- The birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai is celebrated every year on 28 January.
- Birth:
- He was born on January 28, 1865 in a small village called Dhudike in the Ferozepur district of Punjab.
- introduction:
- Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the greatest freedom fighters of India.
- He was also known as 'Punjab Kesari' and 'Lion of Punjab'.
- He studied law from the Government College, Lahore.
- Influenced by Swami Dayanand Saraswati, he joined the Arya Samaj in Lahore.
- He believed that the idealism of Hinduism, combined with nationalism, would establish a secular state.
- Together with Bipin Chandra Pal and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, he formed a trio (Lal-Bal-Pal) of extremist leaders.
- He was also associated with the Hindu Mahasabha.
- He protested against untouchability.
- Contribution:
- Political:
- He joined the Indian National Congress (INC) and took part in many political movements in Punjab.
- He was deported to Burma in the year 1907 for his participation in political movements, but returned after a few months due to lack of sufficient evidence.
- He opposed the partition of Bengal.
- He founded the Home Rule League of America in the year 1917 in America and through this sought moral support from the international community in America for the Indian independence movement.
- He was also the President of All India Trade Union Congress .
- He supported Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement in the Nagpur session of Congress in the year 1920 .
- He opposed the Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
- He was elected Deputy Leader of the Central Legislative Assembly in the year 1926.
- In the year 1928 he moved a resolution in the assembly refusing to cooperate with the Simon Commission as no Indian member was included in the commission.
- Social:
- He started the Hindu Relief Movement in the year 1897 to help the famine victims and save them from the clutches of missionaries.
- He founded the Servants of People Society in the year 1921.
- Literature:
- Important literary works written by him include Young India, England Debt to India, Evolution of Japan, India Will to Freedom, Message of Bhagavad Gita, Political Future of India, The Problem of National Education in India, Depressed Glasses and Travelogue of America.
- Institutional Functions:
- He established many institutions and organizations like Hisar Bar Council, Hisar Arya Samaj, Hisar Congress, National DAV Management Committee.
- He was the editor of the Arya Gazette, which he founded.
- He was the co-founder of Punjab National Bank in the year 1894.
- Death:
- In 1928, he was leading a silent protest against the Simon Commission in Lahore , when he was brutally lathi-charged by Superintendent of Police James Scott and died a few weeks later from the injuries he sustained.
