Lala Lajpat Rai Jayanti 2024 : 28 January 2024 marked the 159th birth anniversary of the freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as “Punjab Kesari” or “Lion of Punjab“.
About Lala Lajpat Rai: The Lion of Punjab :
* Birthplace : Rai was born on January 28, 1865, in Dhudike, Punjab, to a Jain family.
* His parents were Munshi Radha Krishan Agrawal and Gulab Devi Agarwal.
* Schooling : Rai did his primary schooling in Rewari, Punjab, influenced by his father, a government school teacher, and his deeply religious mother.
* Higher Education : He joined Government College at Lahore in 1880, majoring in law, where he was influenced by the Arya Samaj movement.
* Death : He died on November 17, 1928, following a police lathi-charge during a protest against the Simon Commission.
* His famous words, “the blows struck at me today will be the last nails in the coffin of British rule in India,” became a rallying cry for freedom.
Lala Lajpat Rai: His Contribution to the Indian National Movement :
* Part of ‘Lal, Bal, Pal’ Trio : Alongside Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal, Rai formed a formidable trio advocating for Swadeshi and home-rule movements.
* Role in Swadeshi Movement : He played a vital role in mobilising Indians against the first Partition of Bengal in 1905.
* For his political agitation, he was deported to Burma without trial in 1907 but returned after a few months because of lack of evidence.
* Protest against Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre : Rai actively opposed these oppressive British policies.
* Leadership in Congress : Rai served as the President of the Indian National Congress from 1920, steering pivotal moments like the Non-Cooperation Movement.
* Central Legislative Assembly : Elected deputy leader in 1926, Rai played a significant role in legislative affairs.
* In 1928, he moved a resolution in the assembly refusing cooperation with the Simon Commission since the Commission had no Indian members.
Lala Lajpat Rai: His Associated Organizations :
Hindu Relief Movement : Started in 1897 to aid famine-stricken people, preventing them from falling prey to missionaries.
Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School : He helped establish the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School in Lahore, promoting nationalistic education.
Punjab National Bank : Rai helped establish this bank in 1894, a significant contribution to India’s economic development.
Servants of People Society : Founded in 1921, this society reflected his dedication to social service.
Arya Samaj and Hindu Mahasabha : Rai’s involvement in these organisations highlighted his commitment to Hindu reform and national politics.
Indian Home Rule League of America : Founded in 1917 during his stay in the U.S., it aimed to promote India’s cause for self-rule.
Lala Lajpat Rai Contributions to Labour Movements and Labor Laws :
* All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) : He was actively involved in the labour movement and played a pivotal role in the establishment of AITUC, India’s first national trade union, in 1920.
*First President of AITUC : Lala Lajpat Rai
*Advocacy for Labor Rights : He was deeply concerned with the plight of workers and advocated for better labour laws and working conditions, contributing significantly to the labour rights movement in India.
Lala Lajpat Rai Newspaper & Literary Works :
* He founded the Arya Gazette in Lahore.
* Rai was a regular contributor to various newspapers:
* Young India,
* England’s Debt to India,
* Evolution of Japan,
* India’s Will to Freedom,
* Message of the Bhagavad Gita,
* Political Future of India,
* Problem of National Education in India,
* The Depressed Glasses, and the travelogue ‘United States of America’.
Lala Lajpat Rai Philosophy :
* Ideological Beliefs : Rai’s philosophy combined nationalism, Hindu reformism, and advocacy for civil liberties and self-reliance.
* Influence of Arya Samaj : His views were significantly shaped by the Arya Samaj movement, emphasising social reform within Hinduism.
