Rowlatt Act and Satyagraha, 1919

During the World War I (1914-18), the British had instituted censorship of the press and permitted detention without trial. On the recommendation of a committee chaired by Sir Sidney Rowlatt, these tough measures were continued. In response, Gandhiji called for a countrywide campaign against the Rowlatt Act.

Mahatma Gandhi, Mohammad Ali Jinnah and others felt that the government had no right to restrict people’s basic freedoms. Gandhiji asked the Indian people to observe 6 April 1919 as a day of non-violent opposition to this Act. Satyagraha Sabhas were set up to launch the movement.

In towns across North and West India, life came to a standstill, as shops shut down and schools closed in response to the bandh call. The protests were particularly intense in the Punjab, where many men had served on the British side in the War.

The Rowlatt Satyagraha turned out to be the first all-India struggle against the British government although it was largely restricted to cities. During the Rowlatt Satyagraha the participants tried to ensure that Hindus and Muslims were united in the fight against British rule. This was also the call of Mahatma Gandhi who always saw India as a land of all the people who lived in the country - Hindus, Muslims and those of other religions.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

The situation in the province grew progressively more tense, reaching a climax in Amritsar in April 1919, when a British Brigadier, General Dyer, ordered his troops to open fire on a nationalist meeting on Baisakhi day (13 April). More than four hundred people were killed in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

On learning about the massacre, Rabindranath Tagore expressed the pain and anger of the country by renouncing his knighthood.

Non-Cooperation

It was the Rowlatt satyagraha that made Gandhiji a truly national leader. Emboldened by its success, Gandhiji called for a campaign of non-cooperation with British rule.