www.gradeup.co
, www.gradeup.co
INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT (1920-1939)
During the period of 1919-22, the British were opposed through 2 mass movements; they
were, Khilafat & Non-Cooperation Movement. Though these two movements emerged from
separate issues, they adopted a common programme of action- that of non-violent non-
cooperation. The khilafat issue was not directly linked to Indian political issues, but it
provided the immediate background to the Movement and gave an added advantage of
cementing Hindu-Muslim unity against the British. In 1919, in this, particularly all sections
of Indians saw a strong feeling of discontent for several reasons such as:
• The economic situation of the country in the post-war years had become alarming
with the increase of prices of commodities, a decrease in the production of Indian
industries, rise in the burden of taxes and rents etc.
• The Rowlatt Act, the imposition of martial law in Punjab and the Jallianwala Bagh
massacre exposed the brutal and uncivilized face of foreign rule.
• The Hunter Committee on the Punjab atrocities proved to be an eyewash. The
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms with their ill-conceived scheme of diarchy got failed to
fulfil the increasing demand of Indians for self-government/individual government.
Rowlatt Act (1919)
• In 1917, a committee was made under the leadership of Sir Sydney Rowlatt to look
into the militant Nationalist activities
• Rowlatt Act came into effect by March 1919 by the Central Legislative Council
• It is due to this Act, and any person could be arrested on the basis of suspicion.
• No appeal or petition could be applied against such kind of arrests.
• This Act was known by the name the Black Act & it was largely contrasted.
• An All-India hartal was arranged on 6th April 1919.
• Several meetings were held around the whole country.
• M.K, Gandhi was detained near Delhi.
• Two important leaders of Punjab, Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr Satya Pal were
detained in the Amritsar (in Punjab).
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13th April 1919)
• The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre took place on 13th April 1919 & it remained a major
point in the history of freedom movement of India.
• In Punjab, there was unparalleled support to the Rowlatt Satyagraha
• Facing an extreme situation, the Punjab government handed over the administration to
the military officials under General Dyer.
• He banned entire public meetings & detained the political leaders.
• On 13th April, the Baisakhi day,i.e. harvest festival, a public meeting was organized at
the Jallianwala Bagh (garden).
• Dyer marched in & without any warning opened fire on the crowd.
• The firing continued for about 10-15 minutes & it got stopped only after the
ammunition exhausted
• According to the official Report, 379 people were killed & 1137 wounded in the
incident.
• Rabindranath Tagore rejected his knighthood as a sign of protest.
, www.gradeup.co
INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT (1920-1939)
During the period of 1919-22, the British were opposed through 2 mass movements; they
were, Khilafat & Non-Cooperation Movement. Though these two movements emerged from
separate issues, they adopted a common programme of action- that of non-violent non-
cooperation. The khilafat issue was not directly linked to Indian political issues, but it
provided the immediate background to the Movement and gave an added advantage of
cementing Hindu-Muslim unity against the British. In 1919, in this, particularly all sections
of Indians saw a strong feeling of discontent for several reasons such as:
• The economic situation of the country in the post-war years had become alarming
with the increase of prices of commodities, a decrease in the production of Indian
industries, rise in the burden of taxes and rents etc.
• The Rowlatt Act, the imposition of martial law in Punjab and the Jallianwala Bagh
massacre exposed the brutal and uncivilized face of foreign rule.
• The Hunter Committee on the Punjab atrocities proved to be an eyewash. The
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms with their ill-conceived scheme of diarchy got failed to
fulfil the increasing demand of Indians for self-government/individual government.
Rowlatt Act (1919)
• In 1917, a committee was made under the leadership of Sir Sydney Rowlatt to look
into the militant Nationalist activities
• Rowlatt Act came into effect by March 1919 by the Central Legislative Council
• It is due to this Act, and any person could be arrested on the basis of suspicion.
• No appeal or petition could be applied against such kind of arrests.
• This Act was known by the name the Black Act & it was largely contrasted.
• An All-India hartal was arranged on 6th April 1919.
• Several meetings were held around the whole country.
• M.K, Gandhi was detained near Delhi.
• Two important leaders of Punjab, Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr Satya Pal were
detained in the Amritsar (in Punjab).
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13th April 1919)
• The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre took place on 13th April 1919 & it remained a major
point in the history of freedom movement of India.
• In Punjab, there was unparalleled support to the Rowlatt Satyagraha
• Facing an extreme situation, the Punjab government handed over the administration to
the military officials under General Dyer.
• He banned entire public meetings & detained the political leaders.
• On 13th April, the Baisakhi day,i.e. harvest festival, a public meeting was organized at
the Jallianwala Bagh (garden).
• Dyer marched in & without any warning opened fire on the crowd.
• The firing continued for about 10-15 minutes & it got stopped only after the
ammunition exhausted
• According to the official Report, 379 people were killed & 1137 wounded in the
incident.
• Rabindranath Tagore rejected his knighthood as a sign of protest.
