Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: A Symbol Of Colonial Cruelty

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 13^th April 1919, in Amritsar is considered as a watershed for the National Movement and Freedom Struggle of India. After more than 100 years, it still reminds us of the exploitation and brutality of colonial powers. The barbarous nature of the incident shocked the entire nation and united the people in anger and grief against the colonial masters.

• It is considered as a horrific incident in colonial history of India and a decisive moment when Indians were alienated from British rule. The protests and subsequent mobilizations shook the British Empire as it was a direct confrontation between the British government and the Indian people.

Events Leading to the Massacre

• The Colonial government proposed Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act 1919, popularly known as Rowlatt Act. It led to widespread protests in the country. It was passed despite the unanimous opposition of all non-official members of the Imperial Legislative Council.
• The Indian population and the National leadership were agitated due to the Governments’ indifference to their opposition. The act authorised the British government to arrest anybody suspected of terrorist activities and detain such people for up to 2 years without trial.
• Mahatma Gandhi started the Rowlatt Satyagraha on March 23, 1919, to oppose the Rowlatt Act. It was declared that April 6 would be observed as All India Hartal day with twenty-four hours of fasting and suspension of all business.
• The most prominent Hartal was the one at Lahore in Punjab. The Government arrested two popular leaders Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Saifud-Din Kitchlew prohibiting them from addressing any public meetings. By 13 April 1919, the city of Amritsar was put under martial law.

The Massacre

• On 13 April, the day of Baisakhi, a huge crowd had gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to protest against the arrest of leaders. It was also a spot for the Baisakhi Mela and many people had come unaware of proclamations and orders.
• General Dyer reached the spot and ordered immediate firing. According to official figures, 10 minutes of firing resulted in 379 dead and more than a thousand injured. But according to the Congress, deaths were in excess of thousands.

As a Symbol of Colonial Oppression

• General Dyer’s action in the Jallianwala Bagh is not to be seen as an isolated event. Since the annexation of Punjab, the British had adopted a paternalistic approach, and also used force against those who dared to undermine the hegemony of the colonial rule.
• Also, after the suppression of 1857 revolt, the use of violence and suppression as an effective preventive measure against any uprising and defiance of British Authority became a prominent feature of the thinking of British officials.

Moral Legitimacy

• Gandhi pleaded with the Government for the use of ‘ordinary laws’ to deal with revolutionary crimes. He put forward his position that a strong law like the Rowlatt Act should only be prescribed once all the alternatives have been tried.
• But the Colonial mindset of the ruling powers had violence at its heart and they were not ready to listen to Gandhi’s moral advice. The British had tried to gain moral legitimacy on the pretext that the National Movement had great potential for evil. They did not believe in a principled avoidance of violence or physical force.
• But Gandhi reemphasized on the principles of Satyagraha and reiterated that the movement had only a potential for good.

Government Whitewash

After the incident, the British government formed a committee of inquiry to investigate the Jallianwala Bagh shootings. On October 14, 1919, the Government of India announced the formation of the Disorders Inquiry Committee. The committee was commonly known as Hunter Commission after the name of chairman, Lord William Hunter. It also had Indian members.

• In the final report submitted in March 1920, the committee unanimously condemned Dyer’s actions. However, the Hunter Committee did not impose any penal or disciplinary action against General Dyer. It was considered as a whitewash by the Indian nationalists.
• The tragedy is an icon in the National Movement and anti-colonial struggle. It reminds us of the colonial exploitation and need to value freedom.