This Day in History: 13 April 2020
13 April 1919
101 years ago, today, hundreds of unarmed demonstrators were massacred by British and Gurkha troops in Amritsar, India's holy Sikh city. At least 379 demonstrators were killed, as they met at the Jallianwala Bagh, a city park. Most of those killed in this horrific massacre were Indian nationalists, who had met to protest against the British government's forced conscription of Indian soldiers, as well as the heavy war tax imposed against the Indians. Prior to this, in a response to an increase in protests, Amritsar was placed under martial law, under the control of British Brigadier General Reginald Dyer. He banned all meetings and gatherings in the city, but nevertheless, on April 13, on the day of the Sikh Baisakhi festival, tens of thousands of people came to the city to attend the city's traditions.
Unaware of the recent ban on public assemblies, thousands of visitors joined together at Jallianwala Bagh, where a nationalist demonstration was being held. Dyer's troops surrounded the park, and without any form of warning opened fire, killing several hundred, and wounding more than a thousand. Dyer admitted that this attack was ordered for its 'moral effect' on the people of Amritsar. However, the fact that his troops were made to continue the massacre until all their artillery were exhausted seems to go against his statement. Subsequently, Dyer was removed from his post, but the massacre did stir nationalist feelings across the nation, having the largest effect on Mohandas Gandhi. After the Amritsar Massacre, Gandhi became convinced that India should accept nothing less than full independence, after previously striving for partial autonomy. In an attempt to gain this, Gandhi organised his first campaign of mass civil disobedience against Britain's oppression.
Want to find out more about the atrocity that was the Amritsar Massacre? Click here for more information.
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