Description

Rai Bahadur Lala Murlidhar, known as the "Grand Old Man of Punjab," was a key figure in India's independence movement and among the founding members of the Indian National Congress. Born in 1850 in Ambala, Haryana, into an Aggarwal family, he settled there permanently in 1872.
A lawyer by profession, he was honored with the title of "Rai Bahadur" by the British government in recognition of his services. In 1885, he was the only representative from Punjab to attend the first session of the Indian National Congress in Bombay. The following year, he helped establish a Congress branch in Ambala, playing a crucial role in advancing the nationalist movement in the region.
After the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919, Lala Murlidhar gave up his British-conferred titles, including "Rai Sahib" and "Kaiser-i-Hind," in protest against colonial rule. He passed away in 1924, leaving behind a lasting legacy in India's struggle for freedom.