Lala Lajpat Rai

Lala Lajpat Rai - Freedom Fighter, Career and Facts

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Lala Lajpat Rai Biography Stories 

Lala Lajpat Rai's Personal Details

Lala Lajpat Rai was a prominent Indian freedom fighter who actively participated in the Indian freedom struggle against the British rule

InformationDetail
BirthdayJanuary 28, 1865
Died onNovember 17, 1928
NationalityIndian
FamousLeaders, Political Leaders, Revolutionaries, Freedom Fighter
Birth PlaceDhudike, India
GenderMale
FatherMunshi Radha Krishna Azad
MotherGulab Devi
Sun SignAquarius
Born inDhudike, India
Famous asFreedom Fighter
Died at Age63

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Lala Lajpat Rai's photo

Who is Lala Lajpat Rai?

Popularly known as Punjab Kesari or the Lion of Punjab, Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the greatest leaders of India, who actively took part in the Indian fight for independence from the British rule. Blessed with exceptional organizing abilities and oratorical skills, he instigated in Indian youth the seed for Indian Independence. Educated in law, he was deeply impressed by the ideals of Arya Samaj movement founded by Dayananda Saraswati. He was one of the leaders of famous 'Lal Bal Pal' trio who were a thorn in the flesh of British administration. He also travelled to the US to propagate the cause of Indian freedom. He founded Servants of the People Society, a non-profit welfare organization. A prominent member of the Indian National Congress, he was brutally assaulted by the police while protesting against the arrival of Simon Commission, set up by the British government, to report on the political situation in India, and that ultimately led to his death.

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Childhood & Early Life

Born as Lajpat Rai to the Munshi Radha Krishna Azad and Gulab Devi at the Dhudike village of Punjab on January 28, 1865, he belonged to the Aggarwal Bania community. His father was a scholar of Persian and Urdu language.

Young Rai attained his elementary educational training from the Government Higher Secondary School in Rewari where his father was posted as an Urdu teacher.

Upon completing his basic education, he enrolled at the Government College at Lahore in 1880 to attain a degree in law. It was while at college that he befriended Indian patriots and future freedom fighters like Lala Hans Raj and Pandit Guru Dutt.

Career

In 1885, he completed his study of law and started his legal practice in Hissar. However, unlike other lawyers from his fraternity, he did not aim at making legal practise his preferred profession and instead wanted to devote his life to social service.

It was during this time that he became an ardent follower of Dayananda Sarasvati, the founder of the conservative Hindu society Arya Samaj. Along with the latter, he helped establish the nationalistic Dayananda Anglo-Vedic School.

After the death of Swami Dayanand, he along with his associates worked hard to develop the Anglo-Vedic colleges and educational institutes. It was due to his impartial and unbiased attitude that he was elected to the Hissar municipality as a member first, eventually becoming its secretary.

In 1888, he entered politics and made impressive contribution in the country’s struggle for independence by working as a freedom fighter. At the Congress session in Allahabad, he was one of the eighty delegates whose heroic speech made waves in the Congress circle and uplifted his popularity by leaps and bounds.

To serve the cause of the country better, he decided to shift from the small town of Hissar. As such, qualifying to practice as an advocate, he moved to Lahore where he took up legal practice at the Punjab High Court. He constantly juggled between legal duties and social service.

He actively participated against the partition of Bengal and launched Swadeshi campaign. His name resounded in the emergence of the new leadership at the Indian National Congress as he became part of the famous Lal-Bal-Pal trio. He was unaffected by the repressive measure adopted by the government and constantly worked to infuse in people national pride and self-respect.

His active measures in creating a tide of revolution caused riots in Lahore and Rawalpindi in 1907 which resulted in his imprisonment in Mandalay jail for six months until November, 1907.

After being out of Congress for a couple of years, he re-entered the Indian National Congress in 1912. Two years later, he served as one of the delegates of the Congress in England.

The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 however disrupted his plan for staying in England for six months and resulted in him moving to America on a self-imposed exile. It was in America that he strongly raised his voice about the pitiable state of India and Indians through his revolutionary speeches and books.

In America, he established the Indian Home Rule League and initiated a journal called, ‘Young India’ which dealt with the significance of Indian culture and necessity for Indian freedom. It was through the paper that he initiated a movement that made him popular worldwide.

Returning to India in 1920, he took over as the President of the National Congress at the Special Session held in September. His surging popularity made him a national hero as people blindly accepted and followed him.

Following year, he founded the ‘Servants of the People Society’, a non-profit welfare organization, in Lahore. Unable to contain his growing popularity and his potential threat to the British Raj, he was imprisoned from 1921 to 1923.

Freed from jail, he turned his attention to the communal problem which became a rising threat to India. Though he was a devout Hindu and strongly was influenced by Arya Samaj, he understood the need for Hindu Muslim unity and actively worked for it.

In 1925, he presided over the Hindu Mahasabha held in Calcutta where his inspiring speech instigated numerous Hindus to join the national movement for Independence.

