The Agony of Punjab: Influence of Jallianwala Bagh Outrage on Seditious

Political Literature in the Madras Presidency, 1919 – 1923

Dr.V.Venkatraman. Ph.D., D.Litt.,
Principal & Head,
Research Centre in History,
Rajapalayam Rajus' College,
Rajapalayam - 626 117.

The Jallianwala Bagh outrage gave a powerful impetus to the course of Indian
national movement and sharpened the minds of national leaders in particular and
served as the source of inspiration to freedom fighters in general devoted to the cause
of Mother's liberty. Gandhi, the co-operator to the British government during First
World War, became non co-operator, the furious incident threw up Gandhi as a
powerful leader and the Congress, under the unquestioned commandership of a
changed Gandhi, accentuated the movement for national independence. The shape of
the Rowlatt Satyagraha of Gandhi was radically changed overnight by the turbulent
event held at Jallianwala Bagh at Amritsar in Punjab and the historical event thus
proved to be a turning point in the course of Indian national movement. 1
Eighty years ago, the massacre which gave a deep shock to the people of India
and created wide reflections in the country took place on 13 April, 1919 at a public
gathering of about 20,000 persons at Jallianwala Bagh2 in defiance of official
proclamation banning such gatherings in Amritsar city on the Baisakhi festival day. 3
General Dyer, the newly appointed British officer, went along with his fellow
soldiers to the bagh on that day, ordered his men to fire on the unarmed crowd
without giving warning to them. The order of General Dyer was truly executed for
more than 10 minutes; in all 1650 rounds were fired.4 The inhuman act of General
Dyer resulted in the death of thousands of Indians. According to an official report,
379 people were shot dead and 1200 wounded. But the Congress Enquiry Committee
later reported that atleast 2,000 were killed or wounded. General Dyer left the Bagh
at 5.30 pm, leaving behind a pool of blood of Indians. 5
The natural reaction of the terrible event amongst the British bureaucrats was
obviously that of jubilation and triumph. Michael O Dwyer, the Lt. Governor of
Punjab, greeted General Dyer by sending his congratulatory message to Dyer: "Your

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action correct and Lt. Governor approves.”6 The British authorities were not satisfied
and they imposed the Martial Law in Punjab, followed by press censorship, mass
arrests, aerial attacks and shooting and public flogging over the unarmed people of
Punjab.7 The Punjab Government extended full co-operation to their superior
authorities in Delhi, pleaded in a similar vein before the Hunter Committee,
constituted to enquire into the shooting.8
This outrageous incident evoked strong reaction from the public and the press
alike. The pres held the government authorities responsible for this gruesome
tragedy. There was a spate of publication in the form of pamphlets, books,
newspapers, journals, tracts, pictures, cartoons etc., which condemned the barbarious
attitude of General Dyer and his underlinks.9 In turn, the British Government
determined to crush the open rebellion mooted out by the press and political
literature, and unleashed a reign of terror. More than 170 presses were banned all
over India through their Indian Press Act of 1910. Though the drastic measures were
in operation, the press publishing the outrageous incident and the cruel administration
of the British in succeeding three more years.10 In Punjab, Zafar Ali Khan, the editor
of Zamindar, a Punjabi daily, was so much enraged by the act of General Dyer, he
called him as a “Yazid” and a "Bastard”. The Government of Punjab prosecuted him
in June 1919 under sections 124A and 153A of IPC and sentenced him to five years'
transportation and also demanded security from the paper Zamindar under section
4(1) of Indian Press Act of 1910.11
Public opinion in Madras Presidency
The public opinion in Madras Presidency on this tragedy was chiefly mobilized
by the press and political literature. During the first week after the turbulent incident,
the press reported mildly against the inhuman activities of General Dyer in Punjab.
The message of this tragedy was caught by press and political literature virulently in
the last week of April 1919. The press of this region came forward to criticise the
inhuman attitude of General Dyer, in the columns of their papers, periodicals,
pamphlets, hand bills, books and also in the form of cartoons.
The Nationalist, edited by G.Harisavartham Rao, was published at Madras.
The paper published an article entitled The Cult of the Bullet on 20th April 1919.12
The article referred to the Punjab incident and the first interview between Lord

