Viceroy at the time of Jallianwala Bagh?
VerifiedAnswer: Lord Chelmsford
Explanation:
Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India during one of the darkest chapters in Indian history - the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that took place on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab. Born as Frederic John Napier Thesiger, he served as the Viceroy from 1916 to 1921, making him the colonial administrator in charge during this tragic incident.
The massacre occurred during a period of intense political unrest following the implementation of the Rowlatt Act in 1919. This controversial law allowed the British government to imprison Indians without trial and was strongly opposed by Indian leaders and the general public. The act had sparked widespread protests across the country, and Punjab was particularly affected by the civil disobedience movement.
On that fateful day, thousands of people had gathered at Jallianwala Bagh, an enclosed garden with narrow exits, to peacefully protest against the Rowlatt Act and also to celebrate the Punjabi New Year festival of Baisakhi. Many attendees were unaware of the prohibitory orders that had been issued by the local administration banning public gatherings.
General Reginald Dyer, the local military commander, arrived at the scene with his troops and, without any warning, ordered his soldiers to open fire on the unarmed crowd. The shooting continued for about ten minutes, and hundreds of innocent people were killed while many more were injured. The exact number of casualties remains disputed, but it was undoubtedly a horrific loss of life.
As the Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford bore ultimate responsibility for the actions of British officials in India. While he did not directly order the massacre, his administration's harsh policies and the appointment of officials like General Dyer created the conditions that led to this tragedy. The incident severely damaged British credibility and marked a turning point in the Indian independence movement, galvanizing public opinion against colonial rule.
