In the 20th century, there have been many fearless national leaders who never hesitated in taking up challenges. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is an illustrious example of such a leader. And there was another — Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai. He was loved and respected not only in India, but also in America. His life is a tale of supreme sacrifice. In spite of coming from a well-to-do family, he chose to serve the nation. He protested against the Simon Commission before Bredma Hall in Lahore and took the brunt of the lathi charge over his head. And this led to his untimely demise.
He hailed from Punjab and always spoke in chaste Punjabi. His khaddar turban was his identity. He toured the world, but never gave up his identity and his pride of being an Indian.
His fearlessness and sense of social service earned him the title of Punjab Kesari. Lala Lajpat Rai was born into an ordinary family in a small village named Jagraon in Ferozepur district of Punjab. After his formal education, he went to Lahore to study. He practised at Lahore and Hisar. At Lahore, he helped establish the nationalist Anglo-Vedic School and became a follower of Swami Dayanand, the founder of the Arya Samaj. Slowly his area of work expanded. He travelled across the nation and helped people suffering from famine.
At 23, he joined the Congress. It was because of his zealous efforts that the Congress Session at Lahore in 1893 became a success. The British Government saw the makings of a revolutionary in Lalaji and exiled him to Mandalay Jail in Burma (now Myanmar) in May 1907 without any trial. However because of lack of sufficient evidence, he was allowed to return in November the same year.
In December 1907 the supporters of Lalaji wanted to elect him the president of the Congress, but leaders who believed in seeking favours from the British refused to accept him. Because of differences, the party split.
Lala Lajpat Rai realised that there was a lack of nationalism among the youth of Punjab. So he established the Lok Sevak Sangh to provide financial assistance to those youths who were engaged in the service of the nation. During the Second World War, he went to the United States. He returned in1919. In 1920, he led the special session of the Congress that launched the Non-cooperation Movement. Between 1921 and 1923, he was put in prison. On his release he was elected to the Legislative Assembly.
In 1928, he introduced the Legislative Assembly resolution for the boycott of the Simon Commission. When the Simon Commission came to India, it was boycotted by the whole nation. In Lahore, Lalaji led a protest march against the Commission. The peace marchers were mercilessly lathi-charged. Lalaji received a blow on his head and was badly injured. A few days later, on 17 November 1928 he succumbed to his injuries. Later, revolutionaries killed Superintendent Saunders, the police officer who was responsible for Lalaji’s death.
In the Congress, the triad of Lal (Lala Lajpat Rai), Bal (Bal Gangadhar Tilak) and Pal (Bipin Chandra Pal) were very famous.
Lala Lajpat Rai wrote a number of books. Some of the prominent ones include The Story of My Deportation (1908), Arya Samaj (1915), The United States of America: A Hindu’s Impression (1916) and Unhappy India (1928).