The Muslim Cost of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
The victims of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre during the imperial conquest of the British Raj did not only include Hindus and Sikhs living in Amritsar and the Punjab, but many Muslims who were working in unity with the populace to be free from colonial rule.

Shot down by their own countrymen, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus perished during the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Hundreds later died from their wounds when deprived of medical assistance.

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre-an infamous colonial era atrocity in India that has its 100th anniversary this April-claimed hundreds, perhaps thousands of innocent lives during a time when the British clamped down on the Punjab with incredible brutality and emotionless alacrity.

What many forget is that the British were terrified that their divide and rule stratagem-which had worked well since the establishment of the East India Company-was coming to an end. This was evidenced by the incredible enthusiasm, support and fervour between Hindu, Sikh and Muslims citizens and political protestors.

As they stood together in powerful solidarity, imperial autocracy realised at once that it needed to be cut down.

Muslims marked a significant part of the battle for freedom during this time, and particularly during 1919 when the Amritsar Massacre occurred. Among the hundreds slain and wounded in the aftermath of that brutal afternoon lay Muslims, many of whom were in the vicinity as tradesmen and merchants, and some of whom were peacefully protesting with Sikhs and Hindus to agitate against the draconian legislation that the British Empire had recently implemented.

In fact, one of the most prominent peaceful agitators was an educated Muslim barrister who the British were desperate to silence. His deceitful capture marked the catalyst for the protests that led up to the butchery witnessed at the Jallianwala Bagh on 13 April 1919.

Villain in chief: General Dyer ordered the assembled soldiers to fire until their ammunition was exhausted. No warning was given, no attempt to attend to wounded women and children was administered. Dyer, along with senior cohorts in the British Empire, was convinced of a Hindu, Muslim and Sikh uprising.

Barrister Saifuddin Kitchlewa was then a 31-year-old leader who was secretary of the Muslim League as well as of the National Congress in the second biggest city of northwest India where the massacre occurred. A figure of incredible intellect and unity, many followed him, emulating his desire for unity, a desire that transcended the fact that he was Muslim and so which moved beyond pure political and religious affiliations.

I do not know if Pakistan is looking to mark the centenary on 13 April 2019 in any way, nor will do in the years ahead, but it is time that it does for Muslims shared sacrifices with Sikhs and Hindus during an incredibly hard struggle for independence, and they had to pay for it in blood when they demonstrated just how adept they were in doing so.

It is fair to say that Hindus and Muslims remained in a moderate state of growth and peace at this time, due to the many riches in India — that were later used and exhausted by the Raj, and created an abundance of poverty, that is now atypical of the subcontinent, and both India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, continue to fight hard to overcome.

During that Spring in 1919, this peace and growth took on a new life and energy, one that had to crushed as the echelons of power knew that once they were united, they posed an incredible threat to the Crown.

Saurav Dutt is an Author and Political Commentator. He has written a commemorative book to mark the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre entitled “Garden of Bullets: Massacre at Jallianwala Bagh.”

It is released on 13 March 2019 and is available to pre-order on Amazon.