In April of 2019, we commemorated the 100th anniversary of Rowlatt Satyagraha. Pioneered by Mahatma Gandhi in 1919, this movement was a response to the British government’s passing of the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, more widely known as the Rowlatt Act. This act, which was passed with haste by the Imperial Legislative Council despite strong opposition from Indian members, provided the government with sweeping powers to suppress political activities and allowed the detention of political prisoners for up to two years without a trial.
Rowlatt Act: The Precedence and Implementation
The Rowlatt Act was passed following recommendations from the Sedition Committee, chaired by Sir Sidney Rowlatt. This piece of legislation gave enormous power to the British government, permitting them to repress political activities. It further granted authority to detain political prisoners without trial for a period of two years. All these factors contributed to the act’s reputation as unjust and incited widespread dissent.
Gandhi’s Call for Non-Violent Civil Disobedience
Mahatma Gandhi called for a nationwide campaign against the Rowlatt Act, encouraging non-violent civil disobedience against such unfair laws. Unfortunately, violent anti-British demonstrations broke out in many cities like Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, Ahmedabad before the intended campaign could begin.
Rowlatt Act and Its Impact on Punjab
Punjab, in particular, was severely affected due to wartime repression, forcible recruitments, and the spread of disease. The situation became explosive with intense anti-British demonstrations leading to the infamous Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: A Day of Horror
On April 13, 1919, a large crowd gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, unaware of the prohibitory orders. Brigadier-General Dyer arrived with his troops, cordoned off the only exit point, and opened fire on the unarmed crowd, resulting in the death of over a thousand innocent people.
Some Key Facts
| Date | Event | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| March 21, 1919 | Rowlatt Act was passed | Discord and protest spread across India |
| April 6, 1919 | Non-violent civil disobedience call by Gandhi | Large-scale violent anti-British demonstrations emerged |
| April 13, 1919 | Jallianwala Bagh Massacre | Over 1000 unarmed men, women, and children were killed |
Hunter Commission and Its Findings
To investigate the Jallianwala Bagh shootings, the government formed an inquiry committee known as The Hunter Commission. Although the final report, submitted in March 1920, condemned General Dyer’s actions, no punitive measures were implemented against him.
Nationalist Response and Aftermath
Prominent figures like Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi publicly protested against the massacre. Tagore returned his knighthood, while Gandhi renounced the title of Kaiser-i-Hind. In the wake of the violent atmosphere, Gandhi withdrew the movement on April 18, 1919. The Indian National Congress appointed its own non-official committee to investigate the incident, leading to more criticism of Dyer’s actions and raising questions about the justification for imposing martial law in Punjab.
