Lala Lajpat Rai, known as 'Punjab Kesari', was one of the major heroes of the Indian freedom struggle. He had an important role in getting independence for India. Along with this, he made his mark as an ideal leader. Today is the 159th birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai. On this occasion, we tell you some special things about him which hardly people would know.

Lala Lajpat Rai made invaluable contributions to India as a nationalist politician, lawyer, and writer. He was influenced by Arya Samaj which he propagated across the country. Because of his works in Punjab, he was given the title of Punjab Kesari.

Lala Lajpat Rai founded Arya Samaj along with Swami Dayanand. He was also a banker who established an indigenous bank in the country, which we know today as Punjab National Bank. Lala Lajpat Rai is still a source of inspiration for crores of youth.

Lala Lajpat Rai also had to stay in jail in Burma against British rule. After coming back from jail, he went on a tour of America in the year 1970 and came back during the First World War. Born on January 28, 1856, Lala Rajpat Rai's father Radhakrishna Agarwal was a teacher and a famous writer. His mother Gulab Devi was a housewife. He was a brilliant student. After completing his studies, he studied law and started practicing law from Hisar.

However, seeing the justice system of the British government, anger arose in his mind. Because of this, he left law practice and entered the banking sector and started innovating banks to earn his livelihood. After Bal Gangadhar Tilak, he was among the first leaders who raised the demand for complete independence.

After the partition of Bengal in 1905, he joined agitators like Surendranath Banerjee and Bipin Chandra Pal and opposed this decision of the British government. He helped in increasing the Swadeshi movement throughout the country. Seeing his popularity, fear had arisen among the British. Because of this the British arrested Lala Lajpat Rai and put him in jail in Burma.

Became famous by the name Punjab Keshari
During the British rule, everyone in Punjab believed in the words of Lala Lajpat Rai. Because of his influence in Punjab, he was called Punjab Keshari i.e. Lion of Punjab. Lala Lajpat Rai had raised his voice against the British rule in Punjab.

On 17 November 1928, he was injured in a lathi charge during a protest against the Simon Commission in Lahore, after which he died. After his death, there was anger across the country against the British rule. Great revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru shot dead British police officer Saunders on 17 December 1928 to avenge Lalaji's death.
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(PC: Freepik)