Lala Lajpat Rai (28 January 1865 – 17 November 1928) was an Indian independence activist. He played a pivotal role in the Indian Independence movement. He was popularly known as "Punjab Kesari". He was one of the three Lal Bal Pal triumvirates. He was also associated with activities of Punjab National Bank and Lakshmi Insurance Company in their early stages in 1894. He died a few weeks after sustaining severe injuries during a baton charge by police when he led a peaceful protest march against Simon Commission, a commission constituted by the colonial government.