Remembering Punjab Kesari…
It was the evening of October 30, 1928. Standing on the platform at a crowded public meeting in Lahore City, a person known as the ‘Lion of Punjab, ‘said in an inspiring voice:
“Every blow on our bodies this afternoon is like a nail driven into the coffin of British imperialism.”
Terrible blows had battered the chest and the body of the great man who made that stirring speech. The humiliation inflicted by the high-handedness of the British was more painful than the wounds*.
Seventeen days after the fateful speech, Lala Lajpat Rai, “Punjab Kesari” and one of the trio of “Lal-Bal-Pal” succumbed to his injuries. The Lion of Punjab did not live to see the fruits of his struggle…the struggle which he believed was the only way to get freedom…
Begging or prayer cannot bring freedom. You can win it only through struggle and sacrifice.
Image courtesy: Devendra Swaroop via Wikipedia
Remember him and remember his words as you get depressed, angry, frustrated and dejected at the state of affairs today…We need a second freedom movement to Reclaim India
Reclaim our country which is being pushed to the brink…Reclaim our India that is being ruined by crooks and self-serving leaders… Reclaim our country that is being sliced and diced in pieces to satisfy the hunger of those in power… Reclaim our “Rashtraâ€Â that is in danger of loosing its “Raashtriyata”. Reclaim our “Bharat Bhumi†which is being trampled upon by the disrespectful…
* Apparently, Bhagat Singh, who was an eyewitness to this event, claimed that it was this act that caused him to ‘vow to take revenge’ against the culprits of this violence.
Shantanu,
Thanks, for the wonderful job of keeping Historical memories alive.
If the court historians like Ramchandra Guha have their way the narrative in India will be that Nehru and his family single handedly got India Independence. Hence this family has the right to rule India.
Shame on them.
We salute our freedom Fighters!
why blame Guhas only? What have Hindutva proponents done to spread memories of people like Lalaji? His work? Books? Ideas? Zero. They are more keen on peripheral issues, not ideas.
Shantanu,
Thanks for reminding us about Punjab Kesari.
All we get to know from our history text books is that Lala Lajpat Rai was stuck on the head for agitating against Simon (famous for Simon Commission). Talk of leftists trying to protect Colonial British as well as terming people like Lal-Bal-Pal as Hindu extremists. If Indian had not had a Shahid Bhagat Singh calling for “Purna Swaraj”, Gandhi under advise from Nehru would have accepted the dominion status offered by British. And the Nehru family (bunch of traitors) rule the roost after Independence, in their typical convert, power hungry manner.
From a comment by Sarvesh Tiwari on facebook:
Jan 28 1865 Born Lala Lajpat Rai, the Punjab Kesari, at Dhodha village in Firozpur (now Moga) in a religious & wealthy Vaishya family. Received Arabi Farsi Urdu from father, and steadfast Hindu roots from his mother. Headed Hindu Mahasabha, Arya Samaj & Congress at the same time. Founded Punjab National Bank. A firm believer that only on Hindu foundation could a genuine Indian Nationalism be founded. Studied Islam in detail, wrote: “For all their gestures, can Moslem leaders dare override Qoran & Hadith?”
he was great patriotic leader who believed in total freedom and totally cultural patriotism of his root with pride,he thoroughly supported violative movement and wanted to get achieve freedom thorough bloodshed,, he motivated whole youth generation for freedom thorough blood,,bhagat was also motivated by his secrifice and motivation ,so he died for noble cause,,should be honoured and made satatue like sardar patel,,
Remembering Bipin Chandra Pal on this day – a hero who died unsung and one who was called “one of mightiest prophets of nationalism” by Sri Aurobindo.
Hope to post excerpts from this article soon…
Link to an article containing excepts from a 1916 essay written by Lala Lajpat Rai on Ahimsa:
“…
the case of India is different. In India, we do not advocate force and violence for purposes of oppression or usurpation or aggression. India, I trust, will never come to that. But we cannot afford to be taught that it is sinful to use legitimate force for purposes of self-defence, or for the protection of our honor and the honor of our wives, sisters, daughters and mothers. Such a teaching is unnatural and pernicious.
We condemn political assassinations. We even condemn illegal or unlawful force in the attainment of a lawful object. But we cannot afford to sit silent when a great and a respected man tells our young men that we can only “guard the honor of those who are under our charge, by delivering ourselves into the hands of the men who would commit the sacrilege” and that this is “far greater physical and mental courage than delivering blows.”
Suppose a ruffian assaults our daughter. Mr. Gandhi says that according to his conception of Ahimsa, the only way to protect the honor of our daughter is to stand between her and her assailant. But what becomes of the daughter if her assailant kills us and then completes his diabolical intention. According to Mr. Gandhi, it requires greater mental and physical courage to stand still and let him do his worst than to try to stop him by matching our force against his. With great respect for Mr. Gandhi, this is meaningless….
…
In any case, I feel that I cannot sit silent and let this doctrine go as an unquestioned sublime truth to be followed by Young India.