a) On 13th April 1919, a large crowd gathered in the enclosed
ground of Jallianwala Bagh – some to protest against the British
government’s repressive measures, others to attend the annual
Baishakhi Fair. These people were unaware of the imposition of
Marshal Law in the city. General Dyer, the Commander, blocked
the exit points from the Bagh and opened fire upon the innocent
citizens. Dyer’s intention was to produce a ‘moral effect’ and
terrorize satyagrahis. Hundreds of innocent people including
women and children were killed and wounded due to this
indiscriminate firing by the British soldiers, which ultimately led
to nation-wide outrage. Jallianwala Bagh incident was the most
brutal incident in the History of India.
b) The Simon Commission was constituted by the Tory
Government in Britain, under Sir John Simon. The objective of
the Commission was to look into the functioning of the
constitutional system in India and suggest some constitutional
changes. But nationalists in India opposed the Commission
because it had not a single Indian member. Therefore, when the
Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928, it was greeted with the slogan “Go Back Simon”. All parties, including Congress and
the Muslim league, participated in the demonstrations.
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