What Was the Rowlatt Act: History and Impact

What Was the Rowlatt Act? The Rowlatt Act was enacted by the British government to tighten their control over the general population. It was passed in March 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council, granting authorities the ability to detain individuals without trial. In response, Gandhi and other leaders organized a Hartal (work stoppage) to protest this law, known as the Rowlatt Satyagraha, to demonstrate Indian opposition to its enforcement.

The Rowlatt Committee, led by Sir Sidney Rowlatt, suggested it. Despite unanimous opposition from Indian council members, the law was passed, leading to the resignation of Madan Mohan Malviya, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and Mazhar ul Haq in protest. The implementation of the Rowlatt Act caused massive protests and ultimately ignited the Indian War for independence.

What was the Rowlatt Act? 

In 1919, the British colonial government enacted the Rowlatt Act in reaction to mounting discontent and nationalist movements in India. Designed to quell revolutionary activities and stifle the freedom struggle, this legislation conferred broad powers upon colonial authorities to arrest and detain individuals indefinitely without trial.

Purpose of the Rowlatt Act

The Rowlatt Act, officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, had a specific objective when it was enacted. Here are the key points regarding its purpose:

1. Empowering Colonial Authorities:

• It aimed to give them the legal authority to arrest and detain individuals suspected of sedition without trial.
• The Act provided the government with extensive powers to curb civil liberties and freedom of expression.

2. Suppressing Dissent and Political Opposition:

• The Act was a direct response to the growing nationalist upsurge in India.
• British authorities perceived a threat from revolutionary nationalists who might engage in conspiracies similar to those during the First World War.
• By granting powers for preventive indefinite detention, imprisonment without trial, and judicial review, the Act aimed to suppress any form of dissent and stifle political opposition to British rule.

3. Stricter Control and Repressive Measures:

• The Rowlatt Act introduced stricter control over various aspects:
  • Press Control: It provided for stricter control of the press.
    • Arrests Without Warrant
    • In-Camera Trials
    • Limited Rights for Accused
    • Restrictions Upon Release

Rowlatt Act – Origin

Certainly! Here’s a table outlining the timeline of the Rowlatt Act:

Event	Date	Details
Introduction of the Act	February 1919	The Rowlatt Act was introduced, based on the recommendations of the Rowlatt Committee.
Passage of the Act	18 March 1919	The Imperial Legislative Council passed the Rowlatt Act.
Act Came into Effect	21 March 1919	The act came into effect, extending emergency measures like indefinite detention without trial.
Arrest of Congress Leaders	10 April 1919	Dr. Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew were arrested, leading to strong protests in Punjab.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre	13 April 1919	British troops fired on a large crowd in Amritsar, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries.
Rowlatt Satyagraha	6 April 1919	Mahatma Gandhi called for a nationwide protest against the Rowlatt Act.
Repeal of the Act	1922	The Rowlatt Act was repealed by The Special Laws Repeal Act.

Key Features of the Rowlatt Act

The British government, alarmed by the specter of terrorism and revolutionary movements, viewed the Rowlatt Act as a tool to suppress these perceived threats. However, this legislation faced widespread criticism from Indians due to its harsh measures:

• The Act suspended fundamental civil liberties.
• It allowed the detention without trial of alleged political agitators for up to 2 years.
• It prohibited appeals against such administrative detentions.
• The Act sanctioned trials by magistrates without juries in sedition cases, significantly undermining judicial transparency and fairness.
• It imposed stricter censorship, regulated extremist publications, and imposed restrictions on public gatherings.

Effects of the Rowlatt Act

During India’s struggle for independence, which marked the Gandhian era in its political history, the Rowlatt Act had significant impacts:

• Organized hartals and strikes paralyzed railroads and closed shops.
• Indian leaders and officials were arrested and detained.
• British officers fired upon a peaceful rally in Amritsar.
• Martial law was imposed.

