History & Civics
With reference to the Rowlatt Act, describe briefly the following points :
(a) What was the Rowlatt Act?
(b) One cause of its passage.
(c) Reaction of the people to it.
Answer
(a) The British Government passed the Rowlatt Act in March, 1919 to crush any popular or revolutionary movement. It gave powers to the Government to arrest and to detain suspected persons and to search them without a warrant and to imprison them without a trial. Any person under this Act had no right to Appeal, Vakil and Dalil.
(b) The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 failed to satisfy Indian aspirations. The concessions granted were far below expectations. At the annual session in Amritsar, the Indian National Congress described these reforms as inadequate, unsatisfactory, and disappointing.
Fearing a mass agitation due to growing unrest, the British Government passed the Rowlatt Act as a preventive measure to suppress any future revolutionary movements.
(c) This Act was a blot on the self-respect of the Indians and their national honour. It was against all principles of justice and liberty, and it sent a wave of anger and unrest throughout the country. Gandhiji emerged as a prominent leader and launched a Satyagraha Movement against the Act. A new wave of enthusiasm gripped the nation. There were strikes everywhere, meetings were held, and processions were taken out. The people rose unitedly against this unjust law. A hartal was observed all over India on 6th April 1919. Gandhiji soon became an all-India leader. Although efforts were made to observe hartals peacefully, incidents of police brutality, rioting, violence, and firing occurred in Delhi, Calcutta, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, and other places, as a wave of anger engulfed the entire country.
Related Questions
What was the Communal Award?
Gandhiji introduced new ideals in politics and adopted novel methods to give a different direction to the National Movement. In this context, answer the following :
(a) Any two social reforms advocated by Mahatma Gandhi.
(b) His doctrine of Swadeshi.
(c) His doctrine of Non-violence.
The Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy still remains a great blot on the fair name of the British Government in India. In this context, explain the following points :
(a) Its impact on the British Government.
(b) Its impact on launching the Non-Cooperation Movement by the Indian National Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
With reference to the Non-Cooperation Movement started by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, explain the following :
(a) Resentment against the Rowlatt Act of 1919.
(b) Widespread agitations against the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy.