Rowlatt Satyagraha of 1919 - All You Need To Know

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:

1) Why was Rowlatt Committee formed?

2) What is Rowlatt Act and when it was passed?

3) Provisions of Rowlatt Act

4) Why was Rowlatt Act called Black Act?

5) Rowlatt Satyagraha and its outcome

Pitt's India Act of 1784

Pitts India Act was passed in August,1784 to rectify the defects of Regulation Act of 1773. The purpose of the act was to bring public affairs of the East India Company and its administration in India under the direct control of British Government.

Charter Acts of 1833 and Charter Act of 1853

Features and provisions of Charter Acts of 1833 and Charter Act of 1853

Charter Act of 1833 made Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor General of India who was given exclusive legislative powers and other provinces of Madras and Bombay were stripped of its legislative powers. With the Charter Act of 1833, the commercial activities of East India Company came to an end the Company became purely an administrative body.

Charter Act of 1853 extended the life of East India Company but did not specify the time period for extension and it differentiated the Governor-General's Council into Executive Council and a Legislative Council of 6 members.

Regulating Act of 1773

Regulating Act of 1773 made Governor of Bengal as the Governor General of Bengal and brought the Governors of Bombay and Madras presidencies under the control of Governor General of Bengal and his 4 members Executive Council.

The Court of Directors of the East India Company had to report all the civil and military matters of Bengal and the revenue of the company in India to the British Parliament.