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Rowlatt Act 1919
- Sedition Committee header by Justice Rowlatt led to the Rowlatt Act
- This act authorized the government to imprison any person without trial and conviction by the Court of Law for years
- The law also enabled the government to suspend the right of Habeas Corpus which has been the foundation of Civil Liberties in Britain
- It led to a countrywide agitation and marked the foundation of Non-Cooperation Movement
- During march and April the country witnessed a remarkable political awakening in India
- There were hartals, strikes, processions and demonstrations
Anti-Rowlatt Satyagraha
- Gandhiji started the Anti-Rowlatt Satyagraha movement against The Rowlatt Act,1919 for the exclusion of freedom of press and detention without trial set up a Satyagraha Sabha on 24th February 1919 at Bombay.
- As, the Rowlatt Act empowers the Britishers regarding the suspension of the right of Habeas Corpus.
- During this agitation, M.K Gandhi given famous quote “It is my firm belief that we shall obtain salvation only through suffering and not by reforms dropping on us from the English they use brute, we soul force”.
- After the incident of Jallianwala Bagh massacre on 13th April, 1919, the Anti-Rowlatt Satyagraha lost momentum.
- The movement was against the exclusion of freedom of press and detention without trial.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
After passing the Rowlatt Act, the Punjab Government set out to suppress all opposition. On 13 April, 1919, at Amritsar(Punjab) in Jallianwala Bagh the public had gathered to celebrate Baisakhi. However, the British point of view, as seen from the documents present in the National Archives of India, indicates that it was a political gathering.
Inspite of General Dyer’s orders prohibiting unlawful assembly, people gathered at Jallianwala Bagh. They discussed the two resolutions, one condemning the firing on April 10 and the other requesting the authorities to release their leaders.
When the news reached him Brigadier-General Dyer, headed to the Bagh with his troops. He entered the Bagh, deployed his troops and ordered them to open fire without giving any warning. People rushed to the exits but Dyer directed his soldiers to fire at the exit.
- The firing continued for 10-15 minutes. 1650 rounds were fired.
- The firing ceased only after the ammunition had ran out.
- The total estimated figure of the dead as given by General Dyer and Mr. Irving was 291. However, other reports including that of a committee headed by Madan Mohan Malviya put the figure of dead at over 500.
- On 13th March 1940, Sardar Udham Singh Killed O’Dyer when the latter was addressing a meeting in Coxton Hall, London
- Rabindranath Tagore returned his knighthood in protest
- Hunter Commission was appointed to inquire into it.
