Two Books on Jallianwala Bagh

1.     Kalia, P R, Revisiting Colonial Cruelty at Jalianwala Bagh (Bilingual-English& Punjabi), 2019, Edmonton, Progressive People’s Foundation, pages 152

    This memorial volume has been brought out to commemorate hundred years of Jallainwala Bagh in the form of collection of some important writings related to Jallianwala Bagh colonial cruelty. The volume is dedicated to-The Honour of: Martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh & Innocent people being killed each day by fundamentalists. Preface to the volume is written by one of the trustees of Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Committee Jalandhar-Naunihal Singh. In an introductory note the author/editor Prithvi Raj Kalia thanked many of his friends in bringing out this volume on behalf of Progressive Peoples Foundation Edmonton.

  The volume begins with a longer essay of 45 pages-Revisiting Colonial Cruelty at Jallianwala Bagh. In this essay, the author narrates the happenings in Jallianwala Bagh by referring to the background of the cruellest happening during the colonial regime. He refers to the 1917 Malaria epidemic in Punjab, succeeded by a devastating Plague epidemic and the global pandemic of influenza, which is now being referred in the context of Corona pandemic hundred years later. The author underlines the immediate provocation of Rowlatt act, which resulted in ghastly Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. Major dates in the whole tragic happening began from 30^th March 1919 Hartal at the call given by Mahatma Gandhi,  followed by 6^th April nationwide strike, 9^th April harmonious Ram Naumi celebrations in Amritsar, scaring the British colonial officials, then exile of Dr. Kitchlew and Satyapal to Dharmashala, violence on 11^th April, finally leading to 13^th April bloody Vaisakhi, clamping of Martial law in Punjab and its consequences throughout Punjab for months together. Later recall of General Dyer, British enquiry and Congress enquiry into the happenings, which were widely different in conclusions.  The later assassination of Michael ODwuer n London by Udham Singh and memorial to Jallianwala and centenary commemoration. It is like a short history of the tragedy.  Panjabi translation of the same has been done by Kamal Dosanjh, which is immediately followed by the English text.

  In the Appendix, the classic poem of famous Punjabi novelist Nanak Singh-Khooni Baisakhi, written in 1920 and proscribed is reproduced in Punjabi and its English translation published in 2019 on centenary commemoration, done by the grandson of the novelist Navdeep Suri is annexed. A Hindi poem-Jallianwala Bagh men Vasant by renowned Hindi poet Subhadra Kumari Chauhan is also annexed in original Hindi. Panjabi translation of two Urdu stories by Manto and Krishan Chandra is also annexed. Manto story is 1919 ki Baat and Krishan Chander story is Amritsar-Azadi Se Pehle. Final annexure is List of 383 martyrs reproduced from Raja Ram book-Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. There is a short bibliography of books and other sources and acknowledgement of the sources.

    This volume is an apt tribute to the commemoration. P R Kalia has earlier brought out commemoration volumes on Bhagat Singh in 2007, Ghadar Party in 2013 and First Soviet Socialist Revolution in 2017 and many more publications in Punjabi, Hindi and English-all brought out by Progressive People’s foundation of Edmonton-Canada. Prithvi Raj Kalia was with Haryana Sahitya Academy Panchkula and migrated to Canada after retirement and is producing significant progressive publications. He is also bringing out  four languages journal-The Asian Age in Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and English.

     

2.     Dhawan Rajneesh, Amritsar 1919(Hindi Novel), 2019, Delhi, Rajpal &Sons, 192 pages

As per the flap introduction the writer of this novel Rajneesh Dhawan is teaching English at University Simon Fraser Valley in Canada. He is originally from Amritsar and few of his plays have been staged in Canada. He also wrote scripts and dialogues of few door darshan serials.

   The novel is narrated in the first person as the novelist creates a character Kuru for this purpose. In the very beginning the character Kuru introduces himself and the city of Amritsar by telling that though Amritsar city is about 450 years old, Kuru lives on this earth since times immemorial and had seen the numerous historical and even mythical events!

   Kuru moves on to the story of 1919 by telling the readers that there is no hero or heroine of this story and the city of Amritsar itself is the hero and heroine both. He chronologizes his narration from the date of 29^th March 1919, when city Deputy Commissioner Miles Irving was having his evening teat at his Mall Road residence. He had just returned from his daily jog from Alexandra grounds. His wife Emily was sitting with him. Miles looked young at the age of fifty. He looked at the newspaper and noticed the headline that Gandhi has changed the date of his nation-wide strike from 30^th March to 6^th April. Hans Raj, the Congress worker reporting to British officials brings the news that Amritsar was going to observe strike on 30^th as well, angering the DC.

