Q. Which one of the following aroused a wave of popular indignation that led to the massacre by the British at Jallianwala Bagh ?
(a) The arms Act
(b) The Public Safety Act
(c) The Rowlatt Act
(d) The Vernacular Press Act
Ans: (c) The Rowlatt Act
Explanation: The correct answer is (c) The Rowlatt Act.
The Rowlatt Act of 1919 is the legislation that aroused a wave of popular indignation leading to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The Rowlatt Act was passed by the British colonial government in India during the period of World War I.
The Rowlatt Act allowed the British authorities to arrest and detain individuals without trial and gave them enhanced powers to suppress political dissent. It curtailed civil liberties and freedom of speech, enabling the government to imprison individuals without due process.
The passage of the Rowlatt Act triggered widespread protests and opposition across India, as it was seen as a repressive and draconian law that violated basic rights. The culmination of this popular discontent occurred on April 13, 1919, when a peaceful gathering of Indians in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, was fired upon by British troops under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre resulted in hundreds of casualties and further intensified the movement for Indian independence.
The Arms Act, Public Safety Act, and Vernacular Press Act were also significant laws during the colonial period, but they were not directly linked to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Therefore, the correct answer is (c) The Rowlatt Act.