Among various Indian leaders, Mahatma Gandhi openly condemned the Act, arguing against penalizing innocent country folk for individual political offenses. In protest, Madan Mohan Malaviya and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, representing the All-India Muslim League, resigned from the Imperial Legislative Council. This action sparked outrage among other Indian politicians and the general public, leading the government to resort to oppressive measures. Gandhi and his followers believed that constitutional opposition to the Act would be ineffective, prompting them to stage a hartal on April 6, 1915.

The Rowlatt Satyagraha

The Rowlatt Satyagraha, led by Mahatma Gandhi, emerged as a significant response to the oppressive Rowlatt Act, marking a pivotal moment in India’s quest for independence. It represented the first large-scale, organized application of non-violent civil disobedience against British rule.

Under Gandhi’s leadership, the movement advocated disciplined protests such as hartals (strikes), economic boycotts, and non-cooperation. It garnered enthusiastic support from the Indian populace and witnessed widespread participation across all segments of society. The Rowlatt Satyagraha underscored the unity of purpose among Indians in their struggle against colonial oppression.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

• Punjab witnessed riots and protests against the Rowlatt Act, prompting the imposition of martial law, which restricted assemblies to fewer than four people.
• Michael O’Dwyer served as the Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab during this turbulent period, while Lord Chelmsford held the position of Viceroy of India.
• On April 13, 1919, during the Baisakhi festival at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, General Dyer and his troops arrived and blocked the garden’s narrow entrance.
• Without warning, Dyer ordered his troops to open fire on the unarmed crowd, which included children and pilgrims celebrating Baisakhi.
• The indiscriminate firing continued for about 10 minutes until the troops exhausted 1,650 rounds of ammunition, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,000 people and injuring more than 1,500 others.

The Aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

• This tragic event shattered Indian faith in the British justice system and drew widespread condemnation from national leaders.
• Despite criticism from figures like Winston Churchill and H.H. Asquith, General Dyer received appreciation from some quarters in Britain and British India.
• The British government established the Hunter Commission to investigate the massacre, which condemned Dyer’s actions but did not impose disciplinary measures against him.
• Dyer was relieved of his army duties in 1920, and in protest against the massacre and British justice failures, Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood and Mahatma Gandhi relinquished his title ‘Kaiser-e-hind’.
• In 1940, Udham Singh, who witnessed the massacre as a child, assassinated Michael O’Dwyer in London as an act of revenge against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Impact of Rowlatt Satyagraha

1. Repeal of the Rowlatt Act:
   • In 1920, British authorities repealed the Rowlatt Act due to relentless protests.
   • Although considered belated, this move was seen as a victory for civil liberties and encouraged further freedom struggle.
2. Elevation of Gandhi as a mass leader:
   • The Rowlatt Satyagraha established Gandhi’s leadership.
   • His ability to unite millions of Indians across barriers of religion, class, and caste through nonviolent civil disobedience was unparalleled.
   • Supporting the Muslim cause also contributed to his eventual leadership in the NCM-Khilafat Movement.
3. Changed nature of freedom struggle:
   • Realizing constitutional means alone wouldn’t work, nationalists shifted toward mass agitations and non-cooperation.
   • The Rowlatt Strike paved the way for Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920.
4. Exposed British repression:
   • The brutal suppression of peaceful protests, including the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, revealed the authoritarian nature of British rule.
   • It galvanized opposition and changed perceptions about British authority.
5. International Attention:
   • Foreign press widely reported the British response and the disciplined Indian nationwide strike.
   • This evoked sympathy and damaged Britain’s international credibility.

Revocation of the Rowlatt Act

• Indian leaders, both inside and outside the legislative councils, strongly opposed the Rowlatt Act.
• The Jallianwala Bagh massacre in April 1919, during which British troops fired upon peaceful protesters, inflamed public outrage and heightened calls for the Act’s abolition.
• Eventually, in 1922, sustained protests and pressure from Indian nationalists led to the repeal of the Act.

