The Rowlatt Act was passed by the  government of Britain to increase their grip on power over the common folks of India. This law was passed on 10 March 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council which gave them the power to arrest any individual without any trial. To get rid of this act, Gandhi and the other political leaders of India called for a Hartal (suspension of work) to show the country’s objection to this rule, called the Rowlatt Satyagraha.

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An Overview of Rowlatt Act

• This act was introduced in the year 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council.
• It is also referred to as Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919.
• This act was passed by the committee called Rowlatt whose chairperson and Judge was Sir Sidney Rowlatt.
• This act was strictly protested followed by the arrest of many freedom fighters and Nationalists.
• The state of Pujab was put under martial law as major riots began there soon after this act was passed.
• On April 13, 1919 on day of Baisaki Festival, General Dyer along with his troop open fired on the unarmed crowd which had gathered in  Jallianwala Bagh for non-violent protest.

What is the Rowlatt Act?

The basic facts about the act and its importance are discussed below:

• This act was Officially called the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919.
• Introduced in March 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council.
• This act allowed the British government to arrest anyone suspected of terrorist activities.
• It also authorised the British government to detain such persons who were arrested under this act for up to 2 years without trial.
• It gave power to the police to search for a place without a warrant.
• It also imposed strict restrictions on the freedom of the press.
• The act was passed as per the suggestion of the Committee called Rowlatt which was chaired by a judge named Sir Sidney Rowlatt, after whom this act is named.
• The act was widely disapproved by Indian leaders and the general This bills was referred to as ‘black bills’.
• The act was passed despite continuous opposition from the Indian members of the council, all of whom resigned in protest. These persons who resigned included Madan Mohan Malviya, Mohammed Ali Jinnah,  and Mazhar Ul Haq.
• In response to oppose this act, a nationwide protest was called by Gandhiji on 6th  This came to known as the Rowlatt Satyagraha.
• The movement was cancelled by Gandhiji when it was damaged by rioting in some states, particularly in Punjab where the situation was unappeasable.
• The British government’s major motive was to suppress the growing nationalist movement in the state.
• The British were also concerned about the Ghadarite revolution in Punjab and the rest of India.
• Two major Congress leaders Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew were taken under custody.
• The protest was very immense when the act came into effect and the army was called to tackle the situation in the state of Punjab.

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Why did the Indians oppose the Rowlatt Act?

In 1919, Mahatma Gandhi established and began a nationwide satyagraha in opposition the proposed Rowlatt Act. The Act gave the government tremendous powers to suppress political activities and allowed the detention of political leaders as prisoners without any legal proceedings for two years.

• Formally called the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919.
• Introduced in 1919 in the month of March by the Imperial Legislative Council.
• This act empowered the British authority to arrest anybody suspected of terrorist activities.
• It also gave power to the government to detain person arrested under this act for up to 2 years without trial.
• It allowed the police to search for a place without a warrant.
• It also imposed strict restrictions on the freedom of the press.
• The act was introduced by the Rowlatt Committee chaired by a judge, Sir Sidney Rowlatt, after whom this act was

Indians opposition towards Rowlatt act

Indians opposed this act due to the following reasons

• This act was passed through the Imperial Legislative Council in haste, even though it was completely unapproved by the Indian members.
• It had given the Government enormous powers to repress political activities in the country.
• It also allowed the detention of political leaders without trial for two years.

