Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919) Archives

1. With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statement

With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The Rowlatt Act was based on the recommendations of the ‘Sedition Committee’.
2. In Rowlatt Satyagraha, Gandhiji tried to utilize the Home Rule League.
3. Demonstrations against the arrival of Simon Commission coincided with Rowlatt Satyagraha.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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1 only

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2015

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Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect regarding the Rowlatt Satyagraha.

The Rowlatt Act of 1919 was indeed based on the recommendations of the Sedition Committee, headed by Justice S.A.T. Rowlatt, which investigated ‘revolutionary crime’ in India (Statement 1 is correct). Mahatma Gandhi launched the Rowlatt Satyagraha against this act and utilized the widespread network and existing infrastructure of the Home Rule League to organize protests and demonstrations across India (Statement 2 is correct). The Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928, almost a decade after the Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919), so demonstrations against it did not coincide with the Rowlatt Satyagraha (Statement 3 is incorrect).

The Rowlatt Act authorized the government to imprison any person without trial and conviction in a court of law, which was seen as a denial of civil liberties. The protests against it were widespread and marked the beginning of a new phase of mass mobilization in the Indian independence movement under Gandhi’s leadership. The Simon Commission faced protests because it was an all-British commission tasked with reviewing the constitutional progress in India, with no Indian representation.

2. Consider the following statements about the Rowlatt Act of 1919 : 1.

Consider the following statements about the Rowlatt Act of 1919 :

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1. It was passed by the Imperial Legislative Council
2. Khilafat Committee was formed to oppose the Act
3. While Gandhiji was arrested, the local leaders were allowed to continue the protest

How many of the above statements is/are NOT correct ?

One

Two

Three

None

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2024

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Let’s evaluate each statement about the Rowlatt Act of 1919:
1. It was passed by the Imperial Legislative Council: This is correct. The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919 (Rowlatt Act) was passed by the Imperial Legislative Council despite unanimous opposition from the elected Indian members, relying on the official majority.
2. Khilafat Committee was formed to oppose the Act: This is incorrect. The Khilafat Committee was formed in 1919 to protest against the harsh terms imposed on the Ottoman Empire after World War I and to defend the Caliphate. While the Khilafat issue later merged with the Non-Cooperation Movement which also included opposition to the Rowlatt Act, the committee’s primary reason for formation was the Khilafat issue, not the Rowlatt Act itself.
3. While Gandhiji was arrested, the local leaders were allowed to continue the protest: This is incorrect. Gandhiji was arrested on April 10, 1919, while on his way to Punjab. Many local leaders, including Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew in Amritsar, were also arrested as part of the government’s suppression of the protests against the Rowlatt Act. These arrests often escalated tensions and led to further unrest, as seen in Amritsar leading to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.

The question asks for the number of statements that are *NOT* correct. Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.

The Rowlatt Act empowered the government to imprison any person without trial and conviction in a court of law. It was widely opposed by Indians as it violated basic civil liberties. The nationwide protest against the act was one of the first instances of mass agitation organized by Gandhi at an all-India level, though it was primarily led by various segments of society initially. The merging of the Khilafat issue with the Rowlatt Satyagraha solidified Hindu-Muslim unity in the early phase of the nationalist movement.

3. Which among the following statements about the Jallianwala bagh massac

Which among the following statements about the Jallianwala bagh massacre is/are correct ?

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1. In Jallianwala bagh troops opened fire upon an unarmed crowd
2. The troops were under the command of General Dyer
3. The troops did not issue any warning to the people before opening fire

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3

2 and 3 only

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2019

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The correct option is C.

Let’s evaluate each statement about the Jallianwala Bagh massacre:
1. In Jallianwala bagh troops opened fire upon an unarmed crowd: This is CORRECT. On April 13, 1919, a large crowd, which included Baisakhi pilgrims and protestors against the Rowlatt Act and arrest of nationalist leaders, had gathered peacefully in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. The crowd was largely unarmed.
2. The troops were under the command of General Dyer: This is CORRECT. Brigadier General Reginald Dyer ordered his troops (mostly Gurkha, Baloch, Rajput, and Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army) to open fire on the crowd.
3. The troops did not issue any warning to the people before opening fire: This is CORRECT. General Dyer ordered his troops to fire without any prior warning to the assembled crowd and blocked the main narrow entrance to prevent people from escaping. The firing continued for about 10-15 minutes until the ammunition was nearly exhausted.
All three statements accurately describe events related to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries, as officially reported, although actual numbers are believed to be much higher. The incident was a turning point in the Indian independence movement, leading to widespread outrage and protests against British rule. General Dyer was later relieved of command but received support from some sections of the British public and officials.

4. Consider the following events : 1. Launch of Non-Cooperation Movemen

Consider the following events :

1. Launch of Non-Cooperation Movement
2. All-India Khilafat Conference in Delhi
3. Passing of the Rowlatt Act
4. Jallianwala Bagh incident

Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the given events (earliest to latest) ?

1, 2, 3, 4

3, 4, 2, 1

3, 2, 4, 1

2, 3, 4, 1

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2024

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The correct chronological order of the given events is Passing of the Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh incident, All-India Khilafat Conference in Delhi, Launch of Non-Cooperation Movement.

– **3. Passing of the Rowlatt Act:** Officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919, this act was passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in March 1919. It authorised the British government to imprison anyone suspected of terrorism without trial. This led to widespread anger and protests across India.
– **4. Jallianwala Bagh incident:** This horrific event took place on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab. A large crowd had gathered peacefully to protest the Rowlatt Act and the arrest of nationalist leaders, when British troops, under the command of General Dyer, fired upon the unarmed crowd, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
– **2. All-India Khilafat Conference in Delhi:** Several Khilafat conferences were held. A major conference took place in Delhi in November 1919, where the leadership, including Gandhiji, discussed cooperation with the Non-Cooperation movement. Gandhiji became president of the All-India Khilafat Committee later.
– **1. Launch of Non-Cooperation Movement:** Gandhiji announced the formal launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement on August 1, 1920, following the death of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and in conjunction with the Khilafat issue. The movement gained momentum in the following months after the Calcutta Special Session (September 1920) and Nagpur Session (December 1920) of the Indian National Congress approved the program.

These events are closely interconnected. The Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre intensified nationalist sentiment and protest. The Khilafat issue, concerning the fate of the Ottoman Caliphate after World War I, provided a platform for Hindu-Muslim unity, which Gandhiji leveraged by integrating the Khilafat movement with the Non-Cooperation movement. The Non-Cooperation movement was one of the first major nationwide mass movements led by Gandhiji against British rule.

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