JALLIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE: HISTORY
NEWS: PM Modi pays tributes to Jallianwala Bagh massacre martyrs
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre on 13 April 1919 saw British troops, under General Dyer, open fire on a peaceful crowd in Amritsar, killing hundreds protesting the Rowlatt Act. This brutal event triggered nationwide outrage, leading to Rabindranath Tagore renouncing his knighthood and Gandhi launching the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Background and Context
• The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, also known as the Amritsar Massacre, took place on 13th April 1919, coinciding with Baisakhi, a major Punjabi festival.
• Thousands of men, women, and children gathered peacefully at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, to celebrate the festival and protest against the arrest of nationalist leaders Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal.
• These leaders were arrested for opposing the Rowlatt Act, which had incited widespread anger and unrest across India.
The Rowlatt Act, 1919
• Officially titled the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, it was passed on 10th March 1919.
• Based on the recommendations of the Sedition Committee chaired by Sir Sidney Rowlatt.
• Gave sweeping powers to the British government to arrest and detain any person without trial, curb press freedom, and conduct warrantless searches.
• It was modeled on the Defence of India Act, 1915, which was introduced during World War I.
• Widely opposed by Indian nationalists and led to the launch of mass protests throughout the country.
The Massacre
• On 13th April 1919, Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, without issuing any warning or prior notice, ordered troops of the British Indian Army to fire indiscriminately on the peaceful assembly at Jallianwala Bagh.
• The Bagh was enclosed on all sides with narrow entry/exit points, making it difficult for people to escape.
• Official British figures reported 379 deaths and over 1,000 injured, but Indian sources estimated over 1,000 deaths, with many more wounded.
• People were shot even as they attempted to flee or jump into a well inside the Bagh, which still exists and is part of the memorial today.
British Response
• Martial Law was declared in Punjab shortly after the massacre to curb further protests and unrest.
• The British government appointed the Hunter Commission (Disorders Inquiry Committee) in October 1919 to investigate the incident.
• The commission criticized General Dyer’s actions and declared that his use of force was unjustified.
• However, he faced no criminal charges, and though he resigned from service, many in Britain hailed him as a hero.
Indian Nationalist Response
• The massacre shocked and outraged the Indian populace and marked a turning point in the Indian freedom movement.
• Rabindranath Tagore, deeply disturbed by the brutality, renounced his knighthood as a mark of protest.
• Mahatma Gandhi gave up his Kaiser-i-Hind medal and launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920, urging:
• Boycott of British goods and services
• Resignation from government jobs and institutions
• Promotion of swadeshi (indigenous) products
• The event consolidated Indian unity and intensified anti-British sentiments across the country.
The Jallianwala Bagh Memorial
• The massacre site has been transformed into a national memorial managed by the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust.
• Key features of the site include:
• A memorial flame in honor of the martyrs.
• The bullet-marked walls, still preserved as evidence of the brutality.
• The Martyrs’ Well, where hundreds jumped to escape bullets.
• A museum and gallery showcasing:
The events of the massacre
Eyewitness accounts
India’s larger freedom struggle context
Legacy and Significance
• The massacre remains a symbol of colonial oppression and brutality.
• It served as a catalyst for radical change in the Indian National Movement.
• It exposed the moral bankruptcy of British imperialism to the world and solidified the demand for complete independence.
• Remembered annually, the site and its story serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made for India’s freedom.
Source: https://ddnews.gov.in/en/pm-modi-pays-tributes-to-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-martyrs/