Lalaji wanted to tour other countries of Europe as well but he had to give up the idea because the clouds of war were gathering in the European skies.
He came back to India.
The annual Congress session of 1914 was to be held at Madras. Several leaders had proposed Lalaji’s name for the party presidentship. But the ‘Welcoming Committee’ of Congress party rejected the move and Bhupendra Basu was installed as the President. The decision to this effect was taken secretly. A well wisher of Lalaji named Chintamani had informed him about it in advance. It pained Lala lajpat Rai. He decided to go to America. Lalaji departed and reached New York on 21st November, 1914.
In the ship to America Lalaji met several other prominent Indians namely Prof. Jagdish Chandra Basu, Prof. Vinay Kumar and Shiv Prasad Gupta.
In America, Indian Association organised a dinner in honour of Lala Lajpat Rai. There were many pro-German guests who wanted Indians to align with Germans against England. He was not agreeable to it.
He said, “I am an Indian. I want independence for my country in any way. I am no friends and enemies with Germany. But British rule is our old enemy. We want British off our country for ever. For that purpose we Indians must cooperate. We must fight bravely. The battle will end only when we are free. No power on earth can stop our war before that. What we want is Self Rule.”
Punjabis and Marathis also invited him over dinner. He met several Bengali leaders also who were pro-German and held discussions. He made it known that he didn’t believe in joining enemy of an enemy to defeat the enemy.
Lalaji paid a visit to Boston to meet Indians living there. The Indians warmly feted him.
Back in New York, he met a person named Ramchandra, a resident of Peshawar. He had taken part in ‘Farmers movement’ in Punjab alongside Sardar Ajit Singh, the uncle of Sardar Bhagat Singh. Later, he migrated to America and joined Lala Hardyal who had set up a militant organisation called ‘Gadar Party’ with the aim to liberate India through armed struggle. After Lala Hardayal’s departure from USA Ramchandra had become the chief of Gadar Party. Lalaji realised that he was a German stooge. When he criticized Arya Samaj and Swami Dayanand, Lalaji controlled his anger with great effort. That fellow informed Lala Lajpat Rai that revolution in India was just a corner away. Lalaji could see how some people lived in their own fool’s world.
Shopping Cart
