The Rowlatt Satyagraha
A nationwide non-violent protest against the repressive Rowlatt Act.
A Movement of Non-Violent Resistance
The Rowlatt Satyagraha was Mahatma Gandhi’s first major nationwide non-violent protest in India. It was a response to the oppressive **Rowlatt Act** of 1919, which gave the British government sweeping powers to arrest and imprison anyone without trial. Gandhi called for a ‘hartal’ or nationwide strike, which marked a new and powerful phase of the freedom struggle, mobilizing people across class, caste, and religious lines.
1919
The Year of
the Act
Gandhi
The Leader of
the Satyagraha
A Timeline of the Movement
March 1919: The Rowlatt Act
The British Imperial Legislative Council passed the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, commonly known as the Rowlatt Act. This sparked immediate and widespread protest from Indian leaders.
March 30 & April 6, 1919: Nationwide Hartal
Mahatma Gandhi called for a nationwide ‘hartal’ (strike) to protest the act. This led to peaceful mass demonstrations, but also some instances of violence in different parts of the country.
April 13, 1919: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
In Amritsar, Punjab, a peaceful protest was met with brutal force. General Dyer’s troops fired on a large, unarmed crowd, resulting in hundreds of deaths. This event was a major turning point, shocking the nation and intensifying the freedom struggle.
Aftermath and Legacy
While the movement was eventually called off due to the violence, it marked a significant milestone. It introduced Satyagraha as a powerful political tool and established Mahatma Gandhi as a prominent national leader.