107th year of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

Context

The 107th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which was one of the landmark events in the Indian struggle of independence, is April 13, 2026. British Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer issued orders to have troops shoot at thousands of unarmed Indians at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab, on April 13, 1919. The incident is regarded as one of the most obscure periods in the history of colonization, which changed the Indian independence movement and strengthened the will to resist the British rule. 

Historical Background: The Seeds of Discontents

• The Rowlatt Act (1919): This was also referred to as the Black Act and it authorised the British government to detain suspects indefinitely without a trial and it was a maximum of two years. It was highly regarded as restrictive action to stamp out civil liberties.
• National Outrage and Satyagraha: Mahatma Gandhi responded by staging a nationwide mass strike (hartal) on 6 th April 1919, the first mass agitation in India. The situation in Punjab was very tense.
• Arrest of Leaders: On April 9, the leaders of the local people, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal were arrested leading to the popular outcry in Amritsar.
• Martial Law: Brigadier General Dyer was sent into the city and he prohibited all masses.

The Massacre: 13th April 1919

• The Gathering: Thousands of people, many of whom were unaware of the ban, including many residents of the local villages, assembled on the Baisakhi day on the enclosed ground of the Jallianwala Bagh to hold a peaceful demonstration against the arrests and also to celebrate the festival of the harvest.
• The Brutal Attack: General Dyer came in with armed forces, closed the single narrow exit, and without any notice, he commanded his forces to open fire on the defenseless crowd. This firing was continued about ten minutes, but was discontinued only by the exhaustion of ammunition.
• Casualties: Although the British made about 379 casualties according to the official reports, the Indian estimates, including that of the congress, indicated that there were more than 1,000 dead and more than 1,200 wounded. Lots of individuals leaped into a well within the Bagh to avoid bullets.
• Post-Firing Atrocities: Under martial law, the British imposed oppressive policies, such as crawling order, and flogging of people in public that left the Indian population highly humiliated.

Immediate Reactions and Aftermath

• Renunciation of Titles: Rabindranath Tagore took the bold step of protesting the award of knighthood by declaring the award as having no parallel in the history of civilized government.
• Gandhi finds disillusionment: Gandhi was shocked by the random act of violence and gave back his Kaiser-i-Hind medal and initiated the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920, his transformation into an anti-colonialist.
• The Hunter Commission (1919): Established by the British to probe into the matter, the commission condemned the actions of Dyer but did not find him any harsh punishment, only asking him to resign. Dyer was even applauded by some in Britain, fueling further outrage in India.

Influence on the Indian National Movement

• The Transfer to Mass Nationalism: The event revealed the ugly aspect of the British imperialism and made Indians believe that the only solution was to achieve independence. The movement was made more inclusive and people in different regions and communities were united.
• Radicalization of Youth: The cruelty gave rise to revolutionary nationalism. Bhagat Singh and the other leaders were seriously affected and the violent armed rebellion against the British Raj increased.
• Collapse of Moderate Beliefs: The collapse of Hunter Commission to dispense justice destroyed the belief of moderates in British fairness.
• Symbol of Ultimate Sacrifice: Jallianwala Bagh was a cry of rallying, it symbolized the ultimate sacrifices that were made in the name of national dignity.

107 Years Later: In Memory of the Martyrs 

The country will commemorate the death of the victims on the 107th anniversary in 2026, as the leaders will honor their memories. The Jallianwala Bagh, in Amritsar has also been turned into a national memorial, with a Flame of Liberty (Amar Jawan Jyoti) and a memorial gallery which maintains the walls that were riddled with bullets. 

• Remembrance: The day is a reminder of the colonial atrocity of the British rule and the heroism of the freedom fighters.
• The Site: The site, which is now a vital national monument, was refurbished in the period between 2019 and 2021 to celebrate the centenary, preserving the Martyrs Well and the bullet holes, but the refurbishment was somewhat controversial.

Source: The Print

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q. With reference to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919), consider the following statements:

1. The gathering was protesting against the arrest of Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satya Pal under the Rowlatt Act.
2. The massacre took place on the day of the Baisakhi festival.
3. In protest, Mahatma Gandhi relinquished his title ‘Kaiser-i-Hind’.
4. The Hunter Commission was appointed to investigate the incident. 

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1, 2, and 4 only
D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

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