Massacre in Amritsar - a history not taught in British schools

 


Known locally as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the massacre in Amritsar took place on April 13, 1919, during British colonial rule. It "remains a poignant symbol of the atrocities inflicted upon the Indian people under British colonial rule. This tragic event served as a pivotal moment in India's fight for independence, as it fueled the country's demand for self-rule and liberation from British oppression." 

"What happened on April 13, 1919? Thousands of peaceful Indian protestors had gathered to celebrate the spring festival of Baisakhi. The area was surrounded by walls on all sides and had only one narrow entrance. Without warning, Brigadier General Reginald Dyer, the British officer in-charge of the Amritsar region, marched into Jallianwala Bagh with fifty armed soldiers and ordered them to open fire on the crowd. The firing continued for approximately 10 minutes, killing at least 379 people and injuring over a thousand more. Men, women, and children were among the indiscriminate victims of this senseless act of violence."

"The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred during a time of significant political turmoil in India. The British colonial government had recently passed the Rowlatt Act in 1919, a highly controversial piece of legislation that granted the government the power to arrest and detain Indian citizens without trial. The Act caused widespread unrest and protests throughout the country, and in this context, a public gathering was organized at Jallianwala Bagh, a garden in Amritsar, to protest against the Act and show support for the leaders who had been arrested under its provisions." (Indian Times)

It is one of those chapters of history that are not taught in most British schools. 













































































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