Question

Explain Why Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act. - GK Q&A

Answer 1

Rowlatt Act (1919) – Causes of Outrage

• Indian leaders criticised the Rowlatt Act as tyrannical and “devilish”.
• Despite united opposition of Indian members, Rowlatt Act was passed hurriedly in the Imperial Legislative Council.
• Without trial for two years, the Rowlatt Act allowed detention of political prisoners.
• To repress political activities, the Government received enormous powers.
• Fundamental rights such as the freedom of expression was curbed by the Rowlatt Act.
• Rowlatt Act inordinately strengthened the powers of police.
• Government had no right to restrict people’s basic freedoms was the opinion of Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders.

Rowlatt Act Satyagraha – Motivating Factor behind Nationwide Satyagraha

• Gandhiji had successfully organised the Satyagraha movement in 1916 at Champaran (Bihar) to protest against oppressive plantation systems, in support of Peasants.
• Gandhiji had organised Satyagraha in 1917 at Kedia district (Gujarat), and in support of Cotton mill workers, Gandhiji had organised a Satyagraha in 1918 at Ahmedabad.

The Successes of the above Satyagrahas’ organised by Gandhiji strengthened his resolve to organise nationwideSatyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act. In 1919 Gandhiji gave a call for a satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act

Rowlatt Satyagraha – Unfolding of Events

• Satyagraha Sabhas were set up to launch the movement.
• To ensure a united fight against the British rule, the participants tried to ensure that Hindus and Muslims were united during the Rowlatt Satyagraha.
• Gandhiji requested Indian people to observe non-violent opposition to the Rowlatt Act, on 6th April 1919.
• It was asked to observe this day as a day of hartal (strike) and a day of “humiliation and prayer”
• The British Government used brutal measures to suppress hartals and demonstrations in India.
• The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Amritsar on 13th April (Baisakhi Day), inflicted by General Dyer was a part of this repression.
• Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood, to express the anger and pain of the country.

Rowlatt Satyagraha – Significance

• Rowlatt Satyagraha is very significant in our history because it turned out to be the first all-India struggle against the British government.
• However it was restricted to cities.