Lala Lajpat Rai Biography, Early Life, Education, Career and Contributions

Lala Lajpat Rai was a revolutionary leader, politician and author. He is famously known as “Punjabi Kesari,” meaning the Lion of Punjab. A key figure in India’s freedom struggle, he was part of the famous trio of Lal Bal Pal, alongside Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. His untimely death resulted from injuries sustained during a peaceful protest against the Simon Commission in 1928.

Early Life of Lala Lajpat Rai

Lala Lajpat Rai was born on 28 January 1865 in Dhudike village, Punjab (now in Moga district). He came from a respected Agrawal Jain family. His father, Munshi Radha Krishna, was a teacher of Urdu and Persian, while his mother, Gulab Devi, was known for her strong values. Lajpat Rai spent his childhood in Jagraon, where his house now stands as a library and museum. He also founded the first educational institute, R.K. High School, in Jagraon.

Education of Lala Lajpat Rai

Lala Lajpat Rai studied at Government Higher Secondary School in Rewari, where his father was posted as a teacher. In 1880, he joined Government College in Lahore to study law. During his college years, he connected with patriots and future freedom fighters like Lala Hansraj. Inspired by Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s teachings, he joined the Arya Samaj movement and became the editor of the Arya Gazette.

Legal Career and Their Contributions

After completing his studies, Lajpat Rai began practicing law in Hisar, Haryana, in 1886. He became a founding member of the Hisar Bar Council and actively contributed to public welfare by setting up branches of the Indian National Congress and Arya Samaj. In 1892, he moved to Lahore and began practicing law at the Lahore High Court. He also contributed to newspaper like The Tribune and helped manage early institutions like Punjab National Bank.

Political Journey of Lajpat Rai

Lajpat Rai’s political journey began with his involvement in the Indian National Congress. He was deported to Mandalay by the British but was released due to a lack of evidence. Later, he founded National College in Lahore, where notable figures like Bhagat Singh studied. In 1920, he was elected president of the Indian National Congress during the Calcutta Special Session.

In 1921, he founded the “Servants of the People Society,” a welfare organization that continues its work today. Rai believed in fighting social evils like caste determination, untouchability and inequality for women.

Struggles During Exile

After being deported to Mandalay, Lala Lajpat Rai went to Britain and then to the United States during World War I. He faced challenged such as a blacklisted passport, which restricted his travel back to India. While in the U.S., he gave lectures, wrote books like Young India, and raised funds for India’s independence.

Visit to the United States

During his stay in the U.S., Lajpat Rai founded the Indian Home Rule League in New York and started a monthly journal called Young India. He also met influential leaders like Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. He compared caste discrimination in India to racial discrimination in the United States.

Protests Against the Simon Commission

In 1928, the British government sent the Simon Commission to India, which had no Indian members. This angered Indians and protests erupted nationwide. Lala Lajpat Rai led a peaceful march in Lahore on 30 October 1928, chanting “Simon Go Back!” The protest was met with police violence, and Rai was severely injured in a baton charge led by James A. Scott. Despite his injuries, Rai decalred, “The blows struck at me today will be the last nails in the coffin of British rule in India.”

Death and Legacy of Lala Lajpat Rai

Lala Lajpat Rai never fully recovered from his injuries and passed away on 17 November 1928. His death deeply impacted India’s freedom struggle. Revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh vowed to avenge him, leading to further acts of defense against British rule.

Lala Lajpat Rai’s contributions to India’s independence and social reforms remain unforgettable. His courage and dedication earned him the title “Punjab Kesari,” and he continues to inspire.