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Punjab
has always been known and identified as a land of gaiety and merrymaking
where festivals are celebrated with much exuberance and fanfare. Being a predominantly
agricultural state that prides itself on its food grain production, it is
little wonder that its most significant festival
is Baisakhi, which marks
the arrival of the harvesting season. But let us not forget one such historic
event which took place on Vaisakhi day of April 13 1919, The Amritsar
massacre, also known as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, when British
soldiers led by one Brig-Gen. Reginald Dyer entered the compounds of the
bagh and without warning opened fire on an unarmed innocent gathering,
killing men, women and children.
Chances are that today’s children do not even know of such
historic events and the struggles, challenges and sacrifices made during
India’s efforts for independence. We have to remind over selves and others
especially the younger generation of today of those days when British
imperialists would go to any extent to strengthen their hold on India.
The
Arya Samaj and such other organizations as a reminder to our young
generation should always remind people to observe the anniversaries of such
incidents lest we should forget our national heroes and martyrs.
The words Jallianwala
Bagh has a hypnotic effect on the minds of all the Indians. It
brings forth the feelings of patriotism and at the same time utter contempt
of the British Raj. The time period of British rule in India; known as the
British Raj, saw many uprising and clashes against the British. In the name of Colonial rule, atrocities
that would appall us today did take palace when the British wanted to make
an example of the Indians to keep their subjects in line. The famous public
garden of Jallianwala Bagh of Amritsar in the state of Punjab was the place
where once such terrible tragedy took place in on 13th April
1919, where more than five thousand people Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims un
armed gathered at the garden of Jallianwala Bagh to celebrate the annual
Baisakhi festival.,
Without any warning a small army led by a
British General entered the garden through the narrow passage and started
firing and many people including women and children were gunned down. That killing field on a fateful day in
1919 is today a magnificent public garden and monument to the fallen,
visited by thousands. The Jallianwala Bagh is located quite close to the
Golden Temple in Amritsar. In the
midst of old park walls where the bullet marks can still be seen, you will
find a monolithic monument standing silently in respect of those who fell
to the gunfire. The well at Jallianwala Bagh; known as the ‘Marty’s Well’
can still be seen at the park, where more than 120 bodies were pulled out
of on the day of the tragedy.
The massacre was the worst atrocity
by a British officer ever recorded.
Just
remember
Jallianwala Bagh yeh dekho, Yahan chali thhi goliyan,
Yeh mat puchho kisne kheli yahan khoon ki holian.
Ek taraf thee bandook dandan ek
taraf thi tolian.
Marne
waale bol rahe thhe, Inqalaab ki boliyan.
Yahaan lagaa
dii bahano ne bhii baaji
apani jaan kii.
Is mittie se tilak karo ye
dharti ha balidhan ki.
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