GhadarMovement:ItsOriginandImpactonJallianwalaBagh

MassacreandIndianFreedomStruggle
Dr.TarlochanSinghNahal
[ThispaperwaspresentedattheEasternScholarsConferenceaspartoftheSikhCentennial
Celebrations,organizedbythePacificKhalsaDiwanSociety,Stockton(SikhTemple,Stockton),California
inSeptember2012attheUniversityofthePacific,Stockton.]
ThepurposeofthispaperistoshedlightontheGhadarMovement,theJallianawalaBaghmassacreand
theirimpactontheIndianfreedommovement.Theseeventsplayedasignificantroleinshapingvarious
politicalandreligiousmovementsinPunjabwhichledtothefreedomofIndia.TheGhadarmovement
originatedin1912outofdiscontent,injusticeanddiscriminationagainsttheSikhs/Indiansimmigrantsin
theUSAwhocametoNorthAmericatoseekbetterlife.
TheJallianawalaBaghmassacreoccurredbecausepeopleopposedtheoppressiveanddraconian
RowlattBillswhichgavealmostunlimitedpowertotheBritishpoliceandauthoritiestoarrestanyone
andsendthemtojailforanyreasonornoreason,withoutfollowingproperlegalprocedures.Itwasan
oppressiveactwhichwaspassedprimarilytosuppressthedemandforfreedomofIndia.Amartiallaw
wasdeclaredandannouncementsweremadebybangingatinindifferentpartsofAmritsaronthat
doomeddaywhichwarnedpeoplenottogather.MostpeoplewhogatheredattheJallianwalaBaghhad
comefrommanyneighboringvillagestoparticipateintheVaisakhicelebrations.JallianawalaBaghwas
67acreopenareawhichwaswalledfromallsidesexceptforfiveentrances.Fourofthemwerequite
narrowadmittingonlyafewpeopleatonetime.JallianwalaBaghisonlyfewhundredyardsfromthe
GoldenTemplewhichisthemostsacredSikhshrineinIndia.KhalsawasestablishedontheVaisakhiday
bythetenthGuruoftheSikhsGuruGobindSingh.ItisalsoamajorfestivalinPunjabcelebratedbyall
communities.Mostpeoplewerenotevenawareofanysuchannouncements.Manyofthemhad
gatheredovertherebecauseofacallfromtheIndianNationalCongresspartyinordertoprotestthe
RowlattBillscommonlyknownasRowlattAct.PeoplegatheredpeacefullyataplacecalledJallianwala
BaghatAmritsarandwerelisteningtospeechesbyvariousleaders.TheyweremassacredbytheBritish
IndianarmyledbyGeneralReginaldDyerbyblockingalltheentryandexitgatesandopeningfire.This
tookