Jallianwala Bagh
1 year ago
Event: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab.Context: Took place during Baisakhi, amid growing unrest against British policies, including the Rowlatt Act (allowing detention without trial).Trigger: Protests against the arrest of nationalist leaders Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew.Massacre: General Dyer ordered troops to fire on an unarmed crowd gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, a walled garden with a single exit.Casualties: Official British estimates: 379 dead. Indian Congress inquiry: over 1,000 dead.Consequences: Sparked outrage, uniting Indians against British rule, and escalating protests.Impact: Inspired the Non-Cooperation Movement and led Rabindranath Tagore to renounce his knighthood.British Response: The Hunter Commission mildly censured Dyer, who was relieved of his duties.Retribution: Udham Singh assassinated Michael O’Dwyer (who supported Dyer) in 1940, becoming a martyr.Significance: Exposed British brutality, a turning point in India’s freedom struggle, marking a symbol of resistance, and a dark chapter in history, according to PM Modi and other leaders. The massacre is remembered as a symbol of courage and sacrifice.
