Lala Lajpat Rai 157th Birth Anniversary

Context

Every year 28th January is observed as the birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai remembering his struggle for the freedom of the nation. 

About Lala Lajpat Rai

• Lala Lajpat Rai was one of those renowned freedom fighters whose contribution is immense as far as the independence of the nation is concerned. 
• He is fondly known for its triumvirate ‘Lal-Bal-Pal’. The other two being Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. 
  

Early Life

• He belonged to a small village named Dhudike in Ferozepur district of Punjab and was born on 28th January 1865. 
• The name of his father was Munshi Radha Krishna Aggarwal who was a Persian government teacher and the name of his mother was Gulab Devi. 
• He studied law at Government College, Lahore and practiced it at Lahore and Hisar.
• Because of his birth in Punjab and his great struggle for the freedom of the nation, he was known as Punjab Kesari or ‘Lion of Punjab’. 

Contribution in India’s independence

• At the age of 16, he joined the Indian National Congress (INC) and participated in various political agitations.
• In 1907, as a result of his agitations, he was deported to Burma without trial. But he was sent back within months because of the lack of evidence. 
• In 1917, he founded the Home Rule League of America in New York. Through these international movements he tried to generate international support for the independence of the nation. 
• He believed in Purna Swaraj, which is the complete independence of the nation. 
• He was a member of Hindu Mahasabha as well. He also opposed the partition of Bengal. 
• In 1920, he chaired a National Conference of the All India Trade Union Congress as its President. 
• In 1920, he was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress. 
• In 1920, at the Nagpur session of Congress, he was in support of the Non Cooperation Movement led by Gandhiji. 
• He stood against the Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• In 1926, he was elected as the Deputy Leader of the Central Legislative Assembly. Before this he was in prison from 1921-1923. 
• In 1928, a resolution was released by him in the assembly regarding no cooperation with the members of the Simon Commission because there were no Indian members in it.
• In 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai was brutally Lathi charged by Superintendent of Police James Scott while protesting against the Simon Commission in Lahore. Then, after sustaining it for a few weeks he died because of injuries on 17th November 1928.