Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as Punjab Kesari, was among the prominent leaders of the Indian National Congress and the Indian Independence Movement. The trio of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal was popular across the country as Lal-Bal-Gopal.
The great writer, freedom fighter, and strong politician Lala Lajpat Rai was born on January 28, 1865. He was born in Moga district of Punjab. Lala Lajpat Rai, born in Punjab, the land of war-mongers, played an important role in the country's freedom movement. Lala Lajpat Rai was involved in many big movements. The movement against the Simon Commission gave him a distinct identity.
Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as Punjab Kesari, was among the prominent leaders of the Indian National Congress and the Indian Independence Movement. The trio of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal was popular across the country as Lal-Bal-Gopal.
In the year 1920, Lalaji was elected President of the Indian National Congress during the special session of the Congress Calcutta (Kolkata). He founded Punjab National Bank and Lakshmi Insurance Company. Lala Lajpat Rai participated in the movement against the Simon Commission. When he came to India on 3 February 1928, agitation broke out throughout the country. During that time Lala Lajpat Rai had led the movement in Lahore.
The British government was shaken by his movement. The British lathi-charged the agitators, in which Lala Lajpat Rai was injured. After this he was martyred on 17 November 1928. As soon as the news of Lala Lajpat Rai's death spread, there was anger across the country and people became agitated.
Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Rajguru, Sukhdev, and other revolutionaries vowed to take revenge. Ultimately the revolutionaries fulfilled their vow and on 17 December 1928, British police officer Saunders was shot dead.
Very few people know that it was Lala Lajpat Rai who gave the slogan of 'British Quit India'. He gave this slogan while opposing the Simon Commission. Lala Lajpat Rai had said in his last speech that every injury on my body would become a nail in the coffin of the British Empire. His words later proved to be correct. After this, the countdown of British rule started.
After the successful movement of Lala Lajpat Rai, the way for freedom from British rule was paved. He led the non-cooperation movement, which proved successful in Punjab. After the success of this movement, he came to be known as Punjab Kesari and Punjab Ka Sher. He was especially a source of inspiration for the revolutionaries. Lal-Bal-Pal was one of the three major leaders of the extremist faction of the Indian National Congress.
(PC: Google)
