Consider the following statements in respect of the Rowlatt Act of 1919 : I. Gandhiji launched a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act, 1919. II. The Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the opposition of Indian members. III. The Act gave the Government enormous powers to repress political activities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.I only
- B.III only
- C.I and II only
- D.I, II and III
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is D, I, II and III. All three statements describe the Rowlatt Act and the protest against it correctly.
The Act, based on the Sedition Committee chaired by Justice Sidney Rowlatt, was rushed through the Imperial Legislative Council in March 1919 although every elected Indian member opposed it; Jinnah resigned in protest. It let the government jail political suspects without trial for up to two years and try cases without the usual right of appeal, so it was called the Black Act. Gandhiji formed the Satyagraha Sabha and called a nationwide hartal on 6 April 1919, his first all-India campaign. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 13 April 1919 followed the protests in Amritsar.
A is wrong because statements II and III are also correct. B is wrong because it leaves out I and II. C is wrong because it leaves out III, the very feature that made the Act hated.
Exam tip: Rowlatt Act, March 1919; Rowlatt Satyagraha hartal, 6 April 1919; Jallianwala Bagh, 13 April 1919.
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