The Rowlatt Act in Educational Context

The Class 10 curriculum focuses on the rise of Indian nationalism. The Rowlatt Act is a prime example of how British policies fueled these sentiments. It shows the growing tension between British rule and the Indian people’s desire for self-governance.

What was the Rowlatt Act of 1919 MCQs?

Here are some multiple-choice questions (MCQs) related to the Rowlatt Act of 1919:

1. When was the Rowlatt Act passed?
   • (A) 1942
   • (B) 1930
   • (C) 1919
   • (D) 1909
     
2. The Rowlatt Act aimed at ________.
   • (A) Imposition of restrictions on freedom of the press
   • (B) Suppression of the Khilafat Movement
   • (C) Imprisonment without trial and summary procedures for trial
   • (D) Compulsory economic support to war efforts
     
3. During the Indian Freedom Struggle, why did the Rowlatt Act arouse popular indignation?
   • (A) It curbed the trade union activities
   • (B) It authorized the Government to imprison people without trial
   • (C) It suppressed the traditional Indian education
   • (D) It curtailed the freedom of religion
     
4. The Rowlatt Act was passed to ________.
   • (A) Put Second World War criminals on trial
   • (B) Have a favourable ‘Balance of Trade’
   • (C) Curtail the National and Revolutionary Activities
   • (D) Bring about Agrarian Reforms
     
5. Who was the Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was passed?
   • (A) Lord Wavell
   • (B) Lord Chelmsford
   • (C) Lord Reading
   • (D) Lord Irwin

2. What was the Rowlatt Act? class 12

The Rowlatt Act of 1919 isn’t just another historical tidbit in your Class 12 curriculum. It’s a turning point that shaped the Indian independence movement. Here’s why it matters:

• Colonial Control: It exposes British methods of suppressing dissent, giving context to future events.
• Nationalist Shift: The Act’s harshness showcases how outrage united Indians against colonial rule.
• Gandhi’s Rise: This event highlights Gandhi’s emergence as a leader advocating non-violent resistance.
• A Catalyst: Studying the Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre helps understand the growing momentum for freedom.
• Exam Prep: Grasping this event’s significance strengthens your understanding of the independence movement and prepares you for Class 12 exams.

The Rowlatt Act is more than a fact; it unlocks a deeper understanding of the fight for freedom and its lasting impact on India.

Most of the time, this question is asked in class 12:

Ques: What was the Rowlatt Act? (4) marks

Ans: The British government in colonial India passed a piece of legislation in 1919 known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, but more popularly called the Rowlatt Act. Here are the key points about the Rowlatt Act:

1. Enactment: The Rowlatt Act came into effect on March 10, 1919. They named it after its president, Sir Sidney Rowlatt.
2. Provisions: The Act authorized the British government to imprison any person suspected of terrorism in British India for up to two years without a trial. It also allowed for stricter control of the press, arrests without warrants, indefinite detention without trial, and juryless in-camera trials for proscribed political acts.
3. Impact: The Act sparked widespread outrage among Indians, leading to a series of protests and strikes known as the Rowlatt Satyagraha. This movement marked the first large-scale application of Mahatma Gandhi’s technique of non-violent civil disobedience at a national level.
4. Repeal: The Rowlatt Act was eventually repealed in 1922 due to public pressure and opposition from Indian leaders. However, the national movement that it sparked continued to grow, eventually leading to India’s independence in 1947.

Conclusion

In this What Was the Rowlatt Act, the Act passed by the British colonial administration in 1919, provoked resentment among Indians because of its repressive measures that limited civil freedoms. The enactment of the act and its ramifications heightened India’s quest for independence, sparking rallies, marches, and a united movement against British rule. The event’s significance stems from its position as a spark for the nationalist movement, revealing the harsh nature of colonial rule and inspiring Indians to aspire for independence.

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