Lala Lajpat Rai death anniversary: Famous quotes by the freedom fighter

Lala Lajpat Rai. Pic/inc.in

Lala Lajpat Rai death anniversary: November 17 is the death anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai, the firebrand Indian nationalist leader affectionately called ‘Punjab Kesari'.

Lala Lajpat Rai was born on January 28, in the year 1865, in Punjab. He is one of the most revolutionary fighters of the country. It was his ideology of nationalism and zealous patriotism that earned him the title of 'Punjab Kesari' and 'Lion of Punjab'. Lala Lajpat Rai took his last breath on November 17, 1928.

Rai is remembered for his role during the Swadeshi movement and for his advocacy of education. The patriot died at Lahore in 1928 after he was attacked by police during a protest rally against the Simon Commission.

Born at Dhudike near Ludhiana in Punjab in 1865, Rai studied law at the Government College, Lahore (now called GCU, Lahore), and had a legal practice in that city. Early in life, he became a follower of Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj, and went on to become one of the society's leaders. In 1881, he joined the Indian National Congress at the age of 16. In 1885, Rai established the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School in Lahore and remained a committed educationist throughout his life.

On the occasion of his death anniversary, here are few inspiring quotes by the freedom fighter.

"The shots that hit me are the last nails to the coffin of British rule in India."

"Defeat and failure are sometimes necessary steps of victory."

"I declare that the blows struck at me will be the last nails in the coffin of the British rule in India."

"I am a Hindu, in the Punjab the Hindus are in a minority and so far as I am concerned I should be quite content to be represented by any good Mohammedan or Sikh member."

"Politics is a changing game and I do not believe in any inflexible, cut and dried scheme good for all times and under all circumstances."

"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."

"The end is freedom to live… according to our own conception of what life should be, to pursue our own ideals to develop our own personality and to secure that unity of purpose which would distinguish us from the other Nations of the world."

"The Government which attacks its own innocent subjects has no claim to be called a civilized 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."

"Since the cruel killing of cows and other animal have commenced, I have anxiety for the future generation."

"I always believed that my silence on several topics will be an advantage in the long run."