Jallianwala Bagh massacre

Quick Facts: Who was Jallianwala Bagh massacre?

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Jallianwala Bagh massacre

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The brutal 1919 massacre of peaceful Indian protesters at Jallianwala Bagh.

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Origins & Early Life

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre (IPA: [dʒəlɪjãːʋaːlaː baːɣ, baːɡ]), also known as the Amritsar massacre, took place on 13 April 1919. A large crowd had gathered at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab, British India, during the annual Baisakhi fair to protest against the Rowlatt Act and the arrest of pro-Indian independence activists Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal. In response to the public gathering, Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer surrounded the people with Gurkhas of Nepalese origin and Sikh infantrymen of the British Indian Army. The Jallianwala Bagh could only be exited on one side, as its other three sides were enclosed by buildings. After blocking the exit with his troops, Dyer ordered them to shoot at the crowd, continuing to fire even as the protestors tried to flee.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The troops kept on firing until their ammunition was low and they were ordered to stop. Estimates of those killed vary from 379 to 1,500 or more people; over 1,200 others were injured, of whom 192 sustained serious injury. Britain has never formally apologised for the massacre, but expressed deep "regret" in 2019. The massacre caused a re-evaluation by the Imperial British military of its role when confronted with civilians to use "minimal force whenever possible" (although the British Army was not directly involved in the massacre; the British Indian Army was a separate organisation). However, in the light of later British military actions during the Mau Mau rebellion in the Kenya Colony, historian Huw Bennett has pointed out that this new policy was not always followed.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The army was retrained with less violent tactics for crowd control. The level of casual brutality and the lack of any accountability stunned the entire nation, resulting in a wrenching loss of faith of the general Indian public in the intentions of the United Kingdom. The attack was condemned by the Secretary of State for War, Winston Churchill, as "unutterably monstrous", and in the UK House of Commons debate on 8 July 1920 Members of Parliament voted 247 to 37 against Dyer. The ineffective inquiry, together with the initial accolades for Dyer, fuelled great widespread anger against the British among the Indian populace, leading to the non-cooperation movement of 1920–22. During World War I, British India contributed to the British war effort by providing men and resources.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1919: 1919 Milestone — The Jallianwala Bagh massacre (IPA: [dʒəlɪjãːʋaːlaː baːɣ, baːɡ]), also known as the Amritsar massacre, took place on 13 April 1919.
2. 1920: 1920 Milestone — The attack was condemned by the Secretary of State for War, Winston Churchill, as "unutterably monstrous", and in the UK House of Commons debate on 8 July 1920 Members of Parliament voted 247 to 37 against Dyer.
3. 2019: 2019 Milestone — Britain has never formally apologised for the massacre, but expressed deep "regret" in 2019.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Jallianwala Bagh massacre

True or False: “The British government issued a formal, unequivocal apology for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in the year following its occurrence.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Britain has never formally apologized; instead, it expressed deep 'regret' much later, notably in 2019.

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