PM pays tribute to Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai on his birth anniversary.
About Lala Lajpat Rai (1865-1928)
- He was born in Punjab
- Key Contributions
- Role in Indian Freedom Movement:
- He was the leading figure of the extremist faction of the Congress and One of the legendary triumvirates – Lal-Bal-Pal (Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal).
- He was elected President of The Indian National Congress at the Calcutta session (1920) and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920.
- Key Organisations/ movement Established: Hindu Relief Movement, Indian Home Rule League of America, the Servants of the People Society, etc.
- Also, played key role in establishment of the Punjab National Bank.
- Literary Contribution:
- Established ‘The People’ journal and contributed to ‘The Tribune’ newspaper
- Authored Unhappy India, Young India: An Interpretation, History of Arya Samaj, England’s Debt to India and a series of popular biographies on Mazzini, Garibaldi and Swami Dayanand.
- When the Simon Commission visited Lahore in 1928, he led a non-violent march in protest against it.
- He died of severe head injuries he sustained due to police lathi charge.
- Role in Indian Freedom Movement:
Values: Courage, Self-sacrifice, Perseverance, etc.
