Lala Lajpat Rai is one of the key leaders of the Indian Independence Movement. Born in January 28, 1865, Lala became the pillar of nationalism in India. He was a prominent politician and was associated with many nationalist activities. On the birth anniversary of the freedom fighter, here are some interesting facts that you must know:
On 19th May 1894, Lala Lajpat Rai established the Punjab National Bank which is first fully Indian Public Sector Bank. Freedom fighters including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi and the Jalianwala Bagh Committee have held PNB accounts. Lala while studying Law at Lahore, helped in establishment of the Dayananda Anglo-Vedic School. The school was founded by the efforts of Mahatma Hansraj in the memory of Swami Dayanand Saraswati. Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal formed the Lal-Bal-Pal trio and promoted the Swadeshi movement. It started from Town Hall at Calcutta on August 1905 to curb foreign goods by relying on homegrown products. Lala Lajpat Rai lived in the United States during the First World War from 1914 to 1919. He also founded Indian Home Rule League of America. Lala donated his bungalow in Lahore to start a non-profit social service organisation known as Servant of the People Society. The organisation has now shifted to India, and is devoted to national missionaries for the service of the mother land. In 1928, the British government set up Simon Commission on constitutional reforms. Lala Lajpat Rai led a silent march in protest against the commission. The British police declared a lathi charge where Lala was injured and later died on November 17th. The people of Odisha celebrate Martyrs' Day on Lala's death anniversary. Lala also wrote books. Some of his works include - The Story of My Deportation, United States of America: A Hindu's Impression, England's Debt to India, Young India, etc.