What was the Rowlatt Act? How did Gandhiji’s new weapon ‘satyagraha’ impress Nehru during this time?

The Rowlatt Act, named after Sir Sidney Rowlatt, was officially called the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act. It was passed by the Imperial Legislative Council on 18 March, 1919 and empowered the British Government to arrest anyone suspected of working against the British Raj.

Under the Rowlatt Act, the government could arrest and detain people for up to 2 years without trial. It allowed the police to search a place without a warrant and placed severe restrictions on the freedom of the Press. It also banned public gatherings of any sort.

The aim of the Rowlatt Act, or the ‘Black Act’ as it came to be known, was to curb the nationalist upsurge that was growing in India, but ironically it served the opposite purpose. It transformed the Indian freedom movement into a formidable force and brought Gandhiji to the forefront.

Gandhiji launched a nationwide satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act on 6 April, 1919 and millions of Indians responded to his call. A widespread hartal brought factories, offices and shops to a grinding halt. Anti-government pamphlets were circulated in the streets and many Indians handed back medals and honours that they had been awarded by the British. The Rowlatt Act served to set off events that were to change the course of the Indian freedom struggle. Nehru began to realize that the weapon called ‘satyagraha’ was capable of bringing the British Raj to its knees.

The movement was called off when riots broke out in various parts of the country, especially in Punjab. The Rowlatt Act was repealed by the Viceroy Lord Reading in 1922.

Picture Credit : Google

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