Question

How was the Rowlatt act opposed by the people in India? Explain with examples.

Answer 1

Hint: The Rowlatt Act was enacted by the British in 1919, it gave them undisputable power over Indian revolutionaries and even common citizens and allowed them to arrest anybody on mere suspicion.

Complete answer: The Rowlatt Act was also known as Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act 1919. It was enacted by the colonial government to discourage Indians from rising against them.
This act allowed the government to arrest any Indian on mere suspicion of sedition or revolt and such people could be detained for up to 2 years without any trial.
The act was passed on the recommendations of the Rowlatt Act committee chaired by a judge, Sir Sidney Rowlatt.

The Rowlatt Act faced intense backlash by Indians, it was widely condemned by Indian leaders and social revolutionaries and even the common people.
It’s important to know that in protest of the passing of the act many Indian leaders like Mohd Ali Jinnah, Madan Mohan Malviya and Mazhar Ulhaq, resigned from the council.
Gandhiji launched a nationwide hartal against Rowlatt Act on 6th April 1919 but later suspended it as it got violent.
The Jallianwalah Bagh massacre is also a very important and unfortunate event in the timeline of the Rowlatt Act. On 13th April 1919, more than a 1000 people had gathered at the bagh to peacefully protest against the Rowlatt Act, some were there to celebrate Baisakhi as well.
However, during this time Punjab was under martial law, which meant it was illegal for more than four people to collect at a place at once. General Dyer got to know of the peaceful protest, reached the location with his troops and open fired at the protestors, more than a 1000 innocents were killed that day.

Note: A Disorders Inquiry committee was set up, led by William Hunter, the hunter commission said it was unfortunate what happened at Jallianwalah Bagh, however it relieved Dyer of his duties and sent him back to England, this led to the Non-cooperation and Khilafat Movement. The British had to revoke the Rowlatt Act in 1922.