Lala Lajpat Rai was an imminent nationalist who played a significant role in India’s freedom struggle. A prominent member of the Lal Bal Pal trio, Rai fought for the country’s independence through his fierce patriotism. Lala Lajpat Rai was an imminent nationalist who played a significant role in India’s freedom struggle. A prominent member of the Lal Bal Pal trio, Rai fought for the country’s independence through his fierce patriotism.
As today is the 89th death anniversary of the great freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai, we are here with some interesting facts about the legend’s life that are must-known.
• Born on January 28, 1865, Lala Lajpat Rai received great family values that allowed him to have different faiths and beliefs. His father Munshi Azad was a scholar of Persian and Urdu while mother Gulab Devi was quite religious.
• He received elementary education from Government Higher Secondary school after which he joined the Government College of Lahore to study law. Since childhood, he had closely seen the British Raj dominance and hence he was always determined to help India gain freedom.
• Lalaji was highly inspired by the works of Italian revolutionary leader Giuseppe Mazzini. He along with Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, demanded Purna Swaraj. They voiced against Congress’ demand for a gradual process to dominion status.
• He was one of the leaders who thought that a unified anti-colonial struggle was quite difficult. He even proposed the partition of India into Muslim and non-Muslim India which became a huge controversy.
• He gave up his legal practice realizing that relieving India from the British rule was the utmost priority. He even visited various countries to highlight the atrocities of British Raj in India.
• He protested the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre and led a fierce demonstration in Punjab. After the Chauri Chaura incident, when Gandhiji called back the non-cooperation movement, he criticized the decision and formed the Congress Independence Party.
• In October 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai and other revolutionaries were leading a peaceful procession to oppose the Simon Commission. The fact that the commission consisted of only British delegates angered the Indians.
• During the procession as people were shouting ‘Simon Go Back’, James A. Scott ordered the police force for lathi-charge. In the lathi-charge, Rai was hit on the chest and got several injuries. Later in November 1928, he died of a heart attack.
• Many followers of Lalaji blamed the Britishers for his death and were ready for vengeance. It was at this time when Chandrashekhar Azad alongside Bhagat Singh and few others plotted the assassination of Scott but mistakenly killed J.P. Saunders instead.
Even after the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, he continued to inspire the youth of the country to fight for India’s freedom. He was a great leader and his followers were very determined to follow his example. Not only in the freedom struggle, he also contributed to various other fields of education, commerce, and healthcare.
