What is the Rowlatt Act?
The Rowlatt act 1919 or Rowlatt act was a legislative council act passed by the Imperial Legislative Council, the legislature of British India in 1919. The Rowlatt Act was named after the Rowlatt Committee’s President, Sir Sidney Rowlatt. The purpose of this act was to eradicate rebels and remove any conspiracy theories against the British from India. Under this act, people who have involved themself in revolt against the British could be sent to jail for upto 2 years without any trial. Any accused could be captured without a warrant and could be held up for an extended period. The act also gave the government an authority to repress the media’s voice if they wanted to find out the reasons behind it with the evidence.
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When Was the Rowlatt Act Passed?
The Rowlatt Act was passed in the year 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council, the legislature of British India.
What Was the Purpose of Rowlatt Act?
The Rowlatt Act issued by the British Colonial Government gave authority to the police to arrest any person without any reason The purpose of the Rowlatt Act was to eliminate the growing nationalist improvement in the country. Gandhi invited the people to perform Rowlatt satyagraha against the act.
The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 by the suggestions of the Rowlatt Committee and named after its president, Sir Sidney Rowlatt. The act effectively gave authority to colonial government to arrest any person suspected of terrorism for up to two years without any hearings, and gave power to the colonial governor to tackle all the rebellious activities.
The unrecognized legislation provided for rigorous monitoring of the press, arrests without warrant, indefinite imprisonment without trial, and juryless in camera trials for prohibited political acts. The accused were denied the right to know the petitioner and the evidence used in the court case. Those imprisoned were required to deposit securities upon release, and were prevented from participating in any political, educational, or religious activities. On February 6, 1919, two bills also termed as “Black Bills” were issued in the Central Legislation. These Black bills were passed on the report of Justice S.A.T. Rowlatt's committee of 1918. They gave tremendous power to the police to look for a place and arrest any person they disapproved of without a warrant. Despite much discrepancy, the Rowlatt Act was passed on 18 March 1919.
What Was the Major Provision of Rowlatt Act?
The two main provisions of the ‘Rowlatt Act’ are:
The Government is not permitted to use exceptional restrictive powers it had during the war.
The British Government has power to arrest any person without empowering any reason for the arrest, look out for any place without a warrant, and jail anyone without any trial.
Rowlatt Act Timeline
March 21, 1919: Rowlatt Act was initiated by the British government in India to control revolutionary activities. The Act enabled the British to arrest or imprison suspects without trial.
April 6, 1919: Gandhiji and other eminent Indian leaders organized a “hartal”. Indians deferred business and went on a fast to oppose the Act. This was known as the Rowlatt Satyagraha.
April 10,1919: The claim in Punjab was strong and two leaders, Dr. Satya Pal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew, were arrested. Protests and rallies were arranged. The British government laid down Amritsar under martial law and banned all public rallies and gatherings.
April 13, 1919: People gathered at Jallianwala Bagh. Brigadier General Reginald Dyer came to the place with 50 soldiers and ordered them to shoot at the crowd. The shooting went on for 10 minutes. Many were injured while others were killed.
1920: In 1920, a trust was formed by the Indian National Congress to build a memorial for the victim.
1960: Rajendra Prasad starts off the memorial.
FAQs on Rowlatt Acts
1. What was the Rowlatt Act of 1919?
The Rowlatt Act, officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, was a legislative act passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi. Passed on the recommendation of the Rowlatt Committee, chaired by Sir Sidney Rowlatt, this law gave the British colonial government immense power to suppress political activities and dissent. It allowed for the detention of political prisoners without trial for up to two years, which was a direct violation of basic civil liberties.
2. Why was the Rowlatt Act popularly known as the 'Black Act'?
The Rowlatt Act was called the 'Black Act' by the Indian people because it was seen as a dark, unjust, and repressive law. It took away the fundamental right to a fair trial (habeas corpus) and allowed for arrests based on mere suspicion. Indian leaders and the public felt it was designed to crush their freedom and nationalist spirit, hence giving it the derogatory nickname to signify its oppressive nature.
3. What was the primary objective of the British government in passing the Rowlatt Act?
The primary objective of the British government was to curb the growing nationalist upsurge in the country. During World War I, the Defence of India Act 1915 was in place to suppress revolutionary activities. The Rowlatt Act was intended to replace this wartime measure with a permanent law that would allow the government to continue its repressive policies, control political protests, and effectively intimidate and imprison nationalist leaders without following due legal process.
4. How did the Indian people react to the passing of the Rowlatt Act?
The reaction to the Rowlatt Act was swift, widespread, and angry. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, a nationwide non-violent civil disobedience movement called the Rowlatt Satyagraha was launched. The public response included:
- Hartals (strikes) across the country, with shops closed down and workers walking out.
- Rallies and processions were organised in various cities.
- Indian members of the Imperial Legislative Council, like Muhammad Ali Jinnah, resigned in protest.
5. What were the key provisions of the Rowlatt Act that caused widespread outrage?
The provisions of the Rowlatt Act that caused the most outrage among Indians were:
- Arrest without a warrant: The police could arrest any person without a warrant based on suspicion of 'treason'.
- Detention without trial: The government could detain a suspect for a period of up to two years without any trial or judicial review.
- In-camera trials: Special tribunals were set up for trials, which could be held in secret (in-camera) and without the right to appeal.
- Suspension of civil liberties: It severely restricted freedom of the press and the right to public assembly.
6. How did the Rowlatt Act lead to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?
The Rowlatt Act created a highly tense atmosphere in India, especially in Punjab. As part of the Rowlatt Satyagraha, protests were intense in Amritsar. The British government arrested two prominent local leaders, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satya Pal, provoking further public anger. On April 13, 1919, a large, peaceful crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to protest these arrests and celebrate the Baisakhi festival. General Dyer, viewing the gathering as a violation of his martial law orders, blocked the only exit and ordered his troops to open fire on the unarmed civilians. Thus, the massacre was a direct and brutal consequence of the repressive measures taken by the British to enforce the Rowlatt Act and suppress the resulting protests.
7. What was Mahatma Gandhi's role in the protest against the Rowlatt Act?
Mahatma Gandhi was central to the opposition against the Rowlatt Act. He saw the act as an unjust and evil law that undermined the basic rights of Indians. He transformed the protest into a nationwide mass movement by calling for a non-violent civil disobedience campaign, which he named the Rowlatt Satyagraha. He asked Indians to observe a hartal (nationwide strike) and engage in peaceful demonstrations to defy the law. This was the first time Gandhi organised an all-India struggle, marking a significant shift in the nature of the Indian freedom movement.
8. What was the long-term significance of the Rowlatt Satyagraha for the Indian freedom struggle?
The Rowlatt Satyagraha, despite being called off due to the outbreak of violence, had profound long-term significance. Firstly, it was the first pan-India mass movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, bringing him to the forefront of national politics. Secondly, it demonstrated the power of non-violent civil disobedience as a political tool. Finally, the extreme brutality of the British response, especially the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, shattered any remaining faith Indians had in British justice and fairness. This galvanised the nationalist sentiment and prepared the ground for larger, more organised movements like the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22).
