LIFE SKETCH OF LALA HARDAYAL: THE FOUNDER OF GHADAR MOVEMENT

The Ghadar movement stood for the revolutionary overthrow of the British rule in India. It had two pronged strategy: to expose the racial discrimination of the American, Canadian and the British Government towards Indians and to evoke national pride for independence of India. Those who worked for it were Punjabi immigrants, mostly Sikhs, small and middle peasants at home, working as labourers in farms and factories in the U.S.A. and Canada. Their emigration was a response to economic frustration and oppression at home. In the foreign land, they were treated as slave. They faced racial discrimination there and treated badly in respect of housing and payment. In America, colour prejudice grew against them. This treatment developed feelings of hatred and repulsion among them and they started organizing themselves into some societies. A small number of educated revolutionaries played a significant role both in the evolution of the movement and direction given to it. Most important ideologue among them was Lala Hardayal. His interaction with the Indian emigrants aroused in him visions of organizing a mass revolutionary movement. He became the guiding force for the Indians, living in North America and gave direction to the already developing movement among the immigrants.