An intellectual prodigy and a noted freedom-fighter, he was born in January, 1899 at Sialkot in the house of a well-to-do businessman, Pandit Vaish Nath Dutt. He first studied at the Murry College, Sialkot and then shifted to Lajpat Rai's National College, Lahore where-from he graduated in 1923.While he was a student, he was attracted by the national movement of India and participated in the non-cooperation agitation of 1921. After the withdrawal of this movement he joined the Swaraj Party of C.R. Dass and Moti Lal Nehru and was appointed General Secretary of its Punjab branch.Before Independence Dutt went thrice to Europe and once to America to propagate the cause of India�s freedom. A notable journalist and a brilliant speaker, he employed both the media in the service of the national cause. He blended patriotism with cultural refinement and philosophical outlook.