Rowlatt Act: The Rowlatt Act was passed by the British government to increase its power and grip over the local public. The law was passed in March 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council, which gave them the power to arrest any person without the need for trial. For abolishment of such a cruel act, Gandhi and some other leaders called for a Hartal or suspension of work, in order to show the objections of Indians to the rule, which was known as Rowlatt Satyagraha.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre took place when several villagers gathered in the park for the celebration of Baisakhi. The gatherers wanted to peacefully protest against the arrest and deportation of two national leaders, namely Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
Rowlatt Act, 1919
Some important features and characteristics of Rowlatt Act, 1919 are as follows:
Long Title | Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919 |
Extent | Whole British India |
Enacted by | Imperial Legislative Council |
Year of Enactment | March 1919 |
Commenced | March 1919 |
Status | Reapled/Withdrawn |
Overview of Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
Rowlatt Act
Rowlatt Act was passed on March 1919 by Imperial Legislative Council and was also known as Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919. The act was passed by Rowlatt Committee which was chaired by Sir Sidney Rowlatt. Many freedom fighters came to be arrested against the act.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
After the Rowlatt Act, major riots had began in Punjab and Punjab came under martial law. On 13 April, 1919, on the festival of Baisakhi, a crowd of non-violent protestors have gathered and General Dyer along with his army had opened fired on the public, killing many innocent people.
Facts About Rowlatt Act
Meaning of Rowlatt Act | Rowlatt Act was passed by Rowlatt Committee, presided by Sir Sydney Rowlatt. The Act authorised the arrest, for 2 years without scope of trial, for any person who would be suspected for terrorism in British India. |
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Black bills association with Rowlatt Act | Central legislature had introduced two bills which authorised police for searching a place without any search warrant and arrest anyone. These bills were known to be Black Bills. |
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Who resigned from Imperial Legislative Council after Rowlatt Act was passed? | 3 personalities: - Madan Mohan Malviya
- Muhammad Ali Jinnah
- Mazhar ul Haq
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When was Rowlatt Satyagraha initiated? | 6th April 1919 |
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Which Congress leaders were arrested? | Dr. Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew. |
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What is the Rowlatt Act?
Rowlatt Act was officially known as Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919 and was passed by Imperial Legislative Council. This act was authorised by government for detaining people suspected of terrorist activities without trial for up to 2 years. This empowered police for searching for a place without warrant and also placed severe restrictions on the freedom of press.
The Act was widely condemned by the people and came to be known as "black bills". Indian members of council also resigned in act of protest against the act like Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Mazhar ul Haq and Madan Mohan Malviya. Two popular congress leaders Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew were also arrested. The protest grew intense when the act came into effect and army was called in Punjab for tackling the situation, but resulted in massacre.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Incident
On the afternoon of April 13, a crowd of around 10,000 men, women, and children gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, which was enclosed by walls and had only one exit. It is uncertain how many people present there were protesting against the public gathering and how many celebrated Baisakhi, a spring festival. The single access to the park was guarded by a regiment of soldiers when General Dyer, a British military commander, proclaimed the assembly unlawful and abruptly ordered his troops to open fire. Ten minutes of continuous fire happened until all the ammunition was used. According to one official record, an estimated 379 people were killed and around 1,200 more were wounded. After the cease-fire, the troops immediately left the place, with people bleeding and dying.
The firing was followed by the proclamation of martial law in Punjab which included public floggings and other types of humiliation. The sentiments and outrage of the Indians grew, as the news spread of the shooting and subsequent actions of the British. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore renounced the knighthood that he received in 1915 and Gandhiji organized a large-scale and sustained non-violent protest and noncooperation movement.
The government set up the Hunter Commission to look into the matter. The assault was judged "unutterably horrible" by Secretary of State for War Winston Churchill, and in the House of Commons debate on July 8, 1920, lawmakers voted 247 to 37 against Dyer. However, the unsuccessful inquiry and the early accolades for Dyer fueled a significant deal of general resentment toward the British among the Indian public, giving rise to the non-cooperation movement of 1920–1922. Some historians saw the incident as a turning point in the British Empire's dominance of India. While expressing "deep remorse" in 2019, Britain has never officially apologized for the killings. The general populace of India had a searing loss of trust in the United Kingdom's objectives as a result of the amount of casual cruelty and absence of any accountability that shocked the whole nation.
Causes of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab, India. The British government introduced the Rowlatt Act, which granted them the power to detain anyone accused of terrorist activities without a trial, to conduct location searches without a warrant, and restricted press freedom. Indians were outraged by this act, and the public and Indian politicians condemned it. Mahatma Gandhi led a protest called the Rowlatt Satyagraha, but it was marred by violence in various regions, especially in Punjab. The British government imposed martial law in Punjab, and on April 13, 1919, General Dyer arrived with his men and opened fire at a peaceful gathering in Jallianwala Bagh, killing many unarmed men, women, and children. This incident turned moderate Indians into nationalists, and many people went to the streets in various north Indian cities, burning down government buildings and striking against the police. In retaliation, the authorities terrorized and humiliated the people. Satyagrahis were forced to bow before senior officials by touching their noses to the ground.
The aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre saw the rise of Indian nationalism and the abandonment of loyalty to the British by moderate Indians. The massacre also led to the assassination of Michael O'Dwyer, the Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab, by Indian activist Udham Singh in 1940. The British government's actions, including the imposition of martial law, further inflamed public anger and resentment. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre remains a significant event in India's struggle for independence and a reminder of the consequences of colonial oppression.
Effects of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre was a tragic event in India in 1919. It was a result of a law passed by the British government that allowed them to arrest people without a trial. This caused widespread opposition, and protests broke out across the country. The British responded with violence, and the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh was a turning point in India's fight for independence.
The incident had a significant impact on Indian politics and society. It led to a surge of nationalism and anti-British sentiment, and the Indian National Congress, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, adopted a policy of non-cooperation with the British. This included boycotting British goods and institutions. The incident also drew condemnation from around the world and became a symbol of British oppression and brutality.
In short, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre was a tragic event that changed the course of Indian history. It fueled the country's struggle for independence and remains a powerful reminder of the consequences of oppressive government policies.
Events Leading Up to the Massacre
Before the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, there were many protests and unrest in response to the Rowlatt Act passed by the British government in 1919. This act gave the British government the power to arrest and detain Indian citizens without trial, which led to a lot of opposition from the Indian people. To stop the protests, the British government declared martial law in Punjab and other places, causing even more violence and unrest. The people of India were very unhappy with British rule and protested in many different cities.
In Amritsar, where the massacre took place, thousands of people were celebrating the Sikh festival of Baisakhi. The British authorities saw this as a potential threat to public order and issued a proclamation banning all public meetings. The British troops led by General Reginald Dyer fired without warning on the unarmed crowd, killing and injuring hundreds of people.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre was an important event in India's struggle for independence from British rule. It is still remembered today as a symbol of British oppression and brutality.
Aftermath of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
Many moderates of the country turned to be nationalists following the incident, abandoning their loyalty to the British. Major General William Beynon came to respond to Colonel Dyer's Report to his superiors that he was "confronted by a revolutionary army" by saying that " Your action was proper and Lieutenant Governor agrees". Viceroy Lord Chemford had agreed to O' Dwyer for the imposition of martial law in Amritsar and other locations.
Government buildings were burned down and many strikes and chases against the police followed. In retaliation, authorities have terrorized and also humiliated the people. Villages around Gujranwala in Punjab came to be blasted and the satyagrahis were forced to bow to senior officials by touching their noses to the ground.