A
Multifaced Diamond
Lala Lajpat Rai the martyr was a store-
house of many good qualities. Efficiency, tireless industry and patriotism
gave lustre to his personality. He was friendly. For the sake of his country
he won a large number of friends both in India and abroad. From the platform
he spoke for hourseloquently. His speeches were fiery and galvanizing.
People heard him spellbound and his words opened their eyes. He was indeed
a lion among men.
He was a brilliant man and he wasdevoted,
in body and mind, to the cause of education. The D.A.V. College, the National
College, the Tilak School of Politics and others are living monuments to
his patriotism. His service in the field of journalism was no less valuable.
He founded the Urdu weekly Vande Mataram and the English weekly 'The People'
- and both maintained high standards. In the field of commerce too, he
will be remembered forever. It was Lalaji who established the Punjab National
Bank and the Lakshmi Insurance Company. As a member of the Arya Samaj he
worked incessantly. He fought against Untouchability. When Gandhiji started
the 'Harijan Sevak Sangh' he worked for it. He was like a father to the
orphans. He was responsible for starting numerous orphanages in the country.
The Gulab Devi Hospital and the Servants of People Society are living monuments
to the memory of that great man.
Lalaji was one of those who sowed the
seeds of socialism in India. He was well acquainted with Henry Meyers,
Beatrice Webb, Lansbury and others whopromoted the growth of socialism
inBritain. He was in the vanguard of labor organization. He founded the
'All-India Trade Union Congress' and was himself its president. He started
an organized effort to improve the conditions of the working class. He
pleaded that a part of the profits of an industry should be given to the
workmen.
The people of India were in chains,
and they had to be aroused. They had to be organized. Lalaji was the symbol
of the power, which did this. As Mahatma Gan dhi said: "So long as the
sun shines in the Indian sky, persons like Lalaji will not die."
Lajpat Rai once said: "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
Education for all," |