Unpacking the mind & motives that led to one of India's darkest days. Why it still matters.
Jallianwala Bagh. A name seared into India's memory. But beyond the headlines, what drove a British General to unleash such horror? And why does this nearly century-old event still resonate so deeply today?
Born in India, Colonel Reginald Dyer was a seasoned British army officer. His father had played a role in suppressing the 1857 uprising, a legacy that perhaps shaped his view of colonial authority and Indian dissent.
Imagine a law allowing arrests without warrants and detention without trial. The Rowlatt Act was exactly that, sparking outrage and widespread peaceful protests (Satyagraha) across India, led by Mahatma Gandhi.
Amritsar, a major city in Punjab, became a hub of anti-Rowlatt agitation. Hartals (strikes) paralyzed the city. The British government, unnerved, arrested prominent local leaders Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal.
News of the arrests triggered massive protests. The situation escalated; British bank buildings were attacked, and tragically, several Europeans were killed. The city plunged into chaos, setting the stage for a hardline response.
Brigadier-General Dyer arrived in Amritsar on April 11th with troops. He quickly imposed severe restrictions, including a ban on public gatherings and a curfew, aiming to crush any further dissent with an iron fist.
Dyer issued an infamous 'crawling order,' forcing Indians to crawl on their bellies along a street where an Englishwoman had been assaulted. This was designed not just for control, but for deep racial humiliation.
It was Baisakhi, a major Sikh festival. Thousands, including families with children, gathered peacefully in Jallianwala Bagh – a public garden enclosed by high walls with few narrow exits. Many were unaware of Dyer's ban on public assembly.
Around 4:30 PM, Dyer marched into the Bagh with Gurkha and Baluch riflemen. He strategically positioned his troops, blocking the main exit. No warning was given. No order to disperse was issued.
Dyer ordered his troops to fire directly into the densest parts of the unarmed crowd. For about ten minutes, 1,650 rounds were unleashed. The firing only stopped when ammunition was nearly exhausted.
The official British estimate was 379 dead and over 1,200 wounded. Indian National Congress figures were much higher, over 1,000 dead. Many jumped into a well within the Bagh to escape the bullets, only to perish there.
Dyer later stated his objective was not merely to disperse the crowd, but to 'produce a sufficient moral effect' throughout Punjab – to terrorize the population into submission. He saw it as punishing 'rebels'.
Testifying before the Hunter Commission of Inquiry, Dyer showed no remorse. He admitted he would have used machine guns if they could have fit through the narrow entrances. He believed he had 'saved' Punjab from a larger revolt.
A strict curfew was enforced. The wounded were left without medical aid overnight in the Bagh. Martial law subjected Amritsar to further brutalities, deepening the trauma.
The massacre sent shockwaves across India and the world. Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest. Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement, significantly boosting the freedom struggle.
In Britain, reactions were mixed. Winston Churchill condemned Dyer's actions in Parliament as 'monstrous'. Yet, many hailed him as a hero, the 'Saviour of the Punjab,' raising a substantial fund for him.
Though relieved of his command and forced into retirement, Dyer was never criminally prosecuted. He died in England in 1927, his name irrevocably linked to the atrocity he orchestrated.
Jallianwala Bagh was not an isolated incident of individual cruelty, but an extreme manifestation of the systemic violence, racial arrogance, and repressive policies inherent in the British Raj.
The massacre became a powerful symbol of British oppression and Indian sacrifice. It exposed the brutal reality of colonial rule and galvanized millions to fight for independence with renewed fervor.
Remembering Jallianwala isn't just about mourning a past tragedy. It's about understanding the dangers of unchecked power, the importance of dissent, and the enduring human quest for justice and dignity.