In which year did Mahatma Gandhi give a call for a satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act that the British had passed?
1919
Understanding the Rowlatt Act and Satyagraha
The question asks about the specific year when Mahatma Gandhi initiated a call for a satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act. To answer this correctly, we need to understand what the Rowlatt Act was and why it led to widespread protests, including Mahatma Gandhi's call for satyagraha.
The Rowlatt Act, officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919, was passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi. This act was enacted based on the recommendations of the Rowlatt Committee. Its main objective was to control revolutionary activities in India.
Key features of the Rowlatt Act:
- It allowed the British government to imprison any person suspected of terrorism for up to two years without a trial.
- It allowed the authorities to arrest anyone without a warrant.
- It severely curtailed the civil liberties of Indians, such as the freedom of expression and the right to protest.
Indians were outraged by this act, which they saw as repressive and unjust. Mahatma Gandhi strongly opposed the Rowlatt Act and decided to launch a nationwide satyagraha against it. Satyagraha, a term coined by Gandhi, is a philosophy and practice of non-violent resistance or civil resistance.
Mahatma Gandhi's Call for Rowlatt Satyagraha
Mahatma Gandhi's call for a satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act was a significant moment in India's freedom struggle. He proposed a non-violent civil disobedience movement that would involve hartals (strikes) and other forms of peaceful protest.
Gandhi formed the Satyagraha Sabha in February 1919 to organize the movement. A nationwide hartal was called for 6th April 1919.
Therefore, Mahatma Gandhi gave the call for a satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act in the year 1919.
Analyzing the Options
Let's look at the given options:
- 1915: Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915. This year predates the Rowlatt Act.
- 1905: The Swadeshi movement was prominent in 1905 following the partition of Bengal. Mahatma Gandhi was in South Africa at this time.
- 1919: The Rowlatt Act was passed in March 1919, and Mahatma Gandhi launched the satyagraha movement against it in April 1919. This is the correct year.
- 1911: The partition of Bengal was annulled in 1911. This year is not associated with the Rowlatt Act or Gandhi's satyagraha against it.
Based on historical facts, the call for satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act by Mahatma Gandhi occurred in 1919.
| Year | Relevant Historical Event | Connection to Rowlatt Act Satyagraha |
|---|---|---|
| 1905 | Swadeshi Movement (Partition of Bengal) | No direct connection; Gandhi was in South Africa. |
| 1911 | Annulment of Partition of Bengal | No direct connection. |
| 1915 | Gandhi's return to India | Predates the Rowlatt Act and the satyagraha against it. |
| 1919 | Rowlatt Act passed; Gandhi's Rowlatt Satyagraha begins | Direct connection; year of the call and movement. |
Conclusion
The year Mahatma Gandhi gave a call for a satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act that the British had passed was 1919.
Revision Table: Key Events and Dates
| Event | Year |
|---|---|
| Mahatma Gandhi returns to India | 1915 |
| Rowlatt Act passed | 1919 |
| Call for Rowlatt Satyagraha by Gandhi | 1919 |
| Jallianwala Bagh Massacre | 1919 |
Additional Information on Rowlatt Satyagraha
The Rowlatt Satyagraha was one of the first nationwide movements launched by Mahatma Gandhi in India. Although intended to be non-violent, the protests sometimes turned violent, leading to clashes with the police. The movement was particularly intense in Punjab and Delhi.
A significant tragic event associated with the Rowlatt Satyagraha was the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, which occurred on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar. This incident, where British troops fired on a peaceful assembly protesting the arrest of nationalist leaders (related to the Rowlatt Act protests), further fueled anti-British sentiment and solidified Gandhi's resolve for the freedom struggle.
The Rowlatt Satyagraha demonstrated Gandhi's ability to mobilize the masses and marked the beginning of his prominence as a national leader in India.
Similar Questions
With which Movement Mahatma Gandhi entered into Indian Politics?
Which of the following was enacted in 1860 in British India?
Who took arms and led an anti-British movement when the British tried to annex the State of Kituuru?
In British Revenue records, ________ is a revenue estate, which may be a village or group of villages.
During the time of Warren Hastings, how many Presidencies were there for the East India Company in India?
Satara got annexed to East India Company by applying which policy?
Under which treaty British company got the Diwani right of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa from Mughal ruler Shah Alam II?
In which year was the battle of Buxar fought?
The Treaty of Surat was signed between the British and ______.
In which year did the British Parliament pass a new Act that transferred powers of the East India Company to the British Crown?
Important Questions from Modern India (National Movement )
Which one is the correct chronological order of the following events?
I. Quit India Movement
II. Shimla Conference
III. Poona Pact
IV. Cabinet Mission
The policy of annexation is extensively applied if the kingdom doesn't have a natural heir and if the British disapproved of the adopted heir. From the given options, select the policy discussed here:
Who brought the strife between Swarajists and no changers to an end on November 6, 1924?
Match the following (Leaders of Chhattisgarh imprisoned during Quit India Movement of 1942 and places)
List - I
(Leaders)
List - II
(Places)
A. Tretanath Tiwari 1. Malkapur B. Raghunandan Pd. Singhrol 2. Raipur C. Amar Singh Sahgal 3. Bilaspur D. Pt. Ravishankar Shukla 4. Durg Which of the following personalities of this state was pioneer in the field of emancipation of untouchables ?
