Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Indian History
Why in News?
Recently, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Lala Lajpat Rai on his birth anniversary.
- Born in – 28 January 1865, Ludhiana district, Punjab.
- Parents – Father Shri Radha Kishan, teacher of Urdu and Persian, and mother Smt. Gulab Devi.
- Early Activism – Showed leadership qualities from school days.
- In 1882, joined the Arya Samaj, founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati; worked for social and national revival.
- Ideology – Advocated militant nationalism.
- Believed in self-reliance, self-help, Swadeshi, and Swaraj as India’s birthright.
- Freedom Struggle – He was a part of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio.
- Swadeshi Movement – Promoted Swadeshi in Punjab, encouraging local goods and self-reliance.
- Opposed British economic policies like the Punjab Colonisation Act and irrigation rate hikes.
- Political Representation – Represented Indian grievances before the British public in England (1905) with Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
- Highlighted the plight of “half-starving and half-dying people of India.”
- Exile & International Advocacy – During WWI, in the USA, countered British propaganda and raised awareness about colonial oppression.
- Founded the Indian Home Rule League of America (1916) to support Home Rule and promote Indo-American relations.
- Congress Leadership – Elected as President of the Indian National Congress (1920, Calcutta session).
- Advocated the Non-Cooperation Movement after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
- Anti-Simon Commission – Led boycott and protest against the all-white Simon Commission (1928).
- Injured during a lathi-charge in Lahore; injuries led to his death, making him a martyr.
- Social Reform – Arya Samaj – Became a leading member; made it a platform for social service.
- Famine & Disaster Relief – Provided relief during famines (1896, 1899–1900, 1907–08) and the Kangra earthquake (1905).
- Untouchability Abolition – Supported Harijan upliftment and abolition of untouchability.
- Funded schools and purchased land to establish homes and schools for the depressed classes.
- Education – Strong advocate for education as a tool for social progress and freedom.
- Associated with DAV College; emphasized education as a foundation for national development.
- Women & Child Welfare – Worked for women’s upliftment and orphanages for destitute children.
- Title – He was popularly known as Punjab Kesari (Lion of Punjab) and Sher-e-Punjab.
- Literary works – It includes Unhappy India, Young India, England's Debt to India, and The Story of My Deportation.
References
- PIB | Lala Lajpat Rai
- INDIAN CULTURE | Lala Lajpat Rai
- Sansad | Lala Lajpat Rai
