The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (also known as the Amritsar Massacre) was one of the saddest events, that will likely never fade away from our memory. It was so horrific and saddening that even today, people are left wondering if it could have been avoided. Unfortunately, almost a century later, we haven’t received an apology or had closure.
For those not aware, on 13th April 1919 (which was also the festival of Baisakhi), people gathered at the Jallianwala Bagh to peacefully protest the arrest of two leaders Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Saifuddin, despite a curfew being declared. The protest, however, was not a non-violent one. On the order of General Dyer, the troops fired on the crowd for ten minutes resulting in the death of about 1000 people and injuring an equal number. To save themselves, people resorted to jumping into a nearby well and it is said that 120 bodies were recovered from here after the massacre.
Here are some pictures of the Jallianwala Bagh, then and now.
1. A protest few days after the massacre. People in this picture are pointing at the bullet marks from the firing.
2. Scene at the Jallianwala Bagh right after the tragedy.
3. Two cops at the Jallianwala Bagh, after the tragedy.
4. This picture was clicked in 1956. Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, is a large open space enclosed on three sides by buildings with only one exit. The wholesale slaughter at Jallianwala Bagh horrified the whole country. Thousands died and many more were injured.
5. Present day look of the well in which people jumped out of panic. 120 dead bodies were recovered.
6. The bullet marks are still visible. Will we ever forget?
7. The plaque put up at the Jallianwala Bagh tells of the horror people faced.
8. And the scars remain.
Let's spend a minute today remembering those who perished in the massacre. Those who's names we might know, but the ones we'll never forget.