Context: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre was carried out by British forces, with an estimate of 379-1,500 killed. Those killed were involved in a gathering of people to celebrate the Baisakhi festival and protest the Rowlatt Act - A law that allowed any Indian person to be arrested on suspicion, in an effort to stop a growing independence movement.
Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer surrounded the crowd, penning them into an enclosed area with only 1 exit that the British forces held and ordered his men to open fire. Many men, women, and children tried to flee but with no where to go, 120 of which jumped to their deaths into the ‘Martyrs’ Well. Dyer claims his goal “was not to disperse the meeting but to punish the Indians for disobedience.”
The House of Commons condemned Dyer for his ruthless act, but the House of Lords commended him and the British public raised over a million pounds in today’ money to fund for him.
The House of Commons condemned Dyer for his ruthless act, but the House of Lords commended him and the British public raised over a million pounds in today’ money to fund for him.
The “I’m racist” to crowd funding pipeline is not a new phenomenon. TIL.
Needless to say they don’t teach this one in British schools.
This was an important lesson to those that fought in the Indian independence movement to not believe in the false morality / justice of British occupiers.
Dyer ordered his troops to keep firing for ten minutes, even after the ammunition supply was exhausted and the crowd was already incapacitated.
Although a commission (the Hunter Commission) investigated the massacre, Dyer was never criminally prosecuted.
This was India’s Tiananmen Square massacre. The notable difference being that it was committed by foreign occupiers rather than an authoritarian indigineous government.
Nearly 100 million died in artificially engineered famines due to British foreign interference. Everyday we are grateful that the sun did indeed set on the British Empire.
and the British public raised over a million pounds in today’ money to fund for him.
Christ.
Never underestimate the ability of tribalistic groupthink…
I am reminded about how many dipshit moron MAGA cultists have donated literally money they rely on to survive to Trump, a supposed billionaire, for his legal troubles for the coup, rape and fraud he actually committed
Makes 1M GBP look like chump change.
chump change
Hehe
The 1982 movie “Gandhi” dramatized this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LaoamJ3vbs
That scene had a big impact on me as a kid.
That scene had a big impact on me as a kid.
No kidding! It had a big fucking impact on me just now.
Same, I wish to unsee it even though I know I should know about it.
Thanks for sharing these, I knew the British treatment of Indians was abhorrent, but this particular abhorrent action was new to me.
Have ever once in history the house of lords do something good?
- Rejected Brown’s attempt to allow detention of terror suspects for 42 days without charge.
- Forced amendments to the May Brexit Bill to guarantee rights to EU nationals living in Britain at the time.
I watched Tom Nichols’ documentary on the House Of Lords. Members of the House Of Lords told us (well, Brits) that we (they) need them because they have a longer-term view of politics whereas the House Of Commons is too bound by short-term politics required to get reelected.
Wonder what they would say about this particular incident.
Agreed, great video
I actually like the long term view thing. It’s a solid argument
But it absolutely doesn’t make up for all the downsides
