AWAIS KHAN

LALA LAJPAT RAI

 Born on Jan 28, 1865, Place; Dhudike, Punjab.
 Parents; Munshi Radha Krishna Azad & Gulabi Devi (poor family).
 Education from Government College Lahore.
 Completed Law degree, and started practice at Hissar, later appeared at Lahore
High Court.
 He was influenced by Arya Samaj (socio-religious movement)
 Inspired by his guru Swami Dayanand.
 Sacrificed his law practice for public services.
 He was voracious reader and scholar, write biographies of;
 Siva G, Swami Dayanand, Lord Krishna, and others.
 He made his presence in field of;
 Education (Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School)
 Commerce (first bank in Punjab)
 Health (trust and Gulabi Devi Chest Hospital)
 Founded English paper 'The Punjabee’ in 1904, known for his fearless writing.
 Until 1905, remained aloof from politics but returned to active politics in 1905
due to partition of Bengal, by Lord Curzon.
 In 1905, broke with moderate group like Gokhale in Congress session.
 He did not believed in begging for freedom. (Self-respect and assertive).
 In Kolkata session presided by Dada Bhai, he supported famous four resolution;
 Sawa Raj,
 Swadeshi,
 Boycott British goods,
 National education.
 Lala G started campaign against British, his co. leader was Arjit Singh.
 He started awakening the people of Punjab for cause of freedom.
 In result riots broke out in different regions of Punjab.
 Lala G and others were sent to exile in Burma, detained in Mandalay Fort.
 As a result of outcry in India and England, they were released.
 Spent his time in social services; like schools & colleges for boys and girls,
hospitals, orphanages, widow houses, were established.
 He fought for equal rights of untouchables.
 In 1913, congress sent delegation of three people consisting of Lala G, M.A
Jinnah, and Gopindarnath Basu to England to put Indian case of independence.
 World War I started, he was of the view to completely support British but
Indianization of Indian Army.
 In 1914, went to U.S where he established ‘India Home Rule League’ in New
York.
 Returned to India, and in 1920 elected as president of Congress.
 He supported Gandhi movement of non-corporation, a non-violent movement.
 In 1922, he was so disappointed when Gandhi suddenly suspend the movement.
 He started to support Sawaraj Party formed by C.R Das & Moti Lal Nehru.
 In 1928, Simon commission infuriated Lala G, that India should have no voice
in determining their own future.
 On October 29, 1928 he led a peaceful protest to Lahore railway station.
 He was injured in police la’thi charge, and died after 18 days to that incident on
November 17, 1928.
 Gandhi said on his death, “Lala Lajpat Rai is dead, long live Lala G”. The lion
of Punjab is no more.
 His main publications are;
 The Story of My Deportation. (1908).
 Arya Samaj. (1915).
 The U.S of America; A Hindu’s Impression. (1916).
 Young India. (1916).
 England’s Debt to India. (1917).