Rowlatt Act 1919

• It was an extension of the Defence of India Regulation Act, 1915.
• It was officially called the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act.
• It was based on the recommendation of the Rowlatt Commission headed by the British judge, Sydney Rowlatt, to investigate the seditious conspiracy of the Indian people.
• Enacted by the Imperial Legislative Council in 1919.
• It authorised the British government to arrest anybody suspected of terrorist activities.
• It also authorised the government to detain such people arrested for up to 2 years without trial
• It allowed political activists to be tried without juries or even imprisoned without trial.
• It empowered the police to search for a place without a warrant.
• It also placed severe restrictions on the freedom of the press.
• The act was passed despite unanimous opposition from the Indian members of the Council, all of whom resigned in protest.
• These members were Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Madan Mohan Malviya and Mazhar Ul Haq.
• Through this act, wartime restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly were also reimposed.

Rowlatt Satyagraha

• In response to this act, a nationwide hartal was called by Gandhiji on 6th April, 1919.
• Gandhiji organised a Satyagraha Sabha and roped in younger members Home Rule League and the Pan Islamists.
• The movement was cancelled by Gandhiji when it was marred by rioting in some provinces, particularly in Punjab where the situation was grim.
• The British government’s primary intention was to repress the growing nationalist movement in the country.
• The protest was very intense when the act came into effect and the army was called in Punjab to tackle the situation.
• Two popular Congress leaders Satya Pal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew were also arrested.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

• The situation in Punjab was alarming as there were riots and protests against the Rowlatt Act.
• Punjab was put under martial law which meant that it became unlawful for more than 4 people to assemble at a place.
• The Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab at that time was Michael O’Dwyer and Lord Chelmsford was India’s Viceroy.
• On the day of the festival of Baisakhi on 13^th April 1919 in Jallianwala Bagh, a crowd of non-violent protests had gathered to celebrate Baisakhi.
• General Reginald Dyer came there with his troops and blocked the only narrow entrance to the garden.
• Then, without warning, he ordered his troops to fire at the unarmed crowd which included children as well.
• In this indiscriminate firing nearly a thousand people were dead and many were injured.
• This tragedy came as a rude shock to Indians and totally destroyed their faith in the British system of justice.
• National leaders condemned the act and Dyer unequivocally.
• In protest against the massacre Rabindranath Tagore gave up his knighthood and Gandhiji relinquished his title ‘Kaiser-e-hind’ bestowed on him by the British for his services during the Boer War in South Africa.
• Udham Singh, later assassinated Micheal O’Dwyer , who presided over the brutal attack.
• Udham Singh was hanged in 1940 for his deed.

Hunter Committee

• Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India ordered the formation of an inquiry committee.
• In October 1919, the Government of India announced the formation of the Disorder Inquiry Committee-known as the Hunter Committee.
• The Committee was named after the then Solicitor General for Scotland-Lord William Hunter.
• Other notable members were Sir Chimanlal Setavad, Pandit Jagat Narayan and Sardar Sahibzada Sultan Ahmed Khan.
• The Committee did not impose any disciplinary action because Dyer’s actions were condoned by varioussuperiors.
• Also, before the Hunter Committee began its proceedings, the government had passed an Indemnity Act for the protection of its officers.