When was Rowlatt Satyagraha launched and by whom?

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Understanding the Rowlatt Satyagraha Movement

The Rowlatt Satyagraha was a significant movement in India's struggle for independence. It was launched in response to the repressive Rowlatt Act passed by the British Indian government.

What was the Rowlatt Act?

The Rowlatt Act, officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919, was enacted based on the recommendations of the Sedition Committee chaired by Sir Sidney Rowlatt. This Act gave the government immense powers to suppress political activities. Key features of the Act included:

It allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for up to two years.
It enabled trial of political cases without a jury.

This act was widely criticized by Indian leaders as a denial of basic civil liberties and an attack on fundamental rights. It was seen as a betrayal of the promises made by the British during World War I.

Launching the Rowlatt Satyagraha

To protest against this unjust law, Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch a nationwide Satyagraha (a method of passive resistance) movement. He called for a countrywide hartal (strike) on April 6, 1919. The movement involved various forms of peaceful protest, including civil disobedience against the Rowlatt Act.

The Rowlatt Satyagraha was the first nationwide mass movement organized by Mahatma Gandhi. It saw widespread participation across different regions of India, although it also led to unrest and violence in some areas, most notably the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar following the arrests of leaders like Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satya Pal.

Therefore, the Rowlatt Satyagraha was launched in 1919 by Mahatma Gandhi.

Analyzing the Options

Let's examine the given options to confirm the correct details:

Option	Year	Leader	Analysis
1	1929	Mahatma Gandhi	1929 is associated with events like the demand for Purna Swaraj, not the Rowlatt Satyagraha.
2	1915	Motilal Nehru	1915 is the year Mahatma Gandhi returned to India. Motilal Nehru was a prominent leader, but he did not launch the Rowlatt Satyagraha.
3	1919	Mahatma Gandhi	The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919, and Mahatma Gandhi launched the Satyagraha against it in the same year. This aligns with historical facts.
4	1930	C.R. Das	1930 is associated with the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi. C.R. Das was a major leader but not the one who launched the Rowlatt Satyagraha.

Based on historical facts, the Rowlatt Satyagraha was initiated in 1919 by Mahatma Gandhi.

Revision Table: Key Facts on Rowlatt Satyagraha

Aspect	Detail
Event	Rowlatt Satyagraha
Against	Rowlatt Act (Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919)
Year Launched	1919
Launched By	Mahatma Gandhi
Purpose	Protest against the repressive Rowlatt Act allowing detention without trial.
Significance	First nationwide mass movement organized by Gandhi in India.

Additional Information on Indian National Movement

The period around 1919 was crucial in the Indian national movement. Mahatma Gandhi's arrival and subsequent movements like the Champaran, Kheda, and Ahmedabad mill strikes had already established his leadership. The Rowlatt Satyagraha marked his emergence as a leader on the national stage, mobilizing people across the country.

The movement faced severe repression, leading to the tragic Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919. Following the violence, Gandhi called off the movement on April 18, 1919, realizing that people were not fully prepared for non-violent resistance on a mass scale.

Understanding the Rowlatt Satyagraha is essential to grasping the trajectory of the Indian independence movement and the strategies employed by Mahatma Gandhi.