Harkirat Singh

Amritsar

Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 13, 1919 did not just send shock waves in Punjab and in the rest of the country giving rise to a feeling of nationalism but it also invoked sharp criticism even in England. Instead of retaining historic city of the martyrs’ place, Jallianwala Bagh seems to be becoming recreational spot.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Winston Churchill, who later became the Prime Minister of England, in his reaction to the massacre called it “a monstrous (act) which is singular and in sinister isolation. “Such reactions indicated that even who believed that British rule in India was justified, were shocked and disturbed and like Churchill many wanted Dyer to be recalled back to England.”Mahatma Gandhi in his reaction wrote, “We do not want to punish Dyer.

We have no desire for revenge. We want to change the system that produced Dyer.” The massacre deeply influenced the subsequent course of anti-imperialist struggle in the country and contributed in its way to strengthening of the forces that would pose a challenge to British rule in India and change the system of Dyer and company. These views were expressed by Prof K.L. Tuteja, a retired professor of history from the Kurukshetra University in his keynote address while speaking at an ICSSR conference, ‘Historical Writings on the Jallianwala Bagh (1919).’

The seminar was organised by the History Department of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU). In his address, Prof Tuteja did not agree with the views of those who described the massacre, as a ‘result of pre-mediated plan that was carefully planned in advance and executed on the occasion of Baisakhi.’ However, he agreed with the views of noted historian, Prof V.N. Datta who described the tragedy as a ‘confrontation between the ruler and the ruled’ that gave rise of a nationalist confrontation with the British Raj.’

Britishers view pointWhile there were persons like Winston Churchill who criticised the action of Brig Gen Reginald Dyer (then Colonel) for firing indiscriminately that left 379 dead and over 1,200 wounded (official figures _ on the lower side), then Lt Governor of Punjab in 1919, Michael O’Dwyer in his autography justified the firing as a ‘defensive measure to meet the challenges to British rule.’

Wave of nationalismIn his address, Prof Tuteja referred to the ‘satyagraha’ launched by Mahatma Gandhi against the draconian Rowlatt Act and the way this agitation spread to Punjab and brought the Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims on one platform to oppose this Act and giving way to a feeling of nationalism.

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