Anti-Rowlatt Satyagrah:
1. Anti-Rowlatt Satyagraha intended to mobilize public opinion against the Act.
2. It was first countrywide agitation by Gandhi. He founded Satyagraha Sabha at Bombay on 24 Feb, 1919. It marked the foundation of Non-Cooperation Movement.
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3. During March and April 1919, the country witnessed a remarkable political awakening in India. There were hartals, strikes, processions and demonstrations.
4. In Amritsar, the local leaders Kitchlew and Satyapal were deported (9th April) The arrest of the local leaders led to attacks on the symbols of British authority, On 11th April Martial Law was clamped with General Dyers in command.
On 13th April, a peaceful, unarmed crowd (mostly visitors from nearby villages to attend Baisakhi celebration) which had collected in an enclosed ground (Jallianwala Bagh) to attend a public meeting oblivious of the ban was brutally massacred without warning.
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5. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre shocked the entire nation with horror and fired patriotic minds with aggressive determination for vengeance.
6. Gandhi, overwhelmed by the total atmosphere of violence withdrew the movement on 18th April after confessing a ‘Himalayan Blunder’.
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