Lala Lajpat Rai was described as the pillar of nationalism in India.
Lala Lajpat Rai was a prominent nationalist leader who played an important role in India’s struggle for freedom. He was a prominent member of the famous ‘Lal Bal Pal’ firebrand trio during the independence movement. His fierce brand of patriotism and potent vocalism against the British rule earned him the title of ‘Punjab Kesari’ or the Lion of the Punjab.
Born: January 28, 1865
Place of Birth: Dhudike, Punjab
Parents: Munshi Radha Krishna Azad (Father) and Gulab Devi (Mother)
Spouse: Radha Devi
Children: Amrit Rai, PyareLal, Parvati
Education: Government College, Lahore
Political Association: Indian National Congress, Arya Samaj
Movement: Indian Independence Movement
Political Ideology: Nationalism, Liberalism
Publications: The Story of My Deportation (1908), Arya Samaj (1915), The United States of America: A Hindu’s impressions (1916), Young India (1916), England’s Debt to India: India (1917)
Death: November 17, 1928
Lala Lajpat Rai Early Life
Lala Lajpat Rai was born on January 28, 1865 to Munshi Radha Krishna Azad and Gulab Devi at Dhudike village in Ferozpur District. Munshi Azad was a scholar of Persian and Urdu. Lala’s mother was a religious lady who inculcated strong moral values in her children. His family values allowed Lajpat Rai the freedom of having different faiths and beliefs.
Popularly known as Punjab Kesari, Rai was a part of the Lal-Bal-Pal triangle. He passed away on November 17, 1928.
On his birth anniversary Jan 28th, listed are some interesting facts that you must know about the freedom fighter:
- Lala Lajpat Rai helped found the Punjab National Bank
- While studying Law at Lahore, Rai also helped to establish the Dayananda Anglo-Vedic School
- Lala Lajpat Rai was heavily influenced by Hinduism and reformed many Indian policies
- Rai was a law student and later, he also practised law at Hissar
- Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal formed a triumvirate and fought for independence of India and promoted the Swadeshi movement
- Rai was described as the pillar of nationalism in India
- In 1928, the British government set up a commission and no Indian was named in the list. Lala Lajpat Rai led the silent march in protests and in return, British police declared a lathi charge, where Rai was assaulted and injured
- Even after such injuries, Rai said, “I declare that the blows struck at me today will be the last nails in the coffin of British rule in India.”
- Lala Lajpat Rai died on November 17, 1928, due to his serious injuries
- The Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Hisar, Haryana is named after Lala Lajpat Rai
- Lala Lajpat Rai’s writings include The Story of My Deportation (1908), Arya Samaj (1915), The United States of America: A Hindu’s Impression (1916), Young India (1916), Unhappy India (1928), and England’s Debt to India (1917)
- His death is celebrated as Martyrs’ Day in Odisha
5 Inspiring Quotes From India’s Freedom Fighter Lala Lajpat Rai
- The Government which attacks its own innocent subjects has no claim to be called a civilized 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.
- Since the cruel killing of cows and other animal have commenced, I have anxiety for the future generation.
- I always believed that my silence on several topics will be an advantage in the long run.
Famous slogans of Pre and post independent India
| Famous Quotes and Slogan | Name |
| Inqualab Zindabad | Bhagat Singh |
| Dilli Chalo | Subhash Chandra Bose |
| ‘Do or die’ (Karo Ya Maro) | Mahatma Gandhi |
| Jai Hind | Subhash Chandra Bose |
| Purna Swaraj | Jawahar Lal Nehru |
| Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan | Bharatendu Harishchandra |
| Back to the Vedas | Dayanand Saraswati |
| Aaram Haraam Hai (Cast off your laziness) | Jawahar Lal Nehru(Not authentic) |
| Bharat Chhoro | Mahatma Gandhi |
| Jai jawan jai Kisan | Lal Bahadur Shastri (during India-Pakistan War of 1965) |
| Maro Firango ko | Majal Pandey |
| Jai Jagat | Vinoba Bhave |
| Kar mat do (Don’t give tax) | Sardar Vallabhai Patel |
| Sampurn Kranti (Total revolution) | Jai Prakash Narayan |
| Vijayi Vishwa Triranga Pyaara | Shyam Lal Gupta councilor |
| Vande Mataram | Bankim Chandra Chatterjee |
| Jan Gan Man Adhinayak Jaya hey | Rabindra Nath Tagore |
| Samarajywaad ka Naash ho | Bhagat Singh |
| Swaraj (Self Rule) is my birthright | Bal Gangadhar Tilak |
| Sarfaroshi ki tamanna, ab hamare dil me hai | Ram Prasad Bismil |
| Saare jahan se achchha hindustan hamara | Iqbal |
| Simon Commission Go back | Lala Lajpat Rai |
| Who lives if India dies | Jawahar Lal Nehru |
| Tum Mujhe Khoon Do, main Tumhe Ajadi Doonga”. (Give me blood and I will give you freedom) | Subhash Chandra Bose |
| A blow to the sticks on my head will prove to be the nail of the casket of the British rule | Lala Lajpat Rai |
| Muslims were foolish, they demanded protection and Hindus were also foolish, they rejected that demand. | Abul kalam azad |
| Satyameva Jayate” (Truth alone will win) | Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya |
| “Jai Jawan Jai kisan Jai Vigyan” | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| “Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.” | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
Lala Lajpat Rai Death
On October 30, 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai led a peaceful procession to oppose the arrival of the Simon Commission in Lahore. Intercepting the march, Superintendent of Police, James A.Scott ordered his police force to ‘lathi-charge’ at the activists. The police targeted Lajpat Rai, in particular, and hit him on the chest. This action left Lala Lajpat Rai with severe injuries. He died of a heart attack on November 17, 1928. His followers squarely placed the blame on the British and vowed to avenge his death. Chandrasekhar Azad along with Bhagat Singh and other associates plotted the assassination of Scott but the revolutionaries shot J.P. Saunders, mistaking him as Scott.
Role as an Influencer
Not only Rai was this heavyweight leader of the Indian Nationalist Movement, his views on patriotism and nationalism earned him the status of a venerated leader. He inspired young men of his generation and kindled latent spirit of patriotism in their hearts. Young men such as Chandrasekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh were driven to dedicate their lives for the sake of freedom of their Motherland following his example.