The Rowlatt Act & Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
(1919)
The Rowlatt Act was passed by the British government to enhance their superiority over the
common people. This law was passed in March 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council which
gave them the power to arrest any person without any trial. To abolish this act, Gandhi and the
other leaders called for a Hartal ( a time of fasting and suspension of work) to show Indians'
objection with this rule.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre or the Amritsar Massacre took place when many villagers
gathered in the park for the celebration of Baisakhi. The gatherers wanted to also peacefully
protest the arrest and deportation of two national leaders, Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew.
Overview of the Rowlatt Act, 1919
A cursory detail of the act is given in the table below:
Rowlatt Act, 1919
Long Title Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act
of 1919
Territorial Extent The whole of British India
Enacted by Imperial Legislative Council
Enacted 21st March 1919
Commenced 21st March 1919
Status Repealed
What is the Rowlatt Act?
The basic facts about the act and its significance are given below:
● Officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919.
● Passed in March 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council.
● This act authorised the British government to arrest anybody suspected of terrorist
activities.
● It also authorised the government to detain such people arrested for up to 2 years
without trial.
● It empowered the police to search for a place without a warrant.
● It also placed severe restrictions on the freedom of the press.
● The act was passed as per recommendations of the Rowlatt Committee chaired by a
judge, Sir Sidney Rowlatt.
● The act was widely condemned by Indian leaders and the public. The bills came to be
known as ‘black bills’.
● The act was passed despite unanimous opposition from the Indian members of the
council, all of whom resigned in protest. These included Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Madan
Mohan Malviya and Mazhar Ul Haq.
● In response to this act, a nationwide hartal was called by Gandhiji on 6th April. This was
called the Rowlatt Satyagraha.
● The movement was cancelled by Gandhiji when it was marred by rioting in some
provinces, particularly in Punjab where the situation was grim.
● The British government’s primary intention was to repress the growing nationalist
movement in the country.
● The British were also afraid of a Ghadarite revolution in Punjab and the rest of the
country.
● Two popular Congress leaders Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew were arrested.
● Protest was very intense when the act came into effect and the army was called in
Punjab to tackle the situation.
What is the story of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre?
● The situation in Punjab was alarming as there were riots and protests against the
Rowlatt Act.
● Punjab was put under martial law which meant that it became unlawful for more than 4
people to assemble at a place.
● The Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab at that time was Michael O’Dwyer. Lord Chelmsford
was India’s Viceroy.
● On the day of the festival of Baisakhi on 13th April 1919 in Jallianwala Bagh, a public
garden in Amritsar, a crowd of non-violent protestors had gathered. Also among the
crowd were pilgrims who had come to celebrate Baisakhi.
● General Dyer came there with his troops and blocked the only narrow entrance to the
garden.
● Then, without warning, he ordered his troops to fire at the unarmed crowd which
included children as well.
● The indiscriminate firing went on for about 10 minutes which resulted in the deaths of at
least 1000 people and injured more than 1500 people.
● This tragedy came as a rude shock to Indians and totally destroyed their faith in the
British system of justice.
● National leaders condemned the act and Dyer unequivocally.
● However, Dyer was appreciated by many in Britain and the British in India although
some people in the British government were quick to criticise it.
● The government set up the Hunter Commission to inquire into the massacre. Although
the commission condemned the act by Dyer, it did not impose any disciplinary action
against him.
● He was relieved of his duties in the army in 1920.
● In protest against the massacre and the British failure to give due justice to the victims,
Rabindranath Tagore gave up his knighthood and Gandhiji relinquished his title
‘Kaiser-e-hind’ bestowed on him by the British for his services during the Boer War in
South Africa.
● Michael O’Dwyer, the then Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab, who had approved the
actions of Brigadier-General Dyer, was assassinated by Udham Singh in London in 1940
as revenge against the massacre. Udham Singh is believed to have witnessed the
massacre as a child.
Overview of the Rowlatt Act, 1919
A cursory detail of the act is given in the table below:
Rowlatt Act, 1919
Long Title Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act
of 1919
Territorial Extent The whole of British India
Enacted by Imperial Legislative Council
Enacted 21st March 1919
Commenced 21st March 1919
Status Repealed
