<b>November 17, 1857</b>
<b>Second failed attempt on relief of Lucknow:</b> Awadh is still controlled by revolutionaries, and about 3000 british and their native supporters are locked up for many months now in the fortified Lucknow Residency, this comprising all the european population in Awadh. The Residency has been under seige of rebels, although beseiged force has been able to keep a capture at bay. A second attempt is made this day by British force from Kanpur to free up this beseiged european force. But as soon as this British column crosses Gomati into Awadh, Tatya Tope making good the opportunity, crosses Ganga from Kalpi with his advance guard of 6000 and takes control of Kanpur town on November 19. British force is now sandwiched between Awadh rebels on the side of Gomati in East, and Tatya's force on the Ganga side on west. And Thakurs, the Zamindars of this belt between Gomati and Ganga, harass them day and night by shooting at them at random. They desperately seek reinforcement from Allahabad, which is not coming forth. Therefore the operation abandoned in infancy, and heavy losses suffered in the process by British. Now what? Urgently fight back against Tatya's force and regain foothold in Kanpur lest he gets more troops from Peshwa's force in Bithur. (But the balance will change when fresh Sikh regiment would arrive.)
<b>November 17, 1928:</b>
Died, Lala Lajpat Rai, Punjab Keshari, the Lion of Punjab, and "Lal" of the famous "Lal-Bal-Pal" Hawk-trio of nationalists inside Congress.
A strong believer in leading by example, he himself was leading a procession tgether with Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of Banaras Hindu University, to demonstrate against the Simon Commission. He was made a specific target of a brutal lathi charge in which he was injured badly. A meeting was held the same evening, where even though badly injured, he spoke with such vigour that his words, <b>"Every blow aimed at me is a nail in the coffin of British imperialism"</b>, became historic. Though he recovered from the fever and pain within three days his health had received a permanent setback and on November 17, 1928, he succumbed to the fatal injuries. His death led to great disturbances in the country and it inspired national struggle for freedom. Lajpat Rai was one of the most important nationalist leaders from the Punjab, where he is remembered reverently by Hindu nationalists today. He was a key mentor of nationalists like Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad. Together with BG Tilak and BC Pal he is remembered as key pillar of Hardliners in Congress. He was a product of Arya Samaj movement, and his prophetic words were that Islam could never be reconciled with Indian Nationalism, no matter what congress did. Of course, Gandhi busy in supporting Khilafat, did not pay heed.
<img src='http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/59/Lala_lajpat_Rai.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<b>Second failed attempt on relief of Lucknow:</b> Awadh is still controlled by revolutionaries, and about 3000 british and their native supporters are locked up for many months now in the fortified Lucknow Residency, this comprising all the european population in Awadh. The Residency has been under seige of rebels, although beseiged force has been able to keep a capture at bay. A second attempt is made this day by British force from Kanpur to free up this beseiged european force. But as soon as this British column crosses Gomati into Awadh, Tatya Tope making good the opportunity, crosses Ganga from Kalpi with his advance guard of 6000 and takes control of Kanpur town on November 19. British force is now sandwiched between Awadh rebels on the side of Gomati in East, and Tatya's force on the Ganga side on west. And Thakurs, the Zamindars of this belt between Gomati and Ganga, harass them day and night by shooting at them at random. They desperately seek reinforcement from Allahabad, which is not coming forth. Therefore the operation abandoned in infancy, and heavy losses suffered in the process by British. Now what? Urgently fight back against Tatya's force and regain foothold in Kanpur lest he gets more troops from Peshwa's force in Bithur. (But the balance will change when fresh Sikh regiment would arrive.)
<b>November 17, 1928:</b>
Died, Lala Lajpat Rai, Punjab Keshari, the Lion of Punjab, and "Lal" of the famous "Lal-Bal-Pal" Hawk-trio of nationalists inside Congress.
A strong believer in leading by example, he himself was leading a procession tgether with Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of Banaras Hindu University, to demonstrate against the Simon Commission. He was made a specific target of a brutal lathi charge in which he was injured badly. A meeting was held the same evening, where even though badly injured, he spoke with such vigour that his words, <b>"Every blow aimed at me is a nail in the coffin of British imperialism"</b>, became historic. Though he recovered from the fever and pain within three days his health had received a permanent setback and on November 17, 1928, he succumbed to the fatal injuries. His death led to great disturbances in the country and it inspired national struggle for freedom. Lajpat Rai was one of the most important nationalist leaders from the Punjab, where he is remembered reverently by Hindu nationalists today. He was a key mentor of nationalists like Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad. Together with BG Tilak and BC Pal he is remembered as key pillar of Hardliners in Congress. He was a product of Arya Samaj movement, and his prophetic words were that Islam could never be reconciled with Indian Nationalism, no matter what congress did. Of course, Gandhi busy in supporting Khilafat, did not pay heed.
<img src='http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/59/Lala_lajpat_Rai.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />