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Rowlatt Act 1919 or Rowlatt Satyagraha is one of the most controversial legislative bills enacted by the British government to curtail the civil liberties of Indian people in the early twentieth century. It transformed the Indian national movement and gave prominence to India’s fiercest freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi. This bill unearthed several protests across India and also led to the most horrifying event in Indian history: the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Rowlatt Act is covered in UPSC and is a major topic in many other India’s competitive exams. If you are a history enthusiast then keep reading because, in this blog, we are going to cover one of the most essential events of modern Indian history.
This Blog Includes:
- What is the Rowlatt Act 1919?
- Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
- Timeline of Rowlatt Act
- Non-Cooperation Movement
- Khilafat Movement
- Rowlatt Act PPT
- Books on British India and the Rowlatt Act for UPSC
- Short Note on the Rowlatt Act for UPSC
- Rowlatt Act Notes PDF for UPSC
- Important Questions for Rowlatt Act Class 10
- Rowlatt Satyagraha/Rowlatt Act UPSC Questions
- FAQs
Also Read: Non-Cooperation Movement: Features, Causes and Results
What is the Rowlatt Act 1919?
The Rowlatt Act or Rowlatt Satyagraha (famously known as the Black Act) refers to the draconian law passed by the British government in March 1919. It is officially called the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act and gave enormous power to the British government and police to arrest anyone suspected of seditious activities. It was meant to replace the emergency law called the Defence of India Act 1915. The Black Act was drafted by a committee headed by a British Judge, Sir Sydney Rowlatt to curb the growing movement of nationalism in India.
| British Bill | Rowlatt Act/ Rowlatt Satyagraha(Black Act} |
| Enacted | 1919 |
| Drafted | Sir Sydney Rowlatt |
| Objective | The act gave the government authority to arrest any suspected person without a warrant and detain him/her for up to 2 years without a trial. The act took away people’s right to legal discourse and suspended the constitutional right to habeas corpus. The Rowlatt act as an extension of the emergency law in the aftermath of the First World War. The act also meant severe limitations on the free press and gave the police undue right to search public and private spaces without a warrant. An indefinite ban on public gatherings of any nature. |
| Provisions | The act gave the government authority to arrest any suspected person without a warrant and detain him/her for up to 2 years without a trial. The act took away people’s right to legal discourse and suspended the constitutional right to habeas corpus. The Rowlatt act as an extension of the emergency law in the aftermath of the First World War. The act also meant severe limitations on the free press and gave the police undue right to search public and private spaces without a warrant. An indefinite ban on public gatherings of any nature. |
| Public Response | Mahatma Gandhi launched a nationwide satyagraha (peaceful civil disobedience movement) against the Rowlatt Act on 6th April 1919. |
| Impact | Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and withdrawal of Rowlatt Act in 1922 |
Read more about the different satyagraha movements across India during the freedom movement by clicking the links below.
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Rowlatt Act and Its Impact
- The Rowlatt Act gave the government authority to arrest any suspected person without a warrant and detain him/her for up to 2 years without a trial.
- The act took away people’s right to legal discourse and suspended the constitutional right to habeas corpus.
- The Rowlatt act as an extension of the emergency law in the aftermath of the First World War.
- The act also meant severe limitations on the free press and gave the police the undue right to search public and private spaces without a warrant.
- An indefinite ban on public gatherings of any nature.
Despite massive opposition by the unofficial Indian members to the Act, the legislative assembly made the notorious bill into law on 18 March 1919. Many Indian leaders like Mohammad Ali Jinnah resigned from the legislative assembly and criticised the dictatorship of the British Power and the lack of constitutional rights for the Indian citizens. The act further alienated Indian citizens, especially the people of Punjab who had gallantly fought along with the British army in the First World War (1914 to 1918).
In protest, Mahatma Gandhi launched a nationwide satyagraha (peaceful Civil Disobedience Movement) against the Rowlatt Act on 6th April 1919. Millions of Indians supported the movement. In various parts of India, the movement turned violent and riots broke out. The situation in Punjab province was the worst, the British government declared martial law in the province and Mahatma Gandhi called off the movement. As the protest turned violent, many prominent Congress leaders were arrested like Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew. In Punjab, martial law dictated that no more than 4 people were allowed to assemble in the province.
Read about the different nationwide satyagraha movements by clicking the links below.