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Chelmsford, the Viceroy and Gandhi in which the later reminded the Viceroy of the
existence of The Cult of the Bullet and arraigned his fellow men, who truly carried
out the orders of Viceroy against the Indians.13 The Government of Madras declared
the security of Rs.2,000/- as forfeited.14 G.Harisavarthama Rao, the editor, was asked
to deposit a security of Rs. 10,000/-. The editor did not deposit the security. As a
result Nationalist ceased publication.15 A similar action was also carried out against
the Hindunesan in Tamil edited by L.Anantha Aiyer for publishing several articles
against the Rowlatt Bills and about the tragedy.16 The Swadesamitran of Madras, an
article in its issue of 25 April 1919 entitled The Condition of Punjab. The paper
denounced the military action in which innocent people were killed. Further, the
paper raised the query: “Does the law permit innocent people being killed like
this?”17 The Government of Madras did not tolerate this and regarded this matter as
objectionable, demanded a security of Rs.2,000/- from the publisher of the paper
under section 4(1) of the Indian Press Act, 1910.18
The Swadesamitran was followed by The Hindu, the nationalist paper in its
issue of 2 May 1919 cautioned the government that repression would not go together
with the introduction of Montford reforms. 19 Further in its issue of 8 May 1919, the
paper published an article on the official atrocities in Punjab under the heading The
Agony of Puniab. It condemned the action of Dyer and Michael O'Dwyer on the
ground that they sought to crush the struggle for freedom.20 Taking exception to this
article, the Government of Madras demanded a security of Rs.2,000/- from its
publisher and printer under section 4(1) of Indian Press Act of 1910.21 The
Swadesamitran reprinted the translated version of the article The Agony of Punjab
in its issue of 12 May 1919.22 Even the pro-British papers like Madras Mail
expressed their regret over this matter and wrote that the episode of Punjab was a
horrible event and cast a slur on the British rule in India.23
The Desabaktan of Madras, wrote an article on Repression in its issue of 6
May 1921. The paper was highly critical of the government headed by Lord Reading.
It stated that the Indians were victimised under sections 121, 124A and 144 of Indian
penal code.24 Desabaktan commented that the government was spending sixty crores
of rupees for saving one wretched Dyer, a useless man, who killed thousands of
young blood in Punjab. The Government of Madras initiated action under section

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124A of IPC against T.V.Kalyanasundara Mudaliar, the editor of the paper
Desabaktan in respect of the article published on 6th May 1921.25 Swadesamitran
which reacted to the report of the Hunter Enquiry Committee, 26 expressed its regret
by saying that it was erroneous for a good government to leave an everlasting wound
in the minds of the Indians. The Desabaktan opined that Lord Chelmsford did not act
as a Viceroy during the Hunter Enquiry Committee. Further, the paper suggested that
Micheal O'Dwyer should be reprimanded. 27
III
Apart from the newspapers which, expressed their abhorrence for the
Jallianwala Bagh tragedy, there were pamphlets, booklets and cartoons which
exposed the atrocities of the British bureaucrats. The title page of the Hindi pamphlet
entitled Punjab-Ka-Khun28 written by Pt.Sidh Gopol Shukla and edited by Ram
Autar Shukla, contained a verse which read; "Punjab is weeping and is still wet with
the blood of our babies”. The author gave a vivid account of the arrest of the leaders
of Punjab and the reaction of the mob to the arrests.29
The author of the pamphlet explained what type of repressive measures were
adopted by the government against the local leaders and public on that day of the
monstrous incident. It regarded the Jallianwala Bagh massacre as an act of barbarous
violence.30 The pamphlet expressed its disapproval of the action of the government
and suggested corporal punishment to be awarded to General Dyer, Sir Micheal O'
Dwyer and his underlinks.31 The author who referred to the Martial law as a "Devil”,
exhorted the Indian to follow the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi.32 The Government of
Madras took action against the leaflet under section 12(1) of the Indian Press Act,
1910 on 3rd July 1920. Thus the circulation of the pamphlet was proscribed in this
presidency.33
Another Telugu book entitled Gandhi Mahatma Kaliyaga Prahalata
contained several poems on Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy, Swaraj and Mahatma
Gandhi.34 The first poem of the book captioned The Song of Punjab condemned the
atrocities of General Dyer and prayed to Goddess Durga to kill him and save Mother
Bharatha. It told the youth not to be afraid of the atrocities of the wicked Dyer. It
said: "Be not afraid, Pine away in the thought that you have suffered from the bullet
shots."35

