The ardent nationalist counts among the few who stead­fastly and consistently pursued the cause of India’s freedom struggle abroad to win international support. Born on October 14,1884 in Delhi, Lala Hardyal had an outstanding academic record to his credit. He stood first at the school level, in his intermediate studies at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi and at the post-graduate level. He was awarded a scholarship to study at St. John’s College in Oxford. He obtained a Ph.D. from the London University.

The work carried out by Indian revolutionaries in En­gland encouraged him to strive for a free India. He familiarised Lala Lajpat Rai with his belief that independence was to be won through “passive resistance”. He was made the first President of the Ghadr Party launched at San Francisco in 1913. His activities in America made the British urge the Government in America in 1914 to arrest him. After securing a release, Hardyal continued his revolutionary work in Geneva. His five years spent in Germany saw the organisation of the Indian Independence Committee and an Oriental Bureau to translate writings associated with the freedom cause. He spent some time in Stockholm, Sweden, asking Indians to focus on Home Rule. He worked as a professor in American Universities during his later years. He is said to have died in Pennysylvania on March 4, 1939.

Lala Hardyal believed that only a national education system would enlighten the young minds. Problems like communalism and casteism were proving as setbacks to the Indian cause. India was in need of moral energy to overcome the British. He also authored many books including the well- known Wealth of Nations and Hints for Self Culture.