Also Read: Salt Satyagraha
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre took place on 13th April 1919 on the day of Baisakhi when a large group of men, women, and children unaware of martial law decided to assemble in the park. A peaceful protest was organized against the Rowlatt Act and the wrongful arrest of Congress leaders in India. Without any warning, General Dyer ordered its men to block all entrances and to open fire on the peaceful gathering. This massacre took 400 civilian lives and injured 1200.
The incident created a rift between the Indian people and the British government. Despite a massive outcry, no action was taken against the perpetrators of the heinous crime. The massacre at Amritsar was a turning point in the Indian national movement as the moderate leaders lost faith in the fairness of the British regime. The Hunter Commission was set up to investigate the event and condemned the actions of General Dyer yet no concrete punishment was issued against the General behind the most brutal killings in modern India.
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Hunter Commission
To investigate the Jallianwala Bagh incident, the British government constituted the Hunter Commission. Details of this committee are given below:
- On October 14, 1919, the Disorders Inquiry Committee was formed by the Indian Government.
- After Lord William Hunter, the committee was named the Hunter Commission. It also had Indian members.
- In the final report submitted in March 1920, the committee unanimously condemned Dyer’s actions.
- The Hunter Committee did not impose any penal or disciplinary action against General Dyer.
Nationalist Response
As a protest to the inhuman response of the Hunter Commission, the Nationalist faction of the Indian National Congress undertook the following initiatives:
- Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest.
- Mahatma Gandhi gave up the title of Kaiser-i-Hind, bestowed by the British for his work during the Boer War.
- Gandhi was overwhelmed by the atmosphere of total violence and withdrew from the movement on April 18, 1919.
- The Indian National Congress appointed its own non-official committee that included Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das, Abbas Tyabji, M.R. Jayakar, and Gandhi to look into the shootings.
- Congress put forward its own view. This view criticized Dyer’s act as inhuman and also said that there was no justification for the introduction of martial law in Punjab.
Read More About the Education of Rabindra Nath Tagore, His Early Life and Works Here!
Timeline of Rowlatt Act
To understand this lethal legislation, it is essential to understand the events that led to the imposition of this Act. Furthermore, it is also imperative to know about the incidents that succeeded in the implementation of the act. To understand the chronology, let us have a look at the important events:
| Date | Event of Rowlatt Act for UPSC |
| 1917 | The Government of India appointed a committee headed by Justice Sydney Rowlatt to investigate ‘seditious activities’ in India and bring out measures to curb the revolution. |
| 1919 | In March 1919, the British government passed the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, popularly called the Rowlatt Bill despite popular opposition. |
| 1919 | In April 1919, in opposition to the draconian law that threatened the civil liberties of the Indians, Mahatma Gandhi launched nationwide satyagraha. |
| 1919 | Mahatma Gandhi cancelled the nationwide hartal as the movement grew violent. Riots broke out in India and Punjab was the worst hit, it was put under Martial Law. On 13th April 1919, the traumatic Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place, a group of peaceful protestors gathered in the park and Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, Michael O’Dwyer opened fire and killed hundreds and injured thousands of people. |
| October 1919 | Mahatma Gandhi cancelled the nationwide hartal as the movement grew violent. Riots broke out in India and Punjab was the worst hit, it was put under Martial Law. On 13th April 1919, the traumatic Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place, a group of peaceful protestors gathered in the park and Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, Michael O’Dwyer opened fire and killed hundreds and injured thousands of people. |
| 1922 | Rowlatt Act was repealed by Lord Reading |
Also, Read About the Government of India Act 1919!
Non-Cooperation Movement
The Non-cooperation Movement was launched in 1920 on 5th September. It was led by Mahatma Gandhi & focused on abolishing the use of British products, declining or resigning from British posts, and educational institutions, and prohibiting government regulations, courts, etc. The movement was non-violent & launched to withdraw the nation’s cooperation after the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre & Rowlatt Act. Mahatma Gandhi stated India could achieve independence within a year if this movement was a success. It was the transition of individuals to a mass movement. Non-cooperation was focused on getting full independence also known as Purna Swaraj. To know more, read our blog on the Non-Cooperation Movement.