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 In another poem, the author gave a descriptive account about the land of
Punjab and its values. He stated: “When the aliens had come as dacoits to rob Mother
India of her property and fortune; the heroes of Punjab gave them dinners and served
them with sharp sword,36 by recounting the services of Ranjit Singh the author of the
brooklet stated that the aweful murders opened the eyes of our mother and the very
sacrifice of the Indian Heroes took place there and the smoke of sin, was scattered.
Further, the author branded Micheal O' Dwyer, as a fraudulent fellow, a deceiver,
who believed that the thirty crores of Indians are mere lumps of dhal and laughed at
them.37 In another poem which appeared in that book, the Indians were advised to
bind themselves together and withdraw all co-operation to the satanic government.
Hence the government proscribed the booklet on 18 May 1923 under section 99A of
Criminal Procedure Code of 1898.38
A Urdu pamphlet entitled Fughani Muslim or Fughani Ali written by
Munishi Ahmed Ali was published in 1922. It made a specific reference to the
Jallianwala Bagh outrage and said: "How could the people of India receive the Prince
of Wales (who visited in 1921) when the Indians were oppressed and aggrieved by
his brother officer (General Dyer) in India."39 This leaflet advised the police and
military men to leave their services and obey and dictates of Quran and destroy the
kingdom of tyrants by taking recourse to non-violent methods. The author stated
thus: "We have co-operated with the government with the result that we are thrown
into sorrows and miseries. Now we are ready to non co-operate with her and are
determined to become independent” 40 Hence the Government of Madras initiated
action against this pamphlet on 14th June 1922 under section 99A of C1.P.C. of
1898.41
Another book in drama form in Telugu entitled Panchala Parabharamu (The
Punjab outrages or Insult offered to Panchala) written by D.Panduri Kakshudu of
Guntur came to the notice of the government. This book which consisted of five acts
described the political history commencing from the awakening of the satyagraha
vow and the terrible Jallianwala Bagh massacre. 42
The first act of the play stated that Lord Gopal saved Panchala (Drowpadi)
before the stripping of her cloth by the sons of Karurajah and now the author called
Lord Gopal to incarnate quickly on earth and remove the atrocities in the Punjab. The

