National Movements in India — Social Science STD 9 — Question
Gujarat BoardEnglish MediumSTD 9Social ScienceNational Movements in India3 Marks
Question
Write short note : Rowlatt Act
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Answer
With a view to suppress the mounting discontent among the people of India, the British government enacted the Rowlatt Act in 1919.
The Act provided unlimited power to the government to arrest any person under the pretext of threat to peace, security, law and order and detain the person indefinitely without trial
Restrictions were imposed on freedom of speech and assembly.
Due to its draconian provisions, Gandhiji had condemned the Rowlatt Act as the “Black Act" Pandit Motilal Nehru described it as ‘snatching away of arguments, appeal and advocacy.
Gandhiji appealed to the people of India to observe a day's ‘Hartal’ to protest against the Rowlatt Act.
There was overwhelming support to Gandhiji’s appeal. Many processions were taken out and public meetings were organised to condemn the Act.
Gandhiji was prohibited from entering Punjab. Dr Satyapal and Dr Saifuddin Kitchlu were arrested. In protest of this arbitary action, a public meeting was organised at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on 13th April, 1919 (wrongly given in the textbook as 13th March, 1919) leading to the infamous Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
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