Rowlatt Act Related question?
VerifiedAnswer: 19 March 1919
Explanation:
The Rowlatt Act was passed on 19 March 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi. This controversial legislation was officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, but it came to be called the Rowlatt Act after Sir Sidney Rowlatt, who chaired the committee that recommended these draconian measures.
The Act was introduced by the British colonial government to extend wartime emergency powers even after World War I had ended. It gave the government sweeping authority to arrest and detain suspects without trial for up to two years. The legislation also allowed trials without juries and permitted provincial governments to search homes and arrest people without warrants.
What made this date particularly significant was that all Indian members of the Imperial Legislative Council opposed the Act. Despite their unanimous opposition, the British members pushed it through using their majority. This blatant disregard for Indian opinion created widespread resentment across the country.
The passage of the Rowlatt Act on this date triggered a massive nationwide protest movement. Mahatma Gandhi called for a satyagraha (non-violent resistance) campaign against the Act, marking one of the first major organized protests under his leadership. The Indian population viewed the Act as a betrayal of their expectations for greater self-governance after supporting Britain during the war.
The Act's implementation led to several tragic incidents, most notably the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on 13 April 1919, where British forces opened fire on peaceful protesters. This event further intensified opposition to the Rowlatt Act and British rule in general, making 19 March 1919 a turning point in India's freedom struggle that ultimately contributed to the growth of the independence movement.