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second act said that the Dharma of Ahimsha (Non-violence) was first preached by
God Buddha and Jesus Christ, who symbolised love and mercy and at present these
two qualities are available only with Gandhiji, who alone is capable of putting an end
to Dyer's acts of violence in Punjab, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of
innocent lives.43 In the last act of the book, the author made a reference to the assault
on Indians at Punjab and considered it as an act of “injustice”. The said booklet was
proscribed on 12th November 1921 by the Government of Madras under section
12(1) of the Indian Press Act, 1910.44
A pamphlet entitled A Mendicant's Cry at Jallianwala Bagh contained a
collection of poems written by many nationalist poets such as Lala Shegurchand
Raushan, Moushi, Abdul Khaliq, Lal Chand Falak etc., describing the atrocities
committed at Jallianwala Bagh.45 The first poem by Lala Shegurchand cautioned the
British Government as follows: "Do not test the restlessness of the martyrs. If they
would have a deep sigh, it would make the heavens tremble, even the tyrant and
blood thrirty Dyer will be deeply moved if he happens to hear the wailings of orphans
and widows. “Thus the author of the poem cautioned General Dyer for this wrong
doings at Jallianwala Bagh by firing at unarmed human beings."46
The second poem entitled the Cry of Martial Law was written by Muoshi
Abdul Khaliq. The author of this poem blamed the officers of Punjab, who caused
river of blood of flow in such a manner that even the highest heaven cried out "God
forbid”. He also narrated the atrocities committed by the British officers during the
implementation of the Martial Law. In another poem entitled A Few Words to Lord
Reading, the New Viceroy, Lala Lal Chand Falak, the composer of the poem asked
the new viceroy to punish General Dyer, who was responsible for the tragedy at
Punjab and requested him to stop his pension. The author regarded the Rowlatt Act as
an unlawful one which was the root cause of this massacre. Further, he appealed to
the viceroy to repeal the Act immediately.47 Hence, the government issued re-
notification on 14th November 1922 to proscribe the said pamphlet under section
99A of Cr.P.C. of 1898.48
Another booklet in Tamil entitled Are We Still to Have Slave Mentality,
published at Rangoon in Burma, contained a poem on the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. 49
The booklet condemned the cruel measures and terrible punishments meted out to the

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women of Punjab by the British Government. The author of the booklet stated that
the women were made to stand in the streets and their clothes were stripped off and
they were forced to sit on the thorny branches that were lying there in the streets. 50
The soldiers pushed off the breasts of the women and laughed. Women were also
subjected to other humiliations by the British soldiers1. The author vehemently
condemned the behaviour of the British soldiers and the fellow officer Dyer. The
Government of Madras proscribed this Tamil booklet which revealed the inhuman
be51haviour of the British soldiers on the women of Punjab by issuing re-notification
on 16th August 1928.52
A Telugu book entitled Swarajya Mantramu (Magic of Swaraj) written by
Yenamandra Krishna Rao of Sekur of Guntur, contained matters which dealt with the
Jallianwala Bagh outrage. The author of the book questioned the Mother India: "Is it
just on your part to keep us in a Kingdom of Death?... The white men came from
seema (abroad) for trade, as they said they held the balance in hand (the plundered
wealth) and to take wrong ways".53 The author called the Mother India to save the
people from the tyranny for the alien rule. The author blamed the Britishers for
sending the Indians to fight in the world war and after gaining victory, instead of
complementing the services rendered by the Indians, gave them the Rowlatt Act
which put on to their very spirit of liberty. This book also highlighted the worst days
of Punjab, where the English insulted the Indian women, flogged the youth and
mercilessly whipped the innocent people.54
The author appealed to the Indians to join the Non co-operation movement of
Gandhi in large numbers. He remarked: “Say with faith the Mantra of Non co-
operation, Gandhi Mantra and a Swarajya Mantra that will drive away the enemies
and will cut the glamour of the whites". 55 Finally, the author urged the people to
wage a Dharma Yudha (the battle of justice) for establishing Dharma and
emancipating the people from servitude. The book was proscribed on 18th November
1921 by the Government of Madras under section 12(1) of Indian Press Act, 1910.56
Another book in Telugu entitled Rama Dhandu Patta (The song of Rama),
written by Thirumalla Subha Rao, called the men of Dyer as horrible villains and
blamed General Dyer for having drunk the milk of the Mother India and striked her
breast with his fist.57 Further, the author criticised the members of Hunter Committee

