2016 - Lala Lajpat Rai | Commemorative Coin

The first commemorative coin for the year 2016 was released on occasion of 150th Birth Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai.

Lala Lajpat Rai (28 January 1865 – 17 November 1928) was a Punjabi author and politician, revered as a prominent leader in the Indian Independence movement and affectionately known as Punjab Kesari. As a crucial member of the Lal Bal Pal trio, he played a significant role in shaping the course of the freedom struggle. Additionally, he was associated with the foundational stages of Punjab National Bank and Lakshmi Insurance Company.

In 1928, the British government instituted the Simon Commission, led by Sir John Simon, to assess the political situation in India. Boycotted by Indian political parties due to the absence of Indian representation, the Commission faced widespread protests. During the Commission's visit to Lahore on 30 October 1928, Lajpat Rai led a silent march in protest. The superintendent of police, James A. Scott, ordered a forceful crackdown on the protesters and personally assaulted Rai. Despite sustaining serious injuries, Rai addressed the crowd, declaring that the blows struck at him would be the final nails in the coffin of British rule in India. Regrettably, he did not fully recover and succumbed to a heart attack on 17 November 1928. His death anniversary is observed as Martyrs' Day in India.

Rai's death fueled a determination for retribution, notably by Bhagat Singh, who, along with fellow revolutionaries Shivaram Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar, and Chandrashekhar Azad, plotted to assassinate Scott. However, in a case of mistaken identity, Bhagat Singh shot Assistant Superintendent John P. Saunders instead. Despite this error, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, led by Bhagat Singh, maintained that retribution had been exacted for Lala Lajpat Rai's assault. The incident added fervor to the ongoing struggle against British rule in India.

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