Early Life & Education
- Born: 28 January 1865, Dhudike village, present‑day Punjab.
- Education: Studied law at Government College, Lahore.
- Ideological influence: Deeply inspired by Swami Dayananda Saraswati and joined the Arya Samaj, which shaped his reformist outlook.
Role in the National Movement
- Formed the Lal‑Bal‑Pal trio with Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal, representing the extremist wing of the Indian National Congress.
- Actively participated in the Swadeshi movement and later opposed the Simon Commission (1928).
- Served as President of the Indian National Congress in 1920 (though his tenure was brief due to health).
Contributions
- Punjab National Bank (PNB): Co‑founded in 1894, promoting indigenous banking.
- Established several educational and social institutions in Punjab.
- Authored influential works such as Young India, England’s Debt to India, India’s Will to Freedom, and Message of the Bhagavad Gita.
Death
- While leading a peaceful protest against the Simon Commission in Lahore, he was subjected to a police lathi‑charge.
- Sustained severe injuries and succumbed to them in 1928, becoming a martyr of the freedom struggle.
Significance for India & Governance
- Symbolised the radical nationalist sentiment that pressured the British to concede political reforms.
- His martyrdom galvanized mass protests, influencing later movements like the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- The institutions he founded (PNB, schools) continue to contribute to India’s economic and educational development.
Related Constitutional/Legal Provisions
- The Simon Commission boycott highlighted the demand for self‑rule, eventually leading to the Government of India Act 1935 and later the Constitution of India which enshrines the right to peaceful protest (Article 19(1)(a)).
Key Facts for Prelims
- Birth: 28 Jan 1865
- Title: Punjab Kesari
- Co‑founder of Punjab National Bank (1894)
- Part of Lal‑Bal‑Pal trio
- Died: 1928 after lathi‑charge during Simon Commission protest