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for they praised General Dyer for indulging in the most inhuman act at Jallianwala
Bagh. The Government of Madras found this Telugu book highly objectionable and
took action against the book on 22nd September 1922 under section 99A of Cr.P.C.
of 1898.58
A Urdu booklet entitled Sangit O'Dwyer Sahiyani, Punjab (Song on Micheal
O'Dwyer of Punjab) written by Surajbhan of Amritsar held Micheal O'Dwyer, the Lt.
Governor of Punjab, responsible for the loss of young blood in Punjab. Further, the
author equated the act of General Dyer with that of king Nadir Shah, the cruel ruler
of medieval India.59 The author lamented that: "...Helpless India is bound and locked
up by the aliens... The Hindus, Muhammadans and Sikhs have all found rebels.... It is
today that we have to revenge for the mutiny". Thus the author made a fervent appeal
to the youth of India to unite and organise a mutiny against the English men. The
book was proscribed on 27th August 1923 by the British Government under Section
99A of Cr.P.C. of 1898.60
IV
Proscription of Nationalist Pictures and Cartoons
Apart from the pamphlets, newspapers, booklets etc. which referred to the
tragic massacre, there were pictures and cartoons which exhibited the wrong doings
of the wretched Dyer at Jallianwala Bagh. Here mention must be made to a picture
published by G.D.Newar in Urdu entitled Jallianwala Bagh-Amritsar-Punjab. The
picture depicted the tragedy in a clear manner. A note beneath the picture stated that,
the merciless wretched Dyer showered bullets on the people during the Baisakhi
festival, killed the dharma and liberty of men”. Further, the note expressed the fear
that - one day the people would be whipped out on account of this dyerism". 61
Another cartoon styled picture entitled Jallianwala Bagh and Dyer Sahi
(Punjab) with a footnote in Hindi was published by Sinbhali Prasad Badura Pradas.
The year of its publication is not mentioned in the picture. The note stated that the
massacre spoiled the city of Amritsar. The dust of the city was smeared with the
blood of the people. Hence the government found the above two pictures and its
footnotes seditious and forfeited them under section 12 (1) of Indian Press Act,
1910.62
V

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 The press and political literature of this period thus critically expressed their
dissatisfaction against the dictatorial measures of General Dyer and the British
Government. The repressive attitude of General Dyer and his fellow soldiers were
denounced unequivocally in these literature published between 1919 and 1923 in
Hindi, Urdu, Tamil,
Telugu and English languages and aftermath writings of these literature was
highly seditious in character. Many of these literature were proscribed by the
Government of Punjab and later these literature received similar fate in all provincial
governments. The Government of Madras not only issued re-notifications on these
literature but also launched the direct notifications on the Tamil and Telugu literature
which exposed the cause of mobilizing the public opinion in favor of the nationalists
during the massacre.
The free flow of these anti-British literature encouraged the political life in
Madras presidency. The terrible incident emboldened many of these literature to
adopt a clear anti-government stand. These literature provoked the national
consciousness among the people of this presidency against the British bureaucrats.
The people began to form a clear picture about the British administrators during this
era, thanks to the initiatives of the Indian press and political literature.

References

1. Rajaram, The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, Chandigarh, 1978, pp. VII-IX.

2. Jallianwala Bagh, "Bagh" was not Garden, but a desolate piece of land rectangle of irregular shape. It had
been laid out as a garden after the name of Pandit Jalla of Amritsar.
3. HN. Mitra, Punjab Unrest Before and After, Calcutta, 1920, p. 122.
4. V.N.Datta, Jallianwala Bagh, Ludhiana, 1969, pp.104-05
5. K.L.Tuteja. "Jallianwala Bagh: A Critical Juncture in the Indian National Movement", Social Scientist,
Vol.25, Nos. 1-2, Jan-Feb. 1997.
6. Raja Ram, Op.cit., p. XII.
7. Arthur Swinson, Six Minutes to Sunset, London, 1964, pp.52-58.
8. Home (Poll) Dept. File No.4, Part B, 1921, National Archives of India (NAI).
9. Home (Military) Dept., File No. 139, Part B, 1921 (NAI).
10. Gerald N. Barrier, Banned: Controversial Literature and Political Control in India, Delhi, 1976, p.83.
11. Home (Poll) Dept. File No.4, Part B, 1921, (NAI).
12. Fortnightly Report, First and Second Half of April 1919, Tamilnadu Archives, Chennai, (TNA).
13. Public, G.O.Nos.361-62, (confdi.,), 20 June 1919 (TNA).
14. Fortnightly Report, Second Half of July 1919, (TNA).
15. Public, G.O.Nos.222, (confdl.,), 30 March 1920 (TNA).
16. Home (Poll) Dept. File No.4/1921, Part B, 1921; Public G.O.No. 108 (Confdl), 14 February 1920 (TNA).
17. Public, G.O.Nos. 119, (confdl.,), 17 February 1919 (TNA).
18. Ibid., Ordinary G.O.No.318, 2nd June 1919 (TNA).

