Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C) for Culture and Tourism released a Commemorative Coin of Rs 150 and a Circulation Coin of Rs 10 on Late Lala Lajpat Rai here today. The Commemorative Coin of Rs 150 is made of Quaternary alloy with diameter of 44 mm and weight of 35 grams and the Circulation coin of Rs 10 is made of bi-metallic material with diameter of 27 mm and weight of 7.71 grams. Ministry of Culture has been celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai from 28th January 2015 to 28th January 2016.The Ministry of Culture organized a function and an exhibition in Lala Lajpat Rai’s memory in Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML), New Delhi on 13th January, 2016. State Government of Punjab has been sanctioned an amount of Rs 5.00 crore for construction of an Auditorium and Rs 3 cr for installation of Astroturf Flooring in Hockey Stadium at Lalaji’s Birth Place.
A stalwart of the freedom struggle, Lala Lajpat Rai ranks among India’s most outstanding leaders. He was popularly known as ‘Punjab Kesari’ or ‘The Lion of Punjab’. Born on 28th January 1865 at a small village of Dhudike in district Ferozepur, Punjab, he was a contemporary of great stalwarts including Mahatma Gandhi.During the year long celebrations a number of programmes were held in his memory in different parts of the country. Government has released funds to Rastra Gaurava Samrakshna Parishath, Bengaluru (an NGO) for conducting 501 lectures in schools & colleges. Five national seminars in Karnataka and one international seminar at New York have also been approved under the Commemoration. The Servants of the People Society, founded by Lalaji will bring out Hindi translation of 15 volumes of Collected Works of Lala Lajpat Rai. Punjab National Bank, which was also founded by Lalaji has undertaken a variety of activities throughout the country, with special focus on Punjab.