Rowlatt Act and the Satyagraha Against It

At a Glance

• What it is Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, popularly the Rowlatt Act
• Passed March 1919, by the Imperial Legislative Council
• Based on Recommendations of the Rowlatt Commission under Sir Sidney Rowlatt
• Response Gandhi’s satyagraha, planned for 6 April 1919
• Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Emergence of Gandhi

Where Does It Fit?

This is the fifth topic of the category on the emergence of Gandhi. The previous topic covered the Ahmedabad mill strike and the Kheda Satyagraha. This topic describes the Rowlatt Act and the satyagraha against it. The next topic covers the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the Hunter Committee. Previous topic: Ahmedabad Mill Strike and Kheda Satyagraha, 1918.

How Was the Rowlatt Act Passed?

Just six months before the Montford Reforms were to take effect, two bills were introduced in the Imperial Legislative Council. One was dropped, and the other, an extension of the Defence of India Regulations Act of 1915, was passed in March 1919. It was officially called the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act and popularly known as the Rowlatt Act.

It was based on recommendations made in the previous year by the Rowlatt Commission, headed by the British judge Sir Sidney Rowlatt, which was set up to investigate the seditious conspiracy of the Indian people. The commission had recommended that activists be deported or imprisoned without trial for two years, and that even possession of seditious newspapers be adequate evidence of guilt. All the elected Indian members of the Council voted against the bill but were a minority and were overruled by official nominees. Elected members including Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Madan Mohan Malaviya and Mazhar-ul-Haq resigned in protest.

What Did the Act Provide?

The Act allowed political activists to be tried without juries or even imprisoned without trial.

The aim was to replace the repressive provisions of the wartime Defence of India Act of 1915 with a permanent law.

Why Did Indians Feel Betrayed?

Just when Indians expected a huge advance towards self-rule as a reward for their wartime contribution, they were given the limited Montford Reforms and the repressive Rowlatt Act. Gandhi felt this especially, since he had been at the forefront of offering cooperation in the war effort and had offered to encourage recruitment of Indians to the British Indian forces. He called the Rowlatt Act the Black Act and argued that not everyone should be punished for isolated political crimes. The wider setting, including the Montford Reforms, is in Why Nationalist Resurgence After the First World War.

How Was the Satyagraha Organised?

Gandhi called for a mass protest at the all-India level. Having seen the constitutional protest met with ruthless repression, he organised a Satyagraha Sabha and brought in younger members of the Home Rule Leagues and the Pan-Islamists. The forms of protest chosen were a nationwide hartal accompanied by fasting and prayer, civil disobedience against specific laws, and courting arrest and imprisonment.

The satyagraha was to be launched on 6 April 1919. Before it could be launched, there were large-scale violent anti-British demonstrations in Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, Ahmedabad and other places. In Punjab the situation became so explosive, owing to wartime repression, forcible recruitment and ravages of disease, that the Army had to be called in. April 1919 saw the biggest and most violent anti-British upsurge since 1857, and the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, Sir Michael O’Dwyer, is said to have used aircraft strafing against violent protesters.

What Changed Because of the Rowlatt Satyagraha?

There was a radical change in the situation. The masses had found a direction, and could now act instead of only giving verbal expression to their grievances. Peasants, artisans and the urban poor were from then on to play an increasingly important part in the struggle. And the orientation of the national movement turned to the masses permanently, with Gandhi saying that salvation would come when the masses were awakened and became active in politics.

As an analytical point, the Act united Indians of different political leanings, from members of the Imperial Legislative Council who resigned to the youth in the Home Rule Leagues, and gave Gandhi his first all-India platform. The events of April 1919, especially at Amritsar, are covered in Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and the Hunter Committee.

Why Is This Topic Important?

• Core Act of 1919 The Rowlatt Act is a stock Prelims fact
• First mass strike The satyagraha was Gandhi’s first all-India call
• Link to Jallianwala Bagh The protest against the Act led to the events at Amritsar

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh on 13 April 1919 and the Hunter Committee of inquiry. Next topic: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and the Hunter Committee.

Key People and Terms

• Rowlatt Act The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, March 1919
• Sir Sidney Rowlatt British judge who headed the commission
• Defence of India Regulations Act The wartime law of 1915 that the Act extended
• Black Act Gandhi’s name for the Rowlatt Act
• Satyagraha Sabha Body organised by Gandhi for the movement
• Hartal A nationwide strike with fasting and prayer
• Habeas corpus Protection against detention without trial

Exam Corner

Mains Angle

Questions ask about the Rowlatt Act and the response to it. These points add depth.

• Provisions Arrest without warrant and secret trials
• Response All-India hartal and civil disobedience
• Significance Orientation of the movement turned towards the masses