Why this matters now
1919 is a pivotal year — the Rowlatt Act, Gandhi’s first nationwide satyagraha, and Jallianwala Bagh are essential GS-1 milestones leading to Non-Cooperation.
The Rowlatt Act
The Rowlatt Act (1919) — the “black act” — allowed detention without trial and suspended civil liberties (“no appeal, no plea, no advocate”). Gandhi launched the Rowlatt Satyagraha — his first nationwide protest — with hartals and demonstrations.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre
On 13 April 1919 (Baisakhi), at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, General Dyer ordered troops to fire on a peaceful, unarmed crowd (gathered partly to protest the arrest of leaders), killing hundreds. The enclosed ground had no escape. Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest.
Aftermath
The massacre shocked the nation and shattered faith in British justice (the Hunter Commission only mildly censured Dyer). It directly fed into the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920) and the radicalisation of the freedom struggle. Udham Singh later assassinated Michael O’Dwyer (the Punjab Lt-Governor who backed Dyer) in London.
UPSC angle
Know the Rowlatt Act (1919, detention without trial, “black act”), the Rowlatt Satyagraha (Gandhi’s first nationwide), Jallianwala Bagh (13 Apr 1919, Dyer), Tagore’s protest, Hunter Commission, and the link to Non-Cooperation.
Frequently asked questions
What was the Rowlatt Act?
A 1919 law allowing detention without trial, dubbed the “black act” for suspending civil liberties.
What happened at Jallianwala Bagh?
On 13 April 1919, General Dyer ordered troops to fire on a peaceful, unarmed crowd in Amritsar, killing hundreds.
How did Tagore respond?
Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest against the massacre.
What was the significance of these events?
They radicalised the freedom struggle and led directly to the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920.