Remembering the Tragedy of Jallianwala Bagh: A Lesson in History and Humanity

It was Baisakhi of 1919 when thousands of people came to peacefully protest at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. They came to Jallianwala Bagh to protest against the controversial Rowlatt Act, passed by the British government to increase their power over the “common” Indians.

The British colonial government, led by General Reginald Dyer, saw the gathering as a serious threat to law and order. Dyer arrived at Jallianwala Bagh with a contingent of British Indian Army soldiers and ordered them to open fire on the unarmed crowd without warning or provocation. He ordered his men to block the only escape route before starting an open fire on the protestors. This caused hundreds of deaths and the other people had no option but to climb over the walls or jump into the well and die.

The exact number of casualties is unknown, but it is estimated that between 379 and 1,000 people were killed, and over 1,200 were injured. Many people feel that this incident was a major change in India’s freedom struggle. It caused outrage across India and around the world, leading to increased calls for Indian independence from British rule. This resulted in nationwide protests and for once, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs came together.

General Dyer was widely condemned for his actions, both in India and in Britain. He was eventually removed from his position and forced to retire. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre is remembered as a symbol of British colonial oppression and a key event in the struggle for Indian independence.

Writen By Ridhiman (St. Xaviers High School, Sec-49, GGN).

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