2019 marked the
100th anniversary of Rowlatt Satyagraha. Rowlatt Satyagraha was
launched by Mahatma Gandhi in March 1919 to oppose the draconian Rowlatt Act
which gave enormous powers to British Government in India to detain
revolutionary activists and
imprison them for 2 years without trials on the charges of
sedition.
In short, Rowlatt Act can be described as -
"No Appeal, No Vakil, No Dalil".
Topics Covered:
Why was Rowlatt Commitee formed?
After the end of First World War, Indians were hoping that the British
government would bring in major administrative reforms to meet the
expectations of Indian people. But the Government of India denied to
fulfill it's war time promises.
- The young Indians were unsatisfied with the proposed Montague-Chelmsford reforms.
- The Indian Muslims were worried about the fate of Khilafat and were unhappy with British government.
- Bengal, Maharashtra and Punjab, in particular witnessed outbreak of revolutionary activities, where people opted for violent means for freedom of India.
The Government of India wanted to suppress the voices of revolutionary
Indians and curb any revolutionary activities in the country which were
against the interest of British Government in India.
Thus, after the First World War was over, the Government of India
appointed a Sedition committee headed by Justice Sydney Rowlatt in 1918 to:
- Investigate the ‘revolutionary crimes’ in India and
- Suggest legislative measures for its suppression
What is Rowlatt Act and when it was passed?
On the recommendation of the Rowlatt committee, the Government in India
drafted two bills:
- Indian Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill No.1 of 1919
- Criminal law (Emergency Powers) Bill No. II of 1919
The purpose of these two bills was:
- To enable government to check anti-state activities
- To empower government with discretionary powers to deal with political crimes
Government of India presented the bills presented in the Imperial
Legislative Council. Though the bills were unanimously opposed by Indian
members in the Imperial Legislative Council, the government passed the
bill and was named as Anarchical and Revolutionary Crime Act.
Through enactment of Rowlatt Act, the Government of India wanted to assure
those in Britain who felt that Montague-Chelmsford reforms would affect
British interest in India.
Provisions of Rowlatt Act
The Rowlatt Act was a draconian act which gave arbitrary powers to British
government to suppress any revolutionary activities in India which may
hamper British interest in India.
As per the provisions of repressive Rowlatt Act, the Government of India
can amend Indian Penal Code (IPC):
1) To ensure security of state and
2) To short-circuit the process of law in dealing with revolutionary
crimes
The Rowlatt Act (Govt. of India Act No XI of 1919) “was formed to enable
an archical offences to be tried expeditiously before a strong court,
consisting of three High Court Judges, with no right to appeal.” It gave the powers of
preventive detention i.e., the arrest and confinement of those
suspected of acts threatening public safety, and to ask such people to
abstain from
any specified act. The Act also provided the authorities to detain
“dangerous” persons. It basically bestowed with Government the
emergency powers to deal with any situation viewed as
subversive.
Why Rowlatt Act is also called Black Act?
Rowlatt Act was also called as BLACK ACT as there no provision of appeal,
vakil or dalil.
It was a repressive act that was against the democratic rights of
people. The Rowlatt Bill totally denied civil liberties to Indians and
was also responsible for bringing Gandhi into active Indian
politics.
Rowlatt Satyagraha (1st March to 18th April, 1919)
Rowlatt Satyagraha was the first all India mass Satyagraha against
the British government and was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in March
1919. Gandhi suggested formation of Satyagraha Sabhas to protest
against this draconian law.
1) All India Hartal (30 Mar to 6th April, 1919):
An all India hartal was planned for 30 March 1919, which was put off
till 6th April 1919. Hartal was observed in Orissa, Assam, Madras,
Bombay and Bengal.
2) Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy (13 April 1919)
On the Baisakhi day of 13 April 1919, the police under
General Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering at
Jallianwala Bagh in Arnritsar, and killed an official estimate of 379
unarmed and, defenceless people. Subsequently, marital law was clamped,
and people were even made to crawl of their belly before
Europeans.
As a protest against the tragedy,
Rabindranath Tagore returned the Knighthood conferred by the
British crown.
3) Hunter commission (14th October, 1919)
Disorders Inquiry Committee or Hunter Commission was appointed by Edwin
Montague (Secretary of State for India) on 14th Oct, 1919 to investigate
into the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy.
4) Rowlatt Satyagraha was soon followed by the
Khilafat and Non-cooperation movements
which witnessed unprecedented public display of Hindu-Muslim solidarity.
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