Rowlatt act: The cause of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

• The condition in Punjab was getting worse as there were riots and protests against the Rowlatt Act.
• Punjab was put under martial law,which meant that it became unlawful for more than four persons to assemble at a place.
• The Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab was Michael O’Dwyer during that time and Lord Chelmsford was Viceroy of India.
• During the festival of Baisakhi on 13 April 1919 in Jallianwala Bagh, a public garden in Amritsar, a group of non-violent protesters had assembled. Also, among them were pilgrims who had come to celebrate Baisakhi.
• General Dyer reached there with his troops and blocked the only narrow entrance to the garden.
• Then, without warning, he ordered his troops to fire at the unarmed gathering, which had children as well.
• The indiscriminate firing went on for about ten minutes until the 1650 rounds of bullets were exhausted. This resulted in the deaths of at least 1000 people and left more than 1500 people
• This incident came as a big shock to Indians and totally destroyed their belief in the British system of justice.
• National leaders opposed the act and Dyer equally.
• However, Dyer was praised by many in Britain and the British in India, although some people in the British government were quick to condemn Those who condemned his actions were Winston Churchill and former Prime Minister H.H Asquith.
• The government set up the Hunter Commission to investigate into the massacre. Although the commission criticized the act by Dyer, it did not enforce any disciplinary action against him.
• He was relieved of his duties in the army in 1920.
• In protest against the massacre and the British failure to give due justice to the victims,Gandhiji relinquished his title ‘Kaiser-e-hind’ given on him by the British for his services during the Boer War in South Africa and  Rabindranath Tagore gave up his knighthood.
• Michael O’Dwyer, the then Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab, who had approved the actions of Brigadier-General Dyer, was assassinated by Udham Singh in London in 1940 as revenge against the massacre. Udham Singh is believed to have witnessed the massacre as a kid.

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Important Points about Rowlatt Act

• Meaning:  The Act was passed by the Rowlatt Committee, presided by Sir Sydney Rowlatt. It authorized the arrest, for 2 years without trial, of any person suspected of terrorism living in British India.
• Black Bills associated with Rowlatt Act: Central Legislature introduced two bills that authorized police to search a place without a search warrant and to arrest anyone who they disapprove of.These bills came to be known as ‘Black Bills.’
• Madan Mohan Malviya, Muhammed Ali Jinnah and Mazhar ul Haq resigned from Imperial Legislative Council after the Rowlatt Act was passed.
• Rolwlatt Satyagraha was initiated on 6 April 1919.
• The congress leaders Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlewwere arrested.

Rawlatt Act, 1919: Quiz

1. ___________________ is also known as Rowlatt Act bill (1919).

a) Anarchical and Rebellious Crimes Act

b) Monarchic and Rebellious Crimes Act

c) Monarchic and Revolutionary Crimes Act

d) Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act

Ans (d) Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act

2. Rowlatt Act bill (1919) is also Known as:

a) Gray Act

b) Black Act

c) Yellow Act

d) Green Act

Ans (b) Black Act

3. Rowlatt Act bill was introduced at the Imperial Legislative Council of which State?

a) Delhi

b) Kolkata

c) Pune

d) Mumbai

Ans (a) Delhi

4. In which year was the Rowlatt Act bill was introduced at the Imperial Legislative Council of Delhi?

a) 10th May 1918

b) 10th October 1920

c) 10th April 1917

d) 10th March 1919

Ans (d) 10th March 1919

5. Black Act was passed to extend the

a) Revolutionary Crimes Act India 1905

b) Defense of India Regulations Act 1905

c) Defense of India Regulations Act 1915

d) Revolutionary Crimes Act India 1918

Ans (c) Defense of India Regulations Act 1915

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6. To protest Rowlatt Act bill Gandhiji started Rowlatt Satyagraha on

a) 7th April

b) 4th April

c) 5th April

d) 6th April
Ans (d) 6th April

7. Who passed the Rowlatt Act on 10th March 1919?

a) Sir Sidney Rowlatt

b) Sir James Rowlatt

c) Sir Williams Rowlatt

d) Lord Chelmsford

Ans (a) Sir Sidney Rowlatt

8. Who was the viceroy of India during this period?

a) Sir Sidney Rowlatt

b) Lord Rippon

c) Lord Mountbatten

d) Lord Chelmsford

Answer (d) Lord Chelmsford

9. To oppose this bill Gandhiji started

a) Swadeshi and Boycott Movement

b) Non-cooperative movement

c) Quit India movement

d) None of these

Answer (b) Non-cooperative movement

10. Which of the following nationalist leader put into jail through this act?

a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

b) Abdul Kalam Azad

c) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

d) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Answer (a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

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