      The narrator explains that Amritsar has been a big centre of business for centuries. Harmandar Sahib is in the centre of the city, whose nectar-like water made it named as Amritsar. In a trader family, Om is being engaged to and the relatives have a heyday at home. 30^th March 1919 morning was disturbing for Miles. There was a complete strike in the city. Miles reported the tense situation to Punjab Lieutenant Governor Michael ODwyer. Huge march went towards Jallianwala Bagh. This Bagh belonged to Himmat Singh Jallewale, from which it got its name. There was a Congress protest meeting on 30^th March 1919 strike day at the Bagh. Kitchlew addressed the gathering, on the dais were Badrul Islam, Hans Raj and other leaders. Satyapal another leader was detained in the home this day. Amritsar returned to normal on 31^st March. ODwyer has reached Amritsar to take stock of the situation. Hans Raj was snubbed, who put blame on Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew. O’Dwyer told Miles about the possibility of imposing Martial law, as he smelled mutiny. From 1^st April Hindu festival Navratras started. In the orphanage, where Udham Singh was taken as an orphan, two Ghadarites came. Bhag Singh and Gurdit Singh Kamagatamaru, Udham Singh listened to them Reference to Ghadar party formation in the US in 1913, is given.

  In another family, Rati Devi has come to Amritsar from Delhi to spend a few days with her sister Vidya Devi. Vidya husband Chhajuram is congress worker and he took Gopal, husband of Ratti along with him. Congress leadership is planning to celebrate Ramnaumi jointly with Muslims.

  Bhajan Lal home is now full of wedding festivities due to his son Omi’s engagement. There are posters of Congress even in wedding home about the proposed strike. Congress leaders meet all three religious preachers and made them agree to celebrate Ram Naumi jointly with common water being served and joint procession taken out. This disturbs British officials. Omi’s younger brother Raju is getting attracted towards Neeru, one of bridegroom side relative and Congress activist. He has started working as a Congress activist to impress Neeru.

                   6^th April strike in Amritsar was total despite house arrest of Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Kitchlew and DC Miles was shouting on Hans Raj, the Congreves worker mole working for British. Miles with John was looking at the huge procession of Amritsar people going towards Jallianwala Bagh for a meeting. There was massive meeting in Jallianwala Bagh, addressed by Badrul Islam, meeting continued till late evening. There was a big presence of women in the procession and meeting due to efforts of Neeru. Nimmo the bride is annoyed over her best friend Neeru’s prolonged absence form wedding preparations.

   Scene shifts of the orphanage, where Udham Singh and others had served people during 6^th Strike. Baba Gurdit Singh Kamagatamaru and Gujjar Singh-two Ghadarites visit the orphanage, when Police raids it. Udham Singh gets Gurdit Singh out, but Gujjar Singh is arrested by police. Giani Bhag Singh, the orphanage in charge is also arrested by Hashmat Khan. 6^th evening itself a long row of military vehicles were moving towards city kotwali, creating an atmosphere of fear.

          On 8^th April, Durga Ashtami, Statesman reporter arrived at Amritsar by Frontier mail, same day Bhajan Lal son Om’s wedding procession reached Mahesh Khanna house at 8 m to wed his daughter Nimmo. Om younger brother was searching Neeru, the friend of Nimmo and daughter of Deen Dayal. Both father-daughter were Congress activists.

           On 9^th April, the Ram Naumi day, thousands of people started walking towards a big temple before dawn. The procession of Ram Naumi was to start from big temple.. By noon, the procession has taken its shape. Doctor Hafiz Bashir and Duni Chand led the procession riding horses, one hundred cyclists followed, which was further followed by school children in disciplined three rows. Behind the children, there was Rath with Ram, Sita, Laxman and Hanuman seated in it. There was the singing of hymns, along with slogans of Mahatma Gandhi ki Jai, Dr. Satyapal-Kitchlew Zindabad, Rowlett Act Murdabad..There were pitchers of water all along the way of the procession. Hindu-Muslim-Sikhs were drinking water from the same pitcher. Statesman Reporter Mansoor never saw such a scene  ever before. He had always seen Hindu Pani, Muslim Pani in separate pitchers and there were riots over touching others pitcher.

     The next day 10^th April newspaper headlines screamed-Amritsar hails Hindu-Muslim unity, A unique protest against Rowlett Act, Can the whole country unite like Amritsar?

    Michael ODwyer was burning with rage in Lahore, he told DC Miles on phone that he is assuming charge of Amritsar directly and asked him to invite Satyapal and Kitchlew for tea in order to exile them out of Amritsar. Hans Raj was sent to invite Satyapal and Kitchlew. They put the condition that till Bhai Bhag Singh is in police custody, they will not go and they went to a police station. Bhag Singh was badly tortured, they took him out and left with Dr. Bashir before moving to DC residence. There they were arrested and sent to Dharmshala, two hundred miles away.

