What were the major developments during the year 1918-1920 which affected the course of the Indian Freedom Movement?
1. There was widespread discontent throughout the country. In the midst of this discontent, the government resorted to new measures of the repression. In March 1919, the Rowlatt Act was passed. This was based on the report of the Rowlatt Commission. The Assembly had opposed it. Many leaders who were members of the Assembly, resigned in protest. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, in his letter of resignation, said “The government that passes or sanctions such a law in times of peace forfeits its claim to be called a civilized government.” It empowered the government to put people in jails without any trial. The passing of this Act aroused the indignation of the people. The new measures of repression were condemned as Black Act.
2. 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. All business throughout the country came to a standstill. Such protests of a united
people had never been witnessed at any time in India before. The government resorted to brutal measures to put down the agitation and there were lathi charges and firings at a number of places.
3. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre : In the midst of the repression, a ghastly massacre took place at Amritsar. On 10th April, 1919, two nationalist leaders Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew were arrested. There is a small park in Amritsar called of Jallianwala Bagh. The park is enclosed on three sides by high walls. A narrow
lane leads to the park. On 13th April, people gathered there to protest against the arrest of the two leaders. The meeting was peaceful. There were many old men, women and children in the meeting. Suddenly a British Military officer, General Dyer entered the park with his troops. Without even giving a warning to the people to disperse, he ordered his troops to open fire. The troops fired at the unarmed crowd for ten minutes. In those ten minutes, about four hundreds persons were killed and many more wounded.
