Question

“The Rowlatt Satyagraha turned out to be the first all-India struggle against the British

government although it was largely restricted to cities.” Discuss.​

Answer 1

Explanation:

In 1919 Gandhiji gave a call for satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act that the British had just passed.

• In 1919 Gandhiji gave a call for satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act that the British had just passed.The Act curbed fundamental rights such as the freedom of expression and strengthened police powers.Mahatma Gandhi, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and others felt that the government had no right to restrict people’s basic freedoms. They criticized the Act as “devilish” and tyrannical.Gandhiji asked the Indian people to observe 6 April 1919 as a day of non-violent opposition to this Act, as a day of “humiliation and prayer” and hartal (strike).Satyagraha Sabhas were set up to launch the movement. The Rowlatt Satyagraha turned out to be the first all-India struggle against the British government although it was largely restricted to cities.In April 1919 there were several demonstrations and hartals in the country and the government used brutal measures to suppress them. The Jallianwala Bagh atrocities, inflicted by General Dyer in Amritsar on Baisakhi day (13 April), were a part of this repression.