CONTRIBUTION OF LALA LAJPAT RAI IN INDIAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE

ABSTRACT

The history of Indian freedom movement reminds us that the partition of Indian National Congress gave a great setback to the liberalist and extremists group of Congress became more popular. Consequently the ideology of Lal-Bal-Pal emerged and leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai became more popular among the youth of India. Today most of the scholars know the fact that at the same time Lala Lajpat Rai assailed the Extremists for demanding a time limit for the grant of full Home Rule, forgetting that the authority which fixes the time can cancel it later on. By this time Lajpat Rai’s thought had undergone a change with regard to the conception of freedom. He had begun to feel that agitation for complete independence would not be of any use. Even the Home Rule would have to be fought for vigorously and that too was not to be secured without sacrifices and effective leadership. He had come to believe that both the Moderates and the Extremists had failed in giving the ‘right lead’ to the country. Therefore his leanings towards Gandhi were evident. His conception of leadership too matched with Gandhi’s. Lajpat Rai wanted a leader who could be fearless, truthful, and simple and who would live among the people as a commoner. During the movements of Indian freedom, Lala Lajpat Rai became a multi-faceted personality during Indian freedom struggle. The present research paper highlights the main contribution of Lala Lajpat Rai in Indian freedom struggle.

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