In 1928 at the age of 16, Devi Lal participated in independence struggle event by Lala Lajpat Rai. He was a student of ""Dev Samaj Public High School Moga"" in Moga during his 10th class. At that time, he was arrested at Congress office in 1930. He quit studies and joined freedom movement. He also took wrestling lesson at an Akhara in Badal village of Punjab. He was first elected MLA in 1952.