Lala Lajpat Rai

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Lala Lajpat Rai (लाला लाजपतराय) (28 January 1865 – 17 November 1928) was an Indian author and politician who is chiefly remembered as a leader in the Indian Independence movement. He was popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab and Punjab Kesari, meaning Lion of Punjab. He was part of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio during struggle for India's Independence from British Raj.

Lala Lajpat Rai was also also part of Arya Samaj movement and has written several books. He was also associated with activities of Punjab National Bank and Lakshmi Insurance Company in their early stages. He sustained serious injuries by the British police in Lahore when leading a non-violent protest against the Simon Commission and died less than three weeks later. His death anniversary (17 November) is one of several days celebrated as Martyrs' Day in India.

When Lajpat Rai's death issue was raised in the British Parliament, the British Government denied any role in Rai's death. Although Sardar Bhagat Singh did not witness the event, he vowed to take revenge and joined other revolutionaries, Shivaram Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar and Chandrashekhar Azad, in a plot to kill Scott. However, in a case of mistaken identity, Bhagat Singh was signalled to shoot on the appearance of John P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police. He was shot by Rajguru and Bhagat Singh while leaving the District Police Headquarters in Lahore on 17 December 1928.

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