Imagine stepping into the pages of history, where every moment resonates with the struggle for freedom and the resilience of a nation. It has been 73 years since the idea of independence from the Britishers was highlighted. By the early 20th century, various independent groups had emerged to take the idea of independence further. Punjab was one of the regions where such groups were seen in huge numbers.
As the days passed and the influence of Mahatma Gandhi enhanced in every Indian with the idea of total freedom, the Britishers found their centralized control of the country challenged. They came with various reforms to demoralize the idea of total freedom, one of them being the Defense of India Act 1915.
The act was enacted by the governor-general of India to restrict the activities of Indian revolutionaries or anyone raising his/her voice against the British government. However, this act backfired on the Britishers as a year later, two of the most prominent organizations, the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, joined hands to protest against such restrictions.
By 1917-19, dissent against British policies surged across India. In some places, dissent took a violent face, such as the incident in Punjab where protesters attacked government officials resulting in tragic deaths. However, various leaders from the Congress party and league condemned such violent protests, emphasizing peaceful resistance.
Yet, the British government remained undeterred and enacted a new law, the Rowlatt Act of 1919. Click on the link to delve deeper into the Rowlatt Act of 1919 and its ramifications.
This act was an extreme version of the previous Defense of India Act 1915. It gave enormous power to the police to arrest anyone suspected of arousing nationalist sentiments among other people, leading to widespread suppression of dissent and violation of human rights.
From Mahatma Gandhi to Rabindranath Tagore, many criticized the act and encouraged everyone to raise their voice against it peacefully. In March 1919, the British government's arrest of Dr. Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew in Punjab sparked outrage, leading to protests and subsequent events that shook the nation.
13th April 1919 8:30 AM: People started gathering in Jaliawala Bagh after praying in the Golden Temple. Kids, women, and men gathered at the venue to celebrate Vaisakhi, a religious festival in Sikhism which honours the formation of the Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh. Observing the huge gathering reginald Dyer informed the British Government and called for military and police actions.
4:30 AM: At the peak of celebrations Reginald Dyer with his force enters the venue and blocks the only exit. Without any prior warning or disclaimer, he commands shoot on sight orders. 1650 rounds of the bullet were shot in 30 minutes killing thousands of people and injuring thousands more. Out of fear many people jumped in the well never to return. The sound of bullets being fired, kids, crying and blood floating still echoes at Jaliawala Bagh.
The aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre stunned the nation. Reginald Dyer's actions were met with outrage, leading to his recall to Britain. Yet, the scars of that fateful day continue to echo through history, shaping the course of India's fight for independence.
The British Government's Hunter Commission attempted to evaluate the incident, but its biased approach only fuelled the flames of resistance. Out of this tragedy emerged movements like the Non-cooperation Movement and the Khilafat Movement, led by Congress and the Muslim league, respectively.
From the ashes of Jallianwala Bagh rose revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and many more, who continued the struggle for freedom with unwavering determination.
League Let us never forget the heroes who paved the way for our freedom.
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