Jallianwala Bagh massacre

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Context

• Exactly 105 years ago, on April 13, 1919, Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered his troops to open fire on a large gathering of people in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar.

Backdrop of Unrest:

• The draconian Rowlatt Act, passed in March 1919, triggered widespread discontent not only in Punjab but throughout India.
• Punjab, being a significant province, witnessed a surge in protests against the oppressive act.
• Michael O’Dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab at the time, feared that the situation could escalate into a large-scale uprising akin to the events of 1857.

Trigger:

• The spark igniting the powder keg occurred on April 10 when the police opened fire on a crowd of protestors in Amritsar.
• This violent act resulted in several casualties and set off a chain reaction of riots and mob violence in the city.
• British residents, both men and women, were targeted by the enraged mobs, exacerbating O’Dwyer’s apprehensions regarding the situation.

Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy:

• In the tense atmosphere following the Amritsar riots, Reginald Dyer ordered troops to open fire on a gathering in Jallianwala Bagh on April 13.
• The venue was packed with thousands of people who had assembled for the annual Baisakhi fair, unaware of the impending horror.
• Dyer's action resulted in a horrific massacre, likened to shooting fish in a barrel due to the confined space and indiscriminate shooting.

British Response:

• Initially, the British administration in Punjab supported Dyer's actions and intensified its crackdown on dissent.
• Viceroy Chelmsford declared martial law in Punjab, leading to the detention of thousands of individuals suspected of involvement in anti-government activities.
• However, as details of the brutality of the massacre emerged, dissenting voices began to emerge within the British government, culminating in Winston Churchill's condemnation of Dyer's actions in Parliament.

Dyer's Fate:

• Despite being hailed as a hero by some British individuals, Dyer faced criticism from within the British government and was eventually relieved of his command in 1920.
• However, opinions regarding Dyer remained divided among Britons, with some viewing him as a scapegoat rather than acknowledging the systemic issues within the British administration.

Impact on Indians:

• The massacre at Jallianwala Bagh sent shockwaves across India, with people outraged by the senseless brutality unleashed upon unarmed civilians.
• Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's decision to renounce his knighthood in protest symbolized the depth of Indian indignation and defiance against British oppression.
• The incident served as a rallying cry for Indian nationalists, prompting Mahatma Gandhi to launch the Non-Cooperation Movement, marking a significant escalation in the struggle for independence.

Legacy:

• The Jallianwala Bagh massacre dealt a severe blow to the moral legitimacy of the British Empire in India, tarnishing its image irreparably in the eyes of many Indians.
• It led to a loss of faith among even moderate Indian nationalists in the benevolence of British rule, pushing them towards more radical forms of resistance.
• The victims of the massacre were transformed into martyrs of the Indian nationalist cause, galvanizing the movement for independence and hastening the eventual downfall of British colonial rule in India.

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Assess the historical significance of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in India's struggle for independence. Evaluate the role of the massacre in shaping British colonial policies and Indian sentiments towards British rule.