Tag: civics

On April 13^th, 1919 in Amritsar, a large but peaceful crowd gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh. Some came to protest against the government's new repressive measures. Others had come to attend the annual Baisakhi fair. Being from the outside city, many villagers were unaware of the martial law that had been imposed. Dyer entered the area, blocked the exit points, and opened fire on the crowd killing hundreds.

The Sultan of Turkey, who was the Caliph was deprived of all authority. The Caliph was looked upon by large sections of Muslims as their religious head. They felt that any weakening of the Caliph's position would adversely affect the position of the Muslims.

Khilafat committee was organised in March 1919 in Bombay. A young generation of Muslim leaders like the brothers Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, began discussing with Mahatma Gandhi about the possibility of a united mass action on the issue. Gandhi saw this as an opportunity to brings Muslims under the umbrella of a united national movement.

Mahatma Gandhi, a follower of non-violence saw the spread of violence after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre because of which he called off the movement.

Thousands of students left government-controlled schools and colleges, headmasters and teachers resigned, and lawyers gave up their legal practices. The council elections were boycotted.

In 1920, Gandhiji started the Non-Cooperation Movement. He advised the people not to cooperate with the British, with a view to bring the administration to a standstill.

The peasant revolt in Awadh was led by the baba Ramchandra. This movement was against talukdars and landlords who demanded from peasants exorbitantly high rents and a variety of other cesses. Baba Ram Chandra was an Indian trade unionist who organised the farmers of Oudh into forming a united front to fight against the abuses of landlords in 1920s and 1930s.

A Congress procession of 3,300 peasants were fired upon by the police in Chauri Chaura at Gorakhpur. The angry crowd set the police station on fire , killing twenty two policemen. Gandhiji had always emphasised that the entire movement should be non-violent & peaceful. Since the movement became violent, Gandhiji withdrew the movement in 1922.

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, also known as the Amritsar massacre, took place on 13 April 1919 when a crowd of nonviolent protesters, along with Baishakhi pilgrims, who had gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab, were fired upon by troops of the British Indian Army under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer. The civilians had assembled to participate in the annual Baisakhi celebrations—both a religious and cultural festival for the Punjabis. Coming from outside the city, they may have been unaware of the martial law that had been imposed.