Q. Write a note on the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre?

Ans. 



Mahatma Gandhi declared 6 April 1919 as Satyagrah day or hartal to protest against the Rowlatt Bills. It was a unique success. Some incidents took place in Delhi and Ahmedabad. The most serious disturbance, however, took place at Amritsar where three prominent Englishmen were killed. The Governor of the Punjab issued a proclamation on April 11, which forbade meetings and processions. The Government also arrested two prominem Congress leaders Dr. Saif-ud-Din Kitchlu and Dr. Satyapal. On April 13, the Baisakhi day, about 20,000 people assembled for a peaceful general meeting in the Jallianwala Bagh at Amritsar. It was to . protest against the arrest of their leaders and the Rowlatt Act. Brigadier General Dyer was seeking an opportunity to teach the people a lesson for disobeying Government orders. He arrived at Jallianwaia Bagh with 500 troops who were ordered to open fire without giving the people a warning to disperse. About 400 people were killed and nearly 1200 wounded. The event is known as the Jallianwata Bagh Tragedy. A wave of horror and anger, swept the country from one end to another. Rabindra Nath Tagore surrendered to the government his title of 'Sir' as a measure of protest. Gandhiji lost faith in British honesty and fair play. After the Jallianwaia Bagh tragedy, Martial Law was imposed in the whole of the Punjab. The Government committed atrocities on the people. These events widened the gulf between the Government and the national leaders.