👉 One of the most brutal incidents of British rule in India
📅 Key Facts
- Date: 13 April 1919 (on Baisakhi)
- Place: Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar
- Ordered by: General Dyer
- Victims: Hundreds of unarmed Indians killed (official ~379; actual number much higher)
📖 Background
- British passed the Rowlatt Act (1919):
- Allowed arrest without trial
- Suppressed civil liberties
- Nationwide protests began under Mahatma Gandhi
- Punjab became a center of unrest
⚔️ The Incident
- Thousands gathered peacefully in Jallianwala Bagh
- The garden had narrow exits
- General Dyer:
- Blocked the exits
- Ordered troops to open fire without warning
- Firing continued for about 10 minutes
- People had no escape; many jumped into a well to save themselves
⚖️ Aftermath
- Widespread shock and anger across India
- British government set up Hunter Commission
- Dyer was criticized but not severely punished
📊 Impact & Significance
1. Turning Point in Freedom Struggle
- Ended Indian faith in British justice
2. Rise of Nationalism
- Strengthened the independence movement
3. Gandhi’s Reaction
- Launched Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)
4. Protest by Leaders
- Rabindranath Tagore returned his Knighthood in protest
🎯 Important Points for Exams
- Occurred on Baisakhi day
- No warning before firing
- Symbol of British brutality
- Key event leading to mass movements
🧠 One-Line Revision
👉 “Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919) was a brutal firing on peaceful Indians by General Dyer, which became a turning point in India’s freedom struggle.”