Why did Indians gather in Amritsar in 1919

Indians gathered in Amritsar on April 13, 1919, to celebrate the festival of Baisakhi, one of the most important Sikh festivals marking the spring harvest. Additionally, thousands assembled to peacefully protest against the recent arrest and deportation of two prominent nationalist leaders, Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew, who had been vocal critics of the oppressive Rowlatt Act. The act allowed the British colonial government to imprison Indians without trial, sparking widespread anger across the country.

The gathering at Jallianwala Bagh was a convergence of cultural celebration and political resistance. Many attendees were unaware of the martial law proclamation banning public assemblies that had been issued by the British authorities. The peaceful nature of the assembly—comprising men, women, and children—reflected the people's desire to express their discontent through non-violent means, following Mahatma Gandhi's principles of peaceful protest. This tragic confluence of circumstances set the stage for one of the darkest chapters in India's struggle for independence, when General Dyer ordered troops to open fire on the unarmed crowd, killing hundreds.