Modern History ( Roulette Act )

Roulette Act (1919)

The Rowlatt Act of 1919, commonly known as the Black Act, was one of the most controversial laws enacted by the British government in India during the colonial period. It became a turning point in India’s freedom struggle as it exposed the repressive nature of British rule and united Indians against colonial injustice.

Background and Context

• During World War I (1914–1918), the British government imposed severe restrictions on civil liberties through Defence of India Acts (1915) to curb revolutionary activities.
• After the war ended, Indian leaders expected that these repressive measures would be withdrawn and that the British would introduce political reforms.
• Instead, the British decided to extend and strengthen wartime powers through the Rowlatt Act, which was viewed as a betrayal of Indian trust.

To examine revolutionary crimes, the British appointed the Sedition Committee (1918) headed by Justice Sidney Rowlatt, which recommended continuation of certain repressive provisions. These recommendations became the basis of the Rowlatt Act, 1919.

Main Provisions of the Rowlatt Act

1. Emergency Powers:
• The government could arrest and detain any person without trial for up to two years.
• It allowed preventive detention and search without a warrant.
3. No Right to Appeal:
• Cases were to be tried by special tribunals composed of British judges.
• The accused had no right to appeal or seek legal representation.
5. Restrictions on Press and Assembly:
• The Act empowered the government to curb the press, restrict public gatherings, and suppress publications deemed seditious.
7. Extension of Repressive Measures:
• It essentially extended the emergency powers of the Defence of India Act into peacetime, making them permanent tools of control.

Indian Reaction

• The Act was strongly opposed by Indian leaders across the country.
• Mahatma Gandhi condemned it as “unjust, oppressive, and humiliating,” calling it the “Black Act.”
• In response, Gandhi launched his first all-India Satyagraha (Rowlatt Satyagraha) in March 1919, marking a new phase of mass political mobilization.
• Leaders like Motilal Nehru, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and Annie Besant also criticized the Act and demanded its repeal.

Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919)

• Gandhi urged Indians to observe hartals (strikes), boycott government institutions, and peacefully protest against the Act.
• The movement saw massive participation from all sections of society, demonstrating growing national unity.
• However, in some regions, the protests turned violent, especially in Punjab.

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)

• On 13 April 1919, during the festival of Baisakhi, thousands of peaceful protestors gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.
• General Reginald Dyer, without warning, ordered troops to open fire on the unarmed crowd.
• Around 400–1,000 people were killed and many more injured.
• This massacre shocked the nation and the world, exposing the brutality of British rule.

Consequences of the Rowlatt Act

1. Widespread Anger and Boycott:
• Indians from all walks of life united in condemning the Act.
• It led to a complete loss of faith in British justice.
3. Rise of National Consciousness:
• The movement made Gandhi a national leader.
• It brought together Hindus and Muslims in a joint struggle against colonialism.
5. Repressive British Response:
• The government imposed martial law in Punjab and censored the press.
• Several nationalist leaders were arrested.
7. Political Impact:
• The Hunter Commission (1919) was set up to investigate the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, but its mild report angered Indians further.
• The events convinced Gandhi that British rule was morally bankrupt, leading to the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22).

Significance

• The Rowlatt Act symbolized the betrayal of wartime promises of self-governance.
• It marked the beginning of mass civil disobedience and a shift from moderate to mass-based politics in the Indian freedom struggle.
• It exposed the repressive character of colonial rule and unified Indians against injustice.

Conclusion

The Rowlatt Act (1919) was not merely a law but a political turning point in India’s freedom movement. It highlighted the contradiction between British claims of justice and their oppressive actions. The nationwide opposition to the Act and the tragic events at Jallianwala Bagh transformed the nature of Indian nationalism — from loyal cooperation to complete non-cooperation and demand for Swaraj.

In short:

The Rowlatt Act laid the foundation for Gandhian mass movements, revealed the true face of colonial repression, and united Indians in their quest for freedom.