Lala Lajpat Rai Birth Anniversary
The birth anniversary of great Indian freedom fighter, Lala Lajpat Rai is celebrated on the 28th of January every year in India. He was also popularly known as ‘Punjabi Kesri.’His birthday celebrations are held all across the country, however, special functions are conducted in the north Indian state of Punjab, especially in the Dhudi Ke village of the state, which was also the birthplace of Lala Lajpat Rai.
As Mahatma Gandhi said: "So long as the sun shines in the Indian sky, persons like Lalaji will not die."
He was deeply impressed by the ideals of patriotism and nationalism outlined by Italian revolutionary leader Giuseppe Mazzini. He with some prominent leaders including Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak started being impatient with the moderate politics advocated by somr leaders of the Indian National Congress. They voiced the demand for Dominion status to their strong opposition and need for complete independence or 'Purna Swaraj'.
Lajpat Rai once said: "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, Education for all."His ideology of nationalism and zealous patriotism earned him the title, 'Punjab Kesari'.While studying in college, he reportedly developed a deep friendship with Lala Hans Raj and Pandit Guru Dutt Vidyarthi, all three of whom were deeply inspired by the teachings of Arya Samaj, the Hindu reformist movement founded by Dayanand Saraswati in 1875. Rai joined Arya Samaj in December 1882, as his interest in Hinduism began to take on a nationalistic colour.
Leaving his legal practice ,lalaji urged many powerful countries to see the vicious subjugation of India under the British rule. He went to Britain in 1914 and was in the USA from 1917 to 1920. He founded the Indian Home Rule League in New York and launched a monthly journal, Young India as well as the Hindustan Information Services Association.
Rai is remembered for his role during the Swadeshi movement and for his advocacy of education. He died at Lahore in 1928 after he was attacked by police during a protest rally against the Simon Commission.Rai famously said, “The blows struck at me today will be the last nails in the coffin of British rule in India.”
Lala Lapat Rai's Death inspired Bhagat Singh to seek revenge.He was a mere lad,barely 22years old was absolutely revolted by the British brutality. He was a student of Lahore's DAV college which had been founded by Lala Lajpat Rai.The trio of Bhagat Singh-Rajguru-Sukhdev shot British police officer John Saunders eight times from within the DAV .
On the leader’s 156th birth anniversary, here’s looking at a few quotes by him.
- 1-“The shots that hit me are the last nails to the coffin of British rule in India.”
- 2-“Since the cruel killing of cows and other animal have commenced, I have anxiety for the future generation.”
- 3-“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.”
