Last Updated on 27 January 2024 IST | Lala Lajpat Rai Jayanti (Birth Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai): Every year, India observes 28th January as the birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai. This day highlights the immense struggles and contribution of Lala Lajpat Rai in the Indian Independence. This day is observed as the day to express the gratitude of the nation towards Lala Lajpat Rai. Gratitude for his role in the struggle of Indian Independence. Read the entire news, to know about Lala Lajpat Rai in detail. 

Lala Lajpat Rai Jayanti (Birth Anniversary) | Highlights

• The day of 28th January is observed as the birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai. 
• Lala Lajpat Rai, one of the most renowned Indian Freedom Fighters, is known for his struggle for Indian Independence . 
• He is known as Punjab Da Sher (“Lion of Punjab”) or Punjab Kesari.
• Punjab Da Sher initiated many social reforms and foundations for the betterment of the nation.
• He was also well known for his literary works. Many of his literary works are famous.
• Lala Lajpat Rai took his last breath on 17th November 1928 after he faced the atrocities of the British government in his non violent protest against the Simon Commission.
• The real freedom is still unheard of, which is the independence of the soul to make this human birth a success.

Who Was Lala Lajpat Rai?

Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the renowned freedom fighters. He made immense contributions in the struggle for Indian Independence. 

• Lajpat Rai was born on 28th January 1865 in a small village named Dhudike in Ferozepur district of Punjab.
• His father Munshi Radha Krishna Aggarwal was a Persian government teacher.
• His mother was Gulab Devi. 
• He studied law at Government College, Lahore and practiced at Lahore and Hisar.
• Because of his birth in Punjab and his great struggle for the freedom of the nation, he was known as Punjab Kesari or Punjab Da Sher ‘Lion of Punjab’. 

Interesting Facts About Lala Lajpat Rai on Lala Lajpat Rai Jayanti 

Lala Lajpat Rai is fondly known for his triumvirate ‘Lal-Bal-Pal’. The other two being Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. 

• At the age of 16, he joined the Indian National Congress (INC) and participated in various political agitations.
• In 1907, as a result of his agitations, he was deported to Burma without trial. But he was sent back within months because of the lack of evidence. 
• In 1917, he founded the Home Rule League of America in New York. Through these international movements he tried to gather international support for the independence of the nation. 
• He believed in Purna Swaraj, which is the complete independence of the nation. 
• He was a member of Hindu Mahasabha as well. He also opposed the partition of Bengal. 

• In 1920, Under his Presidency, he chaired a National Conference of the All India Trade Union Congress.
• In 1920, he was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress. 
• In 1920, at the Nagpur session of Congress, he was in support of the Non Cooperation Movement led by Gandhiji. 
• He stood against the Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• In 1926, he was elected as the Deputy Leader of the Central Legislative Assembly. Before this he was in prison from 1921-1923. 
• In 1928, a resolution was released by him in the assembly regarding non cooperation with the members of the Simon Commission because there were no Indian members in it.

Literary Contributions of Lala Lajpat Rai

Lala Lajpat Rai was known for his writings as well. His most famous literary works include England Debt to India (1917), Unhappy India (1928), The Story of My Deportation (1908), Evolution of Japan, India’s Will to Freedom, Message of the Bhagavad Gita, Political Future of India, Problem of National Education in India, Political Future of India, The Depressed Glasses and the Travelogue ‘United States of America’.

• He launched a monthly journal called Young India in 1916 and founded the Hindustan Information Services Association. 
• Rai also wrote a 32 page petition to the foreign affairs committee of the US Senate regarding the atrocities Indian people were facing under British rule. And also urged for International support for the same to bring some improvements. 
• In 1927, a trust with his mother’s name was established by him in Lahore, Pakistan to run a hospital to diagnose tuberculosis. His mother died of the same disease.
• His contributions include works in various newspapers and magazines in Hindi, Punjabi, English and Urdu. 

Social Reforms and Founding Works of Lala Lajpat Rai

• Lala Lajpat Rai laid the foundation of the National College at Bradlaugh, Lahore. In this National College, he enrolled Bhagat Singh as Student. 

• He also laid the foundation stone of many organizations like The Hisar Bar Council, Hisar Arya Samaj, Hisar Congress, National DAV Managing committee.
• He also founded Arya Gazette and worked as its editor. 
• In 1894, Lala Lajpat Rai founded Punjab National Bank and Lakshmi Insurance Company.
• When he was practicing law, he also founded Dayanand Anglo Vedic School (DAV). 
• In 1897, he founded Hindu Relief Movement to give aid to the famine struck. 
• In 1921, Lala Lajpat Rai also founded Servants of People Society.

Death of Lala Lajpat Rai

In 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai was brutally Baton charged (Lathi charged) by Superintendent of Police James Scott while protesting against the Simon Commission in Lahore. Then, after sustaining it for a few weeks, Lal Lajpat Rai died because of injuries on 17th November 1928. 

Lala Lajpat Rai Jayanti Quotes

• Real freedom can only be attained in the refuge of Supreme God Kabir Ji
• “The government which attacks its own innocent subjects has no claim to be called a civilized government. Bear in mind, such a government does not survive long.” – Lala Lajpat Rai
• “Defeat and failure are sometimes necessary steps of victory.” – Lala Lajpat Rai
• “The shots that hit me are the last nails to the coffin of British rule in India.” – Lala Lajpat Rai
• “Milk for babies, food for adults, and education for all. This is real freedom” – Lala Lajpat Rai
• To understand the meaning of independence of a soul, one needs to understand the true spiritual knowledge as given by Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj.
• The biggest struggle for independence is the struggle for the liberation of the soul from this cage of Satan (Kaal Brahm).

What is Real Independence?

Amongst all this knowledge, real independence still stands unheard. Each and every one of us understands the importance of independence. And so we shall be able to understand the independence of our soul as well. Our soul is entrapped in the cycle of birth and death by Satan (Kaal Brahm). Because of that we are experiencing the hardships of being rotated in the cycle of 84 lakh species. Attaining freedom from this cycle of birth and death is the real freedom for each and every soul present here.

How to Attain Real Independence?

This freedom can only be attained by doing true worship of Supreme God Kabir. Presently Supreme God Kabir is present in the form of Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj on the holy land of Haryana, India to present the method of true worship for all His pious souls. Our duty is to take full advantage of this opportunity because being a human and attaining God is obtained once after experiencing the hardships of 8.4 million species.

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