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Rowlatt Act 1919

Rowlatt Act 1919 The Indians were not satisfied with the reform of 1919. The govt granted concessions which were much below their expectation. The atmosphere was surcharged with passion and excitement. On the report of a sedition committee headed by Justice Rowlatt, two bills were introduced in the central Legislature in 1919. These bills came to be known as ‘Rowlatt Act’. It authorized the government to imprison anyone without trial. Thus suspended the right of Habeas corpus. These were no need for a warrant to arrest or detain any person under the act. The purpose of this act was to curb the growing nationalist upsurge in the country. Opposition to the 'Black Act' as it came to be known was widespread. Along with other nationalists, Gandhiji was also aroused by the Rowlatt Act. In February 1919, he founded the Satyagraha Sabha, whose members took a pledge to disobey the act and thus to court arrest and imprisonment. March and April 1919 witnessed a remarkable political awakening in India. Almost the entire country came to life. There were strikes, processions and demonstration. The entire country was electrified. The Indians people were no longer willing to submit to the degradation of foreign rule.

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