The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab. British troops under Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer opened fire on a large, unarmed crowd trapped inside an enclosed garden, killing hundreds of people. It became one of the darkest events of British rule and pushed many Indians firmly towards the freedom movement.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | 13 April 1919 (Baisakhi day) |
| Place | Jallianwala Bagh, near the Golden Temple, Amritsar |
| Officer in charge | Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer |
| Troops | Around 50 riflemen (Gurkha and Sikh units), armed with .303 rifles |
| Firing | About ten minutes, until ammunition ran low; Dyer’s own report mentioned 1,650 rounds |
| Deaths | Official figure 379; Indian estimates are much higher (see below) |
| Inquiry | Hunter Committee, set up on 14 October 1919 |
Background: the Rowlatt Act and growing anger
After the First World War, many Indians expected political reform in return for their support of Britain during the war. Instead, in 1919 the government passed the Rowlatt Act, which allowed arrests and detention on suspicion, with very limited legal protection. Gandhi called for a nationwide protest, and Punjab saw strong reactions.
In Amritsar, two popular local leaders, Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr Satyapal, were arrested and removed from the city. On 10 April a crowd marched towards the Deputy Commissioner’s residence to demand their release. Soldiers fired on the marchers, and the day ended in rioting, burning of some buildings and attacks on Europeans. The authorities then handed control of the city to General Dyer, and a ban on public gatherings was announced.
13 April 1919: the day of the massacre
13 April was Baisakhi, a major festival in Punjab, and many villagers and pilgrims had come to Amritsar. That afternoon a meeting was called at Jallianwala Bagh to protest the arrests and the Rowlatt Act. Many people in the crowd were simply festival visitors who had stopped to rest in the garden. Estimates of the crowd size vary, but it ran into thousands.
The Bagh is surrounded by high walls and buildings, with only a few narrow exits. Dyer arrived with troops, had his men take position on a raised area at the main entrance, and ordered them to fire straight into the densest part of the crowd without any warning to disperse. People ran towards the walls and the few exits, which were either blocked or too narrow. Many were shot while running, others were crushed, and some jumped into a well inside the compound. The firing stopped only when the soldiers were nearly out of ammunition. Dyer then left, and the wounded were left without help, as a curfew was in force.
How many people died?
There is no single agreed number. The British-appointed Hunter Committee gave 379 dead, and the same figure was used in official records. Indian sources have always said this is a serious undercount. Estimates by Indian leaders and historians range from about 700 to over 1,000 killed, and the Indian National Congress inquiry spoke of more than 1,500 casualties in total. If you are writing an exam answer or an article, it is safest to say that the official figure is 379 while Indian estimates are far higher.
Aftermath: martial law and public outrage
Martial law was imposed in Punjab, and the weeks that followed saw harsh measures against people in Amritsar and nearby towns. News of the massacre spread slowly because of censorship, but when it did, the shock was enormous. Rabindranath Tagore returned his knighthood in a letter dated 31 May 1919, saying he wanted to stand with his countrymen who were being treated as unworthy of human consideration.
The government set up the Hunter Committee in October 1919. Its report in 1920 criticised Dyer for continuing to fire for so long, and he was removed from his post, but he faced no criminal trial. In the British House of Commons in July 1920 a vote went against Dyer, yet he was also praised by sections of British society, which angered Indians further. The Congress held its own inquiry, and Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920, partly fuelled by this anger.
Udham Singh and the revenge story
Udham Singh, who is said to have been in or near the Bagh as a young man, later travelled to Britain. On 13 March 1940 he shot Michael O’Dwyer, who had been Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab at the time of the massacre, at Caxton Hall in London. He was tried and hanged on 31 July 1940. He is remembered in India as a martyr. Dyer himself had died earlier, in 1927.
The memorial today
After independence, a trust bought the land and a memorial was built. It was inaugurated by President Rajendra Prasad on 13 April 1961. Today you can see the narrow entrance lane, the Martyrs’ Well, a flame memorial and bullet marks preserved on some of the walls. A gallery displays pictures and information about the events.
Visiting Jallianwala Bagh
- Location: a short walk from the Golden Temple in the old city of Amritsar, so most visitors combine the two.
- Timings and entry: the memorial is usually open through the day, and entry has generally been free or very low-cost, but timings, any light-and-sound show schedule and fees change. Please check the official site or local authorities before you go (last checked October 2026, and we could not confirm current details).
- Best time: early morning or evening, when it is cooler. Winter months are the most comfortable in Amritsar.
- Tips: dress modestly, keep the place quiet, and allow about an hour. It is a memorial, so avoid loud photography or selfies near the well.
Timeline at a glance
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1915 | Defence of India Act gives the government wide wartime powers |
| Early 1919 | Rowlatt Act passed; protests begin across India |
| 10 April 1919 | Kitchlew and Satyapal arrested; firing and rioting in Amritsar |
| 13 April 1919 | Massacre at Jallianwala Bagh |
| 31 May 1919 | Tagore gives up his knighthood |
| 14 October 1919 | Hunter Committee appointed |
| 1920 | Non-Cooperation Movement begins |
| 1961 | Memorial inaugurated |
| 13 March 1940 | Udham Singh shoots Michael O’Dwyer in London |
Common questions students ask
Was there any warning? According to the accounts used in the Hunter inquiry, no order to disperse was given before the firing began. Why was the crowd inside the Bagh? Part of it came for a political meeting, but many people were pilgrims and families in town for Baisakhi, who had walked in to rest or see what was happening. Why could people not escape? The garden is walled on almost all sides, and the main way out was narrow and blocked by the troops.
For exam purposes, remember the sequence: Rowlatt Act, arrests of Kitchlew and Satyapal, the 13 April firing, martial law, the Hunter Committee, and then the Non-Cooperation Movement. These events form one chain, and writing them in order earns marks in history papers.
How the world reacted
Inside Britain, opinions were divided. Some leaders, including Winston Churchill, strongly condemned the massacre in Parliament, calling it monstrous. Others raised funds for Dyer, which hurt Indian feelings even more. In India, the incident ended the hopes of many moderate leaders that reforms would come through polite requests alone. It is often said that the massacre was a turning point in Gandhi’s thinking too, pushing him towards non-cooperation with British institutions.
Why it still matters
Jallianwala Bagh is remembered because it showed, in one afternoon, how fragile the claim of fair British rule was. It turned moderate opinion towards complete freedom and made ordinary Indians more willing to join mass movements. Visiting the Bagh, or even reading about it carefully, is a reminder of the price paid for the freedom we have today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre happen?
It happened on 13 April 1919, on the day of Baisakhi, in Amritsar, Punjab.
Who ordered the firing at Jallianwala Bagh?
Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered his troops to fire on the crowd without warning.
How many people died at Jallianwala Bagh?
The official British figure was 379, but Indian estimates range from around 700 to over 1,000.
Who killed Michael O’Dwyer?
Udham Singh shot him in London on 13 March 1940 and was hanged the same year.
Is Jallianwala Bagh near the Golden Temple?
Yes, it is only a short walk away in the old city of Amritsar.
