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DI:Personality
LALA LAJPAT RAI
It was a trying time for him. He organized an extraordinary movement. Not only were
2,000 helpless persons saved but they were also provided with food, clothing, education
and employment. In this movement sometimes there were clashes with Christian
missionaries. Government set up a famine relief commission in 1901 and got Lalaji's
views. His account of famine conditions and his views led to a change in the
government's attitude to the destitute. Hindus and people of other religions were able
to establish orphanages for destitute children of their folds.
In 1905 an occasion arose for Lalaji to dive deper into another matter. There was an
earthquake in Kangra district resulting in enormous loss of life and property. The
Arya Samaj of Lahore set up a relief committee, As its secretary Lalaji toured Punjab
province extensively and collected money for the committee. His service to the people
at that time was unforgettable.
Visit to England
The same year general elections were being held in England, the Indian National Congress
decided to send two represen- tatives to acquaint the public with conditions in India.
Lajpat Rai and Gopal Krishna Gokhale were the two represen- tatives. When they returned
from their visit to England, thousands of people welcomed them at the Lahore railway
station. Students unhitched the horses and they pulled the carriage.
During his tour of England Lalaji told the people they’re about the conditions in
India during the British rule. More than this, his reading of the situation was
important. It become clear to him that Indians alone could mould their future and
for that purpose, the government should be in their hands. He resolved that India
should undertake the fight for freedom, the use of articles made in India and boycott
of foreign goods. He put forth these views at the 1907 Congress session held in Surat
City.
Government's Wrath
1907 witnessed a high-water mark in the adventurous life of Lalaji. That was a time of
revolution when the winds of change were blowing across the country; new ideas and a
new zest moved the people. There were riots in Lahore and Rawalpindi. In Meerut
preparations were being made to observe the iftieth anniversary of the first fight
for freedom (1857). Peasants were upset on account of the proposal of the government
to increase the water rates in Punjab. It was a grievous crime in the eyes of the
government that Lalaji and certain lawyers addition to this, there were disturbances,
supported the ryots.
Sir Densil lbbotson was the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab. He wrote to Lord Morley,
then the minister in the British cabinet who was in charge of Indian affairs: "It
appears that some leaders like Lalaji have sworn to drive the British out of India.
An attempt is being made to kindle hatred Against Englishmen and break the government
administrative machinery."
Those were days when there was a sense of fear in official circles. A poor Indian was
murdered. A factual report appeared in newspapers. An attempt was made to foist the
guilt on a Punjabi journalist. The people of Punjab protested against the mischief of
the government. In addition to this, there were disturbances, because of unjust laws
like the Colonial Settlement Act and Land Mortgage Amendment Act and because of increase
in the tax on land and water rates. Sir Densil was perturbed. Without any reason he
deported Lalaji and with him Ajit Singh (a relative of the great patriot Bhagat Singh)
to Mandalay in Burma.
People all over the country opposed the unjust action of the government. Tilak wrote in
the newspaper 'Kesari'- "if the British rulers act like the Russian Czars, the people of
India will have to react as the people of Russia did." Government had to bow to the
vigorous protests of the people and the legal profession; it had no choice. Government
realized that the deportation order was improper and illegal; it brought Lalaji to
Lahore on November 18 and set him free.
Lalaji was considered one of the famous trinity of the Congress radicals. The three
great men were Lala Lajpat Rai of Punjab, Bal Gangadhar Tilak of Maharashtra and Bipin
Chandra Pal of Bengal. The country affectionately called them Lal, Bai and Pal. There
was a split between the radicals and the moderates in the Congress organization.
Lalaji found that it was not possible to bring about an agreement between the two
factions; he therefore kept out of the Congress for a few years.
In 1911 he re-entered the Lahore Municipal Council. When he stood for election to the
Municipal Council his popularity was immense. Even the deaf, the dumb and disabled'
people turned up to vote for him. A dumb voter brought a photograph of Lalaji to
indicate that he would vote for Lalaji.
In Other Countries
Lalaji re-entered Congress in 1912.
He left for England in April 1914 with the Congress delegation as a representative of
Punjab. He had planned to be there for six months. But because of the outbreak of the
First World War, he had to change his plans. It did not seem wise to return then. It was
likely the British would keep him in detention for a long period. Lalaji went from
England to America. His visit to America was a voluntary exile. In America he made
a number of speeches about India and conditions of life in this country. He wrote a
number of books. As part of the effort to develop the Indian agitation he established
the Indian Home Rule League in New York. How could there be dearth of work for the
Indian hero in America? He set up the 'India Information Bureau'. He started a journal
'Young India' and gave a fillip to the movement. He himself edited the paper. The
paper expounded the Indian culture and xplained in detail the necessity for Indian
freedom. It attracted the attention of everybody. The circulation increased. Through
this paper it became possible for not only Indians but also Americans and people of
other countries to understand the aims and objects of Lalaji and to sympathize with
India's aims. The movement gained support.
While in America he wrote two books: 'Arya Samaj’ and 'England's, Debt to India.' His
life in America was not bed of roses. He himself cooked his food. He earned money for
his living by writing books and articles. Germany was then at war with England. The
German Government attempted to take advantage of the dissatisfaction of the Indians
by enticing Lalaji. But he refused to be tempted.
While in America, Lalaji found time to visit Japan. In both the countries he made
friendship and won the sympathy of influential people. He conducted himself in such
a way that both countries came to trust him. Thus he made a name for himself. At the
end of the great War in 1919 he wanted to return to India. The British Government
would not give him a passport. In India in Jalianwalla Bagh of Amritsar, British
soldiers fired on helpless Indians at a public meeting. Lajpat Rai got news of the
dreadful massacre even when he was in New York. He was eager to join his countrymen.
He got the passport at the end of the year. In December 1919 Lalaji came from New York
to London. There he met the famous author Bernard Shaw and some socialist friends.
Then he came to Paris.
The Non-Cooperation Movement
Lalaji thus brought about a revolution in the attitudes of the people of England and
America towards India. He returned in February 1920. Lokamanya Tilak, Jinnah and
Shrimati Annie Besant accorded a heroic welcome to him. Welcome Addresses were
presented to him in Bombay, Delhi and Lahore. He was elected as the president of the
special session of the Congress held in September 1920.
Next year Mahatma Gandhi started the Non-cooperation Movement. The movement gained
momentum in the country. Lalaji jumped into the agitation with his bosom friend,
the revolutionary Ajit Singh. In response to Lalaji's stirring call, the whole of
Punjab Province joined the movement. The agitation shook the firm foundations of the
government. Government schools and colleges were boycotted. Work in courts and offices
came to a halt. The people were firmly united against imperialism. Lalaji himself
started a national school in Lahore. Tilak opened a political science institution.
Thus enthusiastic youths found guidance. Lalaji undertook a whirlwind tour of Punjab
for ten days for that purpose and collected nine lakh rupees. Full of reverence for
him, people contributed money enthusiastically.
In Prison
Lajpat Rai's organizing ability and heroic speeches were inspiring. Government was
finding it difficult to face the intense Non-cooperation Movement growing day by day.
All over the country there were agitation and hartals and the rulers were shaken. Lalaji
became a dangerousperson in the eyes of the government.In December 1921 Lalaji was
arrested. The other leaders of the movement, Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das were
also imprisoned. Lalaji was sentenced to 18 months' rigorous imprisonment. Because of
the people's protest and the pleadings by lawyers he was released after two months.
It was one o' clock in the night when he was released. When he came to the door he was
arrested again. He was tried for another offence and was sentenced to rigorous
imprisonment for two years.
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