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Khilafat Movement
Two movements that were initiated to oppose British rule in India during the fight for Indian Independence were the Khilafat and the Non-cooperation Movements. Both of the movements followed non-violent acts. While there were many reasons behind the movements, one major reason behind the Khilafat movement was when the religious head of Muslims who was the sultan of Turkey was killed by Britishers. The Khilafat movement was led by Maulana Mohammed Ali and Maulana Shaukat Ali, Maulana Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Hasrat Mohani. This movement united Hindus and Muslims as the leaders of the Khilafat movement joined the non-cooperation movement.
Rowlatt Act PPT
Books on British India and the Rowlatt Act for UPSC
As the history of East India Company, the crown rule, and the freedom movement are integral to Indian history, the Rowlatt Act is an important topic for the UPSC CSE examination. Here are some books for UPSC aspirants, which will help you understand India’s struggle for independence in detail:
| Books | Buy Here |
| The British in India: A Social History of the Raj | Click Here |
| The Last Mughal by William Dalrymple | Click Here |
| Inglorious Empire by Shashi Tharoor | Click Here |
| The History of British India by James Mill | Click Here |
| An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India | Click Here |
| The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience | Click Here |
Read All About the Popular Struggles and Movements of India Here!
Short Note on the Rowlatt Act for UPSC
Rowlatt Act is one of the most controversial legislative bills enacted by the British government to curtail the civil liberties of Indian people in the early twentieth century. It transformed the Indian national movement and gave prominence to India’s fiercest freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi. This bill unearthed several protests across India and also led to the most horrifying event in Indian history: the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. The act created a ripple effect in India and gave the government authority to arrest any suspected person without a warrant and detain him/her for up to 2 years without a trial. It took away people’s right to legal discourse and suspended the constitutional right to habeas corpus. The Rowlatt act as an extension of the emergency law in the aftermath of the First World War. Indians who had gallantly fought in the First World War were subjected to severe limitations like a ban on the free press, the right to search public and private spaces without a warrant, and an indefinite ban on public gatherings of any nature.
Download the Indian National Movement Notes PDF by Clicking Here!
Rowlatt Act Notes PDF for UPSC
Here is a PDF for the above-mentioned Rowlatt Act notes-
Important Questions for Rowlatt Act Class 10
Students of Class 10 can practice the following questions for their Civics examination:
- What was the Rowlatt Act and why was it imposed?
- In which session of the Indian National Congress was the demand for ‘Puma Swaraj’ formalized?
- Who had designed the ‘Swaraj Flag’ by 1921? Explain the main features of the ‘Swaraj Flag’.
- What type of flag was designed during the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal? Explain its main features.
- Discuss the incidence of Jallianwala Bagh.
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Rowlatt Satyagraha/Rowlatt Act UPSC Questions
We have compiled some important questions related to events leading up to and after the implementation of the Rowlatt Law for UPSC aspirants.
The Rowlatt Act was introduced in the year 1919 by the British government and on the recommendation of the Rowlatt Committee formed in 1917.
In March 1919, the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act was passed. It was more popularly known as the Rowlatt Act or the Black Act in India.
The Rowlatt Act was introduced at the Imperial Legislative Council of Delhi on 10th March 1919.
Mahatma Gandhi in opposition to the notorious Rowlatt Act declared a nationwide satyagraha on 6th April 1919. Soon, the movement was called off as riots broke out in India.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre was a watershed moment in the Indian national movement as several moderate Indian leaders lost all faith in the British establishment and began to demand absolute independence. The massacre stunned Indians and showed them how callously the British had treated Indian lives.
The Rowlatt Act (famously known as the Black Act) refers to the draconian law passed by the British government in March 1919. It is officially called the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act and gave enormous power to the British government and police to arrest anyone suspected of seditious activities. It was meant to replace the emergency law called the Defence of India Act 1915. The act gave the government authority to arrest any suspected person without a warrant and detain him/her for up to 2 years without a trial.
It was based on Justice S.A.T. Rowlatt’s committee of 1918.
For more such interesting information, click on the links given below.
FAQs
The British Government introduced the Rowlatt Act in 1919 with the intent to illegally detain freedom fighters in India.
This draconian law was followed by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by the British government on the 13th of April 1919.
Shaukat Ali, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Abul Kalam Azad led the Khilafat Movement.
This was all about the Rowlatt Act of 1919! The act and the satyagraha were two significant events in history and changed the direction of the Indian national movement. For more informative blogs, stay tuned with Leverage Edu.
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