Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919): The Incident That Shocked India

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919 is one of the most infamous events that happened during the period of the British colonial rule of India. On 13 April 1919, soldiers under the command of General Reginald Edward Harry Dyer fired at people who were gathering in the Jallianwala Bagh of Amritsar, Punjab.

The tragedy happened as a result of political protests against the Rowlatt Act and the arrest of nationalist leaders in Punjab. The event caused serious outrage both in India and in Britain and marked the turning point in the Indian freedom movement.

What Was the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre?

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre or Amritsar Massacre took place on 13 April 1919 on the occasion of Baisakhi.

People gathered at Jallianwala Bagh that is an enclosed ground in Amritsar. Some people were there on the occasion of Baisakhi, whereas others had gathered there to discuss the political situation and to protest against the Rowlatt Act and the arrest of Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr Satya Pal.

Dyer entered the enclosed ground and ordered his soldiers to open fire on the people. The firing went on for several minutes, and the soldiers directed their shots at densely crowded parts of the crowd.

According to the official record of the British inquiry, 379 people died during the firing, but according to the Indian estimate, much more people died. The event caused serious outrage since people in the crowd had no weapons and no means of escaping from the firing place.

Background of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

Without analyzing the political context prevailing in India post World War I, it would be impossible to understand the massacre.

During the World War I, there were a number of restrictions imposed by the British Government in India. Indians had anticipated some political reforms and self-government after the war, however the government introduced additional restrictions.

Rowlatt Act of 1919 provided a significant cause of public unrest. According to the Act, extraordinary powers had been bestowed upon the government to counter revolutionary activities which included detention without following any normal judicial procedure.

Mahatma Gandhi started a nation wide campaign of Rowlatt Satyagraha against this Act. Protests and strikes had spread in many parts of India due to this Act.

Tensions in Punjab were very high. The arrest of Kitchlew and Satya Pal in Amritsar had added fuel to fire and caused an unrest in Amritsar.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 13 April 1919

On 13 April 1919, a large number of people had gathered in Jallianwala Bagh.

The ground was surrounded with walls and buildings having limited outlets. Dyer had come up with armed troops and stationed them near the entrance and then asked them to fire upon the gathering.

The people were trying to run away from the site; however, due to the confined nature of the ground, it was almost impossible for them to run away. Some were trying to climb on the surrounding walls, while others were seeking shelter in the ground.

The firing had continued until Dyer ordered the troops to stop it. There were a number of causalities as a result of this incident.

Dyer justified his act by saying that he wanted to create a wider psychological impact.

Key Reasons for Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

Rowlatt Act

• This act was one of the immediate reasons for the outbreak of the political unrest. The Indians considered the Rowlatt Act as an unfair extension of war-time repressive measures despite the end of the World War I.

Arrest of Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satya Pal

• The arrests of two well-known nationalist leaders in Amritsar led to the growing political tension. Their arrests became the reason for protests and caused further aggravation of the situation in Amritsar.

Rising Nationalism

• The post World War I period saw the rise of the political awareness of Indians. They demanded the right to play a role in government.

Fear of Uprising on the Side of British Authorities

• British authorities in Punjab feared that the political demonstrations may lead to the rebellion. This fear contributed to the adoption of such a repressive approach on the part of Dyer.

Restriction on Assemblies

• The authorities restricted the assemblies in Amritsar. However, it seems that the majority of people at Jallianwala Bagh were unaware of this restriction.

General Dyer and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

It was General Dyer who commanded the soldiers to open fire in Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.

His decision remained at the core of the inquiries made afterwards. General Dyer gave his defence before the Hunter Committee but it was heavily criticized by many.

Though he was dismissed from his post and not allowed to serve in India anymore, still no criminal trial followed regarding the massacre.

But this case highlighted the division among British opinions too. While some of the politicians of Britain blamed the actions of Dyer, there were many people in Britain who supported him.

Hunter Commission and Jallianwala Bagh

The British Government constituted the Hunter Committee, officially called Disorders Inquiry Committee, in 1919 in order to inquire about the disturbances in Punjab including the Amritsar incident.

This commission criticized the decision of Dyer to shoot without proper warning and the use of force in that way.

But many Indian nationalists found the inquiry as well as its results as unsatisfactory.

Moreover, even Indian National Congress held its own inquiry. Many prominent figures of that time like Mahatma Gandhi, Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das took part in it.

Reaction of Mahatma Gandhi

The massacre left a deep impression on Mahatma Gandhi.

At first, Gandhi had faith that constitutional methods and cooperation could bring about political reforms. The Amritsar Massacre played an important role in his increasing disillusionment with the British government.

He returned his Kaiser-i-Hind medal, which was bestowed upon him for his public service.

The massacre was a contributing factor towards the development of Gandhi as a nationalist leader and the freedom struggle of India becoming a mass movement.

Reaction of Rabindranath Tagore

Another personality who responded strongly to the massacre was Rabindranath Tagore.

Tagore had been knighted by the British Crown. However, after the massacre he resigned from his knighthood as a mark of protest against British acts in Punjab.

Effects of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre on India’s Fight for Independence

It created reverberations that extended well beyond Amritsar.

First, it damaged the belief held by several Indians about the objectivity of British colonial rule. The moderates who believed in reforms through constitutional means were disappointed in their hopes.

Second, it enhanced the feeling of nationalism among the Indians, motivating them to participate in the freedom movement.

Most importantly, it provided the necessary conditions for the emergence of the Gandhi-led Non-Cooperation Movement.

Hence, this incident became an important turning point between the earlier constitutional nationalism phase and the later period of anti-colonial movements based on mass mobilization.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and Non-Cooperation Movement

This massacre made an important contribution to the decision of Gandhi to launch a larger movement against the British.

Gandhi had been calling for Non-Cooperation Movement by 1920; he asked Indians to refrain from cooperating with the British colonial machinery.

This event gave additional momentum to his call. It was realized by the Indian nationalists that British rule cannot be amended through petitions and constitutional means.

Historical Importance of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

There were various implications of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.

Firstly, it brought into light the repressive policies of the British colonial rulers and created public indignation.

Secondly, it increased the radicalization of Indian nationalism and reduced trust in the British judicial system.

Thirdly, it consolidated the position of Gandhi and laid the foundation for future mass movements in the 1920s.

Lastly, it served as a symbol of colonial atrocities and India’s desire to gain independence.

Memorial at Jallianwala Bagh

In 1951, the National Memorial of Jallianwala Bagh was erected to pay tribute to those killed in the massacre.

Jallianwala Bagh is still an important historical place and a sign of the people who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for freedom.

It is a monument that serves as a memory of the event which significantly changed the relations between the Indian society and British colonialists.