The year 1928 proved to a curtain puller in the life of this freedom fighter who voiced strongly against the British’s Simon Commission, which aimed at discussing Constitutional reforms needed in India but without having any Indian member on its panel.

Infuriated, he led a peaceful protest against the Commission, introducing a legislative assembly resolution for completely boycotting the latter and demanding that they return to their own country. British response in the form of lathi charge gravely injured him from which he never completely recovered.

Personal Life & Legacy

He breathed his last on November 17, 1928, due to heart attack. His death is celebrated as Martyrs Day in India.

Popularly referred to as the Lion of Punjab, Lala Lajpat Rai’s legacy continues to thrive in the country in the form of various schools, colleges and educational institutes which bear his name.

His statues adorn various roads, squares and lanes in numerous towns and metropolis of India. Additionally, markets and localities also bear his name to mark his relentless contribution in the freedom struggle.

In his life, he made lasting contribution in the field of commerce and journalism as well. While he is responsible for the establishment of the Punjab National Bank and the Lakshmi Insurance Company, his newspapers, journals and weeklies played a dominant role in instigating Indian youth to join in the freedom struggle.

His contribution as a social worker and member of the Arya Samaj has been invincible. He served as a father figure to the orphans, helped set up numerous orphanages which function till date and toiled tirelessly to improve the working condition of the working class.

Trivia

This great Indian political leader and freedom fighter was referred to as Punjab Kesari or Lion of Punjab.

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Lala Lajpat Rai biography timelines

  • // 28th Jan 1865
    Born as Lajpat Rai to the Munshi Radha Krishna Azad and Gulab Devi at the Dhudike village of Punjab on January 28, 1865, he belonged to the Aggarwal Bania community. His father was a scholar of Persian and Urdu language.
  • // 1880
    Upon completing his basic education, he enrolled at the Government College at Lahore in 1880 to attain a degree in law. It was while at college that he befriended Indian patriots and future freedom fighters like Lala Hans Raj and Pandit Guru Dutt.
  • // 1885
    In 1885, he completed his study of law and started his legal practice in Hissar. However, unlike other lawyers from his fraternity, he did not aim at making legal practise his preferred profession and instead wanted to devote his life to social service.
  • // 1888
    In 1888, he entered politics and made impressive contribution in the country’s struggle for independence by working as a freedom fighter. At the Congress session in Allahabad, he was one of the eighty delegates whose heroic speech made waves in the Congress circle and uplifted his popularity by leaps and bounds.
  • // 1907
    His active measures in creating a tide of revolution caused riots in Lahore and Rawalpindi in 1907 which resulted in his imprisonment in Mandalay jail for six months until November, 1907.
  • // 1912
    After being out of Congress for a couple of years, he re-entered the Indian National Congress in 1912. Two years later, he served as one of the delegates of the Congress in England.
  • // 1914
    The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 however disrupted his plan for staying in England for six months and resulted in him moving to America on a self-imposed exile. It was in America that he strongly raised his voice about the pitiable state of India and Indians through his revolutionary speeches and books.
  • // 1920
    Returning to India in 1920, he took over as the President of the National Congress at the Special Session held in September. His surging popularity made him a national hero as people blindly accepted and followed him.
  • // 1921 To 1923
    Following year, he founded the ‘Servants of the People Society’, a non-profit welfare organization, in Lahore. Unable to contain his growing popularity and his potential threat to the British Raj, he was imprisoned from 1921 to 1923.
  • // 1925
    In 1925, he presided over the Hindu Mahasabha held in Calcutta where his inspiring speech instigated numerous Hindus to join the national movement for Independence.
  • // 1928
    The year 1928 proved to a curtain puller in the life of this freedom fighter who voiced strongly against the British’s Simon Commission, which aimed at discussing Constitutional reforms needed in India but without having any Indian member on its panel.
  • // 17th Nov 1928
    He breathed his last on November 17, 1928, due to heart attack. His death is celebrated as Martyrs Day in India.

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Lala Lajpat Rai's FAQ

  • What is Lala Lajpat Rai birthday?

    Lala Lajpat Rai was born at 1865-01-28

  • When was Lala Lajpat Rai died?

    Lala Lajpat Rai was died at 1928-11-17

  • Which age was Lala Lajpat Rai died?

    Lala Lajpat Rai was died at age 63

  • Where is Lala Lajpat Rai's birth place?

    Lala Lajpat Rai was born in Dhudike, India

  • What is Lala Lajpat Rai nationalities?

    Lala Lajpat Rai's nationalities is Indian

  • Who is Lala Lajpat Rai's father?

    Lala Lajpat Rai's father is Munshi Radha Krishna Azad

  • Who is Lala Lajpat Rai's mother?

    Lala Lajpat Rai's mother is Gulab Devi

  • What is Lala Lajpat Rai's sun sign?

    Lala Lajpat Rai is Aquarius

  • How famous is Lala Lajpat Rai?

    Lala Lajpat Rai is famouse as Freedom Fighter