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19. R. Parthasarathi, Hundred Years of the Hindu, Madras, 1986, p.25.
20. The Hindu, Madras, 8th May 1919.
21. Fortnightly Report, Second Half of May 1919, (TNA).
22. Ibid., Second Half of May 1919, (TNA).
23. Ibid., First Half of June 1919, (TNA).
24. Desabaktan, 6th May 1921.
25. Public, G.O.No.489, (confdl.,), 2nd August 1921 (TNA).
26. The British Government appointed Hunter Enquiry Committee under the Chairmanship of Lord Hunter to
look after the doings of Punjab Government during Martial Law measures.
27. Public, G.O.No. 673, (confdl.,), 22 October 1920 (TNA).
28. The Pamphlet Punjab-Ka-Khun, published in Northern provinces. The Madras Government issued re-
notification on this Pamphlet.
29. Micro-film Acc. No.4801, (NAI).
30. Home (Poll) Dept., File No.279, Part B, July 1920 (NAI).
31. HFM Papers File No.RVII-50/3-162, pp. 13-16 (NAI).
32. Micro-film Acc. No.4801, (NAI).
33. Public, G.O.Nos.436-37, (confdl.,), 3rd July 1920 (TNA).
34. HFM Papers File No.RVII-49/3-361, pp.171-72 (NAI).
35. Public-Ordinary, G.O.No.413, 18 May 1923
36. HFM Papers File No.RVII-49/3-361, pp.172 (NAI).
37. Ibid., pp. 172-73 (NAI).
38. Public-Ordinary, G.O.No.413, 18 May 1923.
39. V.Venkatraman, Proscribed Vernacular Political Literature in Madras Presidency-Content Analysis (1910 -
1935), unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. M.K.University, Madurai, 1996, p.107.
40. HFM Papers File No.RVII-50/3-362, pp.39-40 (NAI).
41. Public-Ordinary, G.O.No.500, 14 June 1922
42. Ibid., G.O.No.792, (Confdl.), 12 November 1921 (TNA).
43. Ibid., G.O.No.541, (Confdl), 27 June 1922 (TNA).
44. Ibid., G.O.No.792, (Confdl.), 12 November 1921 (TNA).
45. Ibid., G.O.No.939, (Confdl.), 14 November 1921 (TNA).
46. HFM Papers File No.RVII-50/3-362, pp.52-53 (NAI).
47. Ibid., p.53, (NAI).
48. Public, G.O.Nos.939, (confdl.,), 14 November 1921 (TNA).
49. Home (Poll) Dept., File No.27/2, 1929 (NAI).
50. HFM Papers File No.RVII-48/3-360, pp.300 (NAI).
51. Public, G.O.Nos. 567, (confdl.,),6 August 1928 (TNA).
52. Home (Poll) Dept., File No.27/1, 1929 (NAI).
53. Public-Ordinary, G.O.No.812, 18 November 1921 (TNA).
54. HFM Papers File No.RVII-49/3-361, pp. 77-78 (NAT).
55. Public-Ordinary, G.O.No.812, 18 November 1921 (TNA).
56. HFM Papers File No.RVII-49/3-361, pp.79 (NAI).
57. Public, G.O.Nos.790, (confdl.,), 28 September 1922 (TNA).
58. HFM Papers File No.RVII-49/3-361, pp. III (NAI).
59. V.Venkatraman, Op.cit., p.112.
60. Public-Ordinary, G.O.No.679, 27 August 1923 (TNA).
61. Ibid., G.O.No.873, (Confdl.), 13th December 1921 (TNA).
62. Ibid., G.O.No.620, (Confal.), 19th September 1921 (TNA).

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