     Due to Om-Nimmo wedding on 8^th, the celebrities continued till 9^th early morning none could join Ram Naumi procession, though Neeru and Deen Dayal joined. Bhajan Lal opened his shop on 11^th and Om joined the shop same day. There was a procession and sloganeering in the Bazar, which was being shut down. Hundreds of people gathered at hall gate  which  moved to Railway carriage bridge(Bhandari pul), where they were confronted by a military attachment. Army men started shooting the unarmed protestors and in minutes 22 people were dead. Bhajan Lal newly wedded son Om was among them. The angry procession moved towards townhall and burnt National Bank, killing bank Manager Stewart and his assistant Scot. From there the crowd moved to Alliance Bank and killed Manager Thomson, who tried to fire from his revolver. Then they moved to Townhall, killing one British Sargent Rowland on the way. The fifth one was guard Robinson, who was killed. There were four British officials in townhall at that time and the crowd had encircled them. By then Congress leaders Badrul Islam and DeenDayal reached there and saved them from the anger of the crowd. Crowd burnt Town hall and post office also.

  In the afternoon at 3 pm, twenty biers were taken out, some taken to Qabaristan and some to Shamshan.

                  ODwyer called Dyer in Jalandhar, where he was posted to immediately reach Amritsar with his force. He told that he has placed Amritsar under Martial law.

 After cremation and burial of bodies, people were returning to their homes that in Lohgarh area, a woman cried for help. She was Miss Sherwood, Raju about to kill her, when Neeru threw her over Sherwood. Later Badrul Islam and Deen Dayal reached and Sherwood was saved. She was admitted to Miss Khatikan hospital by Badryl-Deen Dayal and Neeru before leaving for homes. Neeru went to Nimmo, her newlywed and widowed friend, who has turned into stone.

    Dyer reached Amritsar on 11^th evening, he went first to Gobindgarh fort and inspected army unit there. He met DC Irving Miles and told that he had been given charge of the city by Governor, Miles told him about 20 people killed on Bhandari bridge and five Britishers killed by the mob. The city was placed under curfew after 8 pm, the water and electricity supplies were disconnected. Processions ere banned.  Shoot to kill orders were issued by Dyer, who after visiting Muss Sherwood in hospital and reached Dugglwanwali street, where she was attacked. There Dyer issued the order for crawling anyone entering or coming out of the street.

              Congress workers were still preparing to protest and they announced protest meeting in Jallianwala Bagh on 13^th April Baisakhi day. Neeru with his father went to a prostitute Saleema House, who offered her home for meetings. The mole Hans Raj reached even in these meetings.

  On 13^th Dyer reached Gobindgarh fort in the morning at 10 am, he took armoured cars ad sat in his open car to move the inside city with the advertisement that Amritsar has been placed under Martial law and meetings are banned. Hans Raj reached to Dyer as well to inform that meeting will be held in evening at Jallianwla.

   Bhajan Lal and Raju were forced to cross the Dugglanwala street by crawling with the remains of his son Om, who was shot dead on 10^th. Bhajan Lal later told Neeru to take Raju along for meeting, now that his fear of British has gone.

   By 3 pm, a crowd of people had gathered in Jallianwala and continued to increase. At 3.45 pm, Hans Raj signalled a Britisher with Indian dress to go out.

    Dyer told Mile about the telegram he received from Governor to make Amritsar an example, as tension was simmering in Lahore as well. At Jallianwala Bagh, Hans Raj was making a speech. At 4 pm, Miles, Dyer reached Gobindgarh fort. Miles sat with Dyer in his car, followed by two armoured cars, there were fifty army men walking, 25 Gorkhas and 25 Balochis, behind forty Gorkhas with Khukhris.

              At 4.30 in Jallianwala Durga Das was making a speech, Hans Raj came out of the garden, at 4.40 pm, he entered Townhall , Dyer saw him and brightened up, Miles tried one last time to stop Dyer.

   At 5 pm Miles phoned ODwyer, he responded in favour of Dyer action.

5.05 pm-Dyer was at the north gate of Bagh, he entered in a narrow path with his men and ordered to fire fifty bullets. Pratap was the first to fall, 15-year-old Sunder to, who made a beautiful painting of Bagh also fell. In ten minutes, 1650 rounds of bullets do. After Dyer had left, people terrorised even to enter. In seven-acre Bagh, Dyer created a new example of barbarism that day.

When Rati, Vidya and Nimmo entered Bagh, they noticed Raju body first, Neeru was lying unconscious, Chhaju Ram body was lying, Rati was crying.

  The firing stopped at 5.20 pm.

   Novel ends in Jallianwala Bagh with the memory of Guru Nanak Bani-Eiti Mar payi Kurlane tain ki dard na aaya…Khurasan Khasmana Kiya, Hindustan Daraya..

  The novel was published last year to mark hundred years of Jallianwala Bagh. The author has woven personal stories of ordinary people with the historic tragedy, which brought havoc to common people as well. Since the writer has his background in the city, the sensitivity about the tragedy is there, and the documentation of the events is done accurately with some flaws here like 22 bodies felling in narration and twenty biers taken out, so some discrepancy. The narration of 12^th April is not very clear. But taking the events from 29^th March to 13^th April of two weeks, woven with the family story is done quite well. The narration keeps the story element alive even while underlining the chronological events happening around.

 The novelist’s invocation of Guru Nanak Bani to conclude does not go with the spirit of the novel, the invocation is against Moghuls, but invoking against British and ODWyer and Dyer is somewhat incongruous with the spirit of the novel against British repression.