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Mahatma Gandhi And The Nationalist Movement
Question
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Describe people’s reactions to the Rowlatt Act of 1919.

Answer

(i) British Government introduced Montague-Chelmsford Reforms also known as the Government of India Act, 1919 to pacify the nationalists and Indian masses. This act armed the British Government with arbitrary powers and be use a reason of repression. The Government could arrest any person without reason, search any place without a warrant and imprison one without any trial.

(ii) This act could not meet the expectations and hopes of the Indian masses. These inadequate, unsatisfactory and illusory reforms disillusioned the Indians and spared them to widespread agitations.

(iii) On 8th April, 1919 an all India hartal was observed. Meetings were held throughout the country to show the popular disapproval of the Act and press gave full support to the mass agitation.

(iv) Gandhiji, who had formed a Satyagrah Sabha earlier, called for a country wide protest. Throughout the country, 6 April, 1919 was observed as a National Humiliation Day. There were demonstrations and strikes all over the country. The government resorted to brutal measures to put down the agitation and there were lathi charges and firings at a number of places.

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