Lajpat Rai was an Indian
independence activist. He played a pivotal role in the Indian Independence
movement. He was popularly known as Punjab Kesari. He was one of the three Lal
Bal Pal triumvirate. He was also associated with activities of Punjab National
Bank and Lakshmi Insurance Company in their early stages in 1894.
Early life
Lajpat Rai was born on 28 January
1865 in a Punjabi Hindu family, as a son of Urdu and Persian government School
teacher Munshi Radha Krishan and his wife Gulab Devi, in Dhudike.
In the late 1870s, his father was
transferred to Rewari, where he had his initial education in Government Higher
Secondary School, Rewari, Punjab province, where his father was posted as an
Urdu teacher.
During his early life, Rai's
liberal views and belief in Hinduism were shaped by his father and deeply
religious mother respectively, which he successfully applied to create a career
of reforming the religion and Indian policy through politics and journalistic
writing. When studying law, he became a firm believer in the idea that
Hinduism, above nationality, was the pivotal point upon which an Indian
lifestyle must be based. He believed, Hinduism, led to practices of peace to humanity,
and the idea that when nationalist ideas were added to this peaceful belief
system, a secular nation could be formed. The focus on Hindu practices led him
to the continuation of peaceful movements to create successful demonstrations
for Indian independence.
Legacy
Lajpat Rai was a heavyweight veteran leader of the Indian Nationalist Movement, Indian independence movement led by the Indian National Congress, Hindu reform movements and Arya Samaj, who inspired young men of his generation and kindled latent spirit of patriotism in their hearts with journalistic writings and lead-by-example activism.