The morning of November 17, 1928, brought devastating news to a nation already simmering with anger. Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as Punjab Kesari (the Lion of Punjab), had breathed his last in Lahore at the age of 63. His death was not due to illness or old age but resulted from severe injuries sustained during a peaceful protest against the Simon Commission just 18 days earlier, when British police batons struck him repeatedly.
The story of how a lawyer became a lion and how that lion’s fall ignited a storm is one of the most defining chapters of India’s freedom struggle.
Early Life That Shaped a Freedom Fighter
Born on January 28, 1865, in Dhudike, Punjab, Rai came from a modest family. His father, Munshi Radha Krishna, a schoolteacher, and his mother, Gulab Devi, known for her piety and resilience, passed on values of service and strength to their eldest son.
As a student at Government College, Lahore, Rai was deeply influenced by the intellectual company of Lala Hansraj and Pandit Guru Dutt, and by the reformist teachings of Swami Dayanand Saraswati of the Arya Samaj. These influences ignited in him a desire not just to practice law but to fight injustice through activism and social reform.
By 1886, he had established a law practice in Hisar and soon became a founding member of the Hisar Bar Council. He actively contributed to social reform movements, including the Arya Samaj, and contributed to nationalist journalism through newspapers like The Tribune.
How Rai Became Punjab Kesari
The title “Punjab Kesari,” meaning “Lion of Punjab,” was not casually bestowed. It was earned through Lala Lajpat Rai’s bold, fearless activism, his valiant patriotism, and his uncompromising opposition to British colonial rule.
In the early 1900s, as Indian nationalist energies surged, Rai joined Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal to form the legendary triumvirate “Lal-Bal-Pal.” They rejected moderate politics of petitions, favoring assertive nationalism and mass mobilization.
Fearing his influence, the British government arrested Rai and deported him without trial to Mandalay, Burma, in 1907. But six months of imprisonment only strengthened his resolve.
Building Schools, Movements, and Institutions
Rai believed political freedom without education would be hollow. Besides activism, he dedicated himself to building institutions. He helped establish the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) College in Lahore and was a founder of Punjab National Bank in 1894, emphasizing economic independence as vital for political liberation.
In 1921, he founded the Servants of the People Society, committed to uplifting the poor. He also established the Gulab Devi Chest Hospital in Lahore, named after his mother, to combat tuberculosis among women.
“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 the adults and education for all.”— Lala Lajpat Rai
Taking India’s Struggle to the World
During World War I, Rai was in Britain advocating India’s cause and then traveled to the United States, where he spent five years building international support for India’s freedom movement. He founded the Indian Home Rule League of America, lectured widely, and wrote works such as “Young India” and “The United States of America: A Hindu’s Impression,” spreading Indian perspectives globally.
Simon Commission Protest and Its Brutal Aftermath
October 30, 1928, would become one of the darkest days in India’s political history.
The British government had sent the Simon Commission, a committee to decide India’s constitutional future, with not a single Indian member. Across the country, outrage erupted.
Despite feeling unwell, Lajpat Rai led a peaceful protest march in Lahore with thousands chanting “Simon Go Back!” The police, commanded by Superintendent James A. Scott, launched a brutal lathi charge. Scott personally targeted Rai, hitting the 63-year-old leader multiple times on the head and chest.
Wounded and bleeding, Rai still addressed the crowd by Mochi Gate, proclaiming, “I declare that the blows struck at me today will be the last nails in the coffin of British rule in India.”
Despite efforts to recover, Rai’s injuries proved fatal. He died on November 17, 1928. The British denied any link between the lathi charge and his death, but the nation knew the truth. India mourned, and more importantly, it rose.
Young Revolutionaries Who Rose in His Name
A furious Bhagat Singh, once a student of National College founded by Rai, vowed to avenge his death. On December 17, 1928, Bhagat Singh and his comrades Chandrashekhar Azad, Rajguru, and Sukhdev assassinated Assistant Superintendent John P. Saunders, mistakenly believing Saunders to be James A. Scott. This act set off a chain of events leading to Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom but also signaled that colonial violence would henceforth face fierce retaliation.
“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. I declare that the blows struck at me will be the last nails in the coffin of the British rule in India.”— Lala Lajpat Rai
A Legacy Carved Into India’s Freedom Story
Almost a century later, Lala Lajpat Rai’s legacy is deeply woven into India’s social, educational, and political fabric. Lajpat Nagar in Delhi and numerous schools and institutions bear his name. Punjab National Bank serves millions, and the Servants of the People Society continues its mission.
His greatest legacy lies in courage, sacrifice, social reform, and his unwavering commitment to justice. Rai was not only a politician but also an educator, social reformer, journalist, and economist who believed true freedom required intellectual, social, and economic liberation.
Why Lala Lajpat Rai’s Roar Still Echoes Today
As India remembers Lala Lajpat Rai on November 17, his life offers timeless lessons. He demonstrated that non-violence is strength, that institution-building is revolutionary, and that courage in the face of brutality can inspire generations.
The British Empire, which seemed invincible in 1928, crumbled just two decades after his death. His final words at Mochi Gate were both defiance and prophecy.
The Lion of Punjab fell on November 17, 1928, but his roar, calling for freedom, dignity, and justice, still echoes wherever people stand against oppression.
In that sense, Lala Lajpat Rai never truly died. Lions like him never do.
“The nation is greater than the individual. Service of the nation is the supreme duty of the individual.” — Lala Lajpat Rai
Watch: Lala Lajpat Rai: The Lion of Punjab
FAQs
What is Lala Lajpat Rai famous for?
Lala Lajpat Rai is famous for his role as a leading freedom fighter, educationist, and social reformer. He was a prominent voice of assertive nationalism and played a key part in shaping India’s struggle for independence.
Who is known as the Lion of Punjab?
Lala Lajpat Rai is known as the “Lion of Punjab” for his fearless leadership, powerful oratory, and unwavering courage in standing up against British colonial rule.
What happened during the Simon Commission protest?
On October 30, 1928, Rai led a peaceful march in Lahore against the all-British Simon Commission. The protest turned violent when the police ordered a brutal lathi charge, seriously injuring him.
How did Lala Lajpat Rai die?
He died on November 17, 1928, from severe injuries inflicted during a brutal lathi charge ordered by the British police while he was leading a peaceful protest in Lahore.
What were Lala Lajpat Rai’s major contributions to India?
He helped establish Punjab National Bank, co-founded the DAV School system, formed the Servants of the People Society, and inspired generations through his writing, activism, and institution-building efforts.