Twitter
Advertisement

All you need to know about the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre

Looking back at the deadly Baisakhi of 1919.

Latest News
article-main
Activists of All India Anti Terrorist Front (AIATF) hold national flags as they shout patriotic slogans to pay tributes to the martyrs on the eve of the anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar on Wednesday.
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

"I think it quite possible that I could have dispersed the crowd without firing but they would have come back again and laughed, and I would have made, what I consider, a fool of myself." - General Reginald Dyer

The day was April 13, 1919. It was supposed to be a joyous Baisakhi. Pilgrims along with peaceful protestors had gathered in the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar to celebrate the Sikh festival. Little did they know that their celebrations were soon going to turn into the most deadliest moments in India's history.

Bullets and bloodbath

Also known as the Amritsar massacre, thousands of people were fired upon by the British Indian Army soldiers at the orders of Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer. The General had ordered his troops to kneel and fire at the unarmed crowd of men, women and children. The troops surrounded the entire garden and covered all the entries and a few narrow exit points before opening fire at the dense crowd for around 10 minutes. The crowd included thousands of Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims as well.

The total number of deaths occurred is disputed as the British Raj officials estimated that 379 people were killed and 1100, severely injured in the attack. However, according to the Indian National Congress, the casualty number is more than 1500 with 1000 killed. It was not only the shooting that killed the people. Several were killed in stampedes while fleeing the spot. Around 120 bodies were fished out from the well. Many wounded, who could not move died during night.

The Aftermath

General Dyer reasoned these killings terming them as punishment for those who defied his ban on conducting public gatherings.
Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi, as a sign of condemnation, renounced their British Knighthood and Kaiser-i-Hind medal respectively. In 1922, the infamous Rowlett Act that allowed internment of suspects without trial was repealed by the British.

Sorry- Not Sorry?

It has been 98 years since the massacre, but the eerie echo of bullets still brings back the ghosts of Amritsar's bloody past. It also makes us wonder if India has waited too long, with unrealistic expectations for Britain to apologise for this event during their reign in India.

Although the British have termed this incident as shameful, no sentiment of guilt was expressed as such. Congress MP Shashi Thoroor recently pointed out that Jallianwala Bagh's Centenary celebrations in 2019 will be a good opportunity for the British to apologise for their shameful act. While talking about his book 'Era of darkness', he said that either the Prime Minister or a member of the Royal family can convey apologies for the incident as well as all the wrongs done by them during their 200 years rule.

Years have gone by, umpteen number of protests have taken place. The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre still continues to be a black spot in the history of India.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement