Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, a pivotal event in India’s struggle for independence, unfolded on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab, British India. The tragic incident occurred during the annual Baishakhi fair, as a large, peaceful crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to protest against the oppressive Rowlatt Act and the arrest of pro-independence leaders, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satya Pal.
In response to the peaceful assembly, Brigadier General R. E. H. Dyer, along with Gurkha and Sikh infantry regiments of the British Indian Army, surrounded the crowd. With no means of escape, Dyer ordered his troops to open fire on the unarmed civilians, continuing relentlessly even as people attempted to flee. The merciless shooting continued until the soldiers exhausted their ammunition.
The aftermath of the massacre was devastating, with estimates of the death toll ranging from 379 to over 1,500 individuals, and more than 1,200 others sustaining injuries, many of them severe. Despite the scale of the tragedy, the British government never formally apologized for the massacre, offering only a belated expression of “deep regret” in 2019.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre served as a wake-up call, prompting a re-evaluation of British colonial policies and fueling the Indian independence movement. The incident led to a loss of faith in British intentions among the Indian populace and intensified the call for self-rule.
The subsequent inquiry and the lack of accountability further fueled public outrage, culminating in the non-cooperation movement of 1920–22. The massacre underscored the brutality of British colonial rule and played a decisive role in shaping the course of India’s struggle for independence.
The memory of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre remains etched in the collective consciousness of the Indian nation, serving as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made in the fight for freedom.
