Lala Lajpat Rai 159th Birth Anniversary: Remembering His Legacy Through Powerful Quotes and Uncommon Facts

Lala Lajpat Rai, a towering figure in the Indian Independence movement, earned the moniker “Punjab Kesari” (Lion of Punjab) for his unwavering activism and dedication to his nation’s freedom. Born on January 28, 1865, Rai played a pivotal role in shaping the movement. As a leading advocate of the Swadeshi movement in 1907, alongside the renowned “Lal-Bal-Pal” trio, he championed the boycott of imported goods and the embrace of indigenous Indian products. His legacy continues to inspire generations, reminding us of the unwavering spirit and determination required to forge a nation’s freedom. On his 159th birth anniversary, check out his inspirational quotes and interesting facts.

LALA LAJPAT RAI INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

1. The government which attacks its own innocent subjects has no claim to be called a civilised government. Bear in mind, such a government does not survive long.
2. Defeat and failure are sometimes necessary steps of victory.
3. The shots that hit me are the last nails to the coffin of British rule in India.
4. A person should be courageous and honest in worshipping the truth, without being concerned about receiving worldly benefits.
5. If I had the power to influence Indian journals, I would have the following headlines printed in bold letters on the first page: Milk for the infants, Food for adults and Education for all.
6. Since the cruel killing of cows and other animals have commenced, I have anxiety for the future generation.
7. The attempt to fulfil the objective by peaceful means with full devotion and honesty is called non-violence.
8. I do honestly and sincerely believe in the necessity or desirability of Hindu-Muslim unity. I am also fully prepared to trust Muslim leaders. But what about the injunctions of the Koran and Hadis? The leaders cannot override them.
9. I always believed that my silence on several topics will be an advantage in the long run.

LALA LAJPAT RAI FACTS

1. Born at Dhudike near Ludhiana in Punjab in 1865, Rai studied law at the Government College Lahore and even had a legal practice in the city.
2. He became a follower of Dayanand Sawaswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj and went on become one of the society’s leaders.
3. In 1881, he joined the Indian National Congress at 16, and in 1885 established the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School in Lahore.
4. He first met Bal Gangadhar Tilak during the Lahore Session of the Congress in 1893 and the two along with Bipin Chandra Pal would become known as Lal-Bal-Pal, a trio who fervently advocated the use of Swadeshi goods.
5. He was deported ti Mandalay (present day Myanmar) in 1907 for taking part in a demonstration in Punjab. However, he was allowed to return the same year due to lack of evidence against him.
6. Rai was elected President of the Indian National Congress during its Special Session in Kolkata in 1920, which saw the launch of Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-cooperation Movement.
7. Apart from founding the Arya Gazaette as its editor, he also authored several books and wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna.