on his anniversary:
 

Lala Lajpat Rai was an inspiration to a new India and continues to do so even till today. Team Checkbrand expresses its gratitude for the leader on the auspicious occasion of Lala Lajpat Rai Jayanti. May his words serve as a guiding light for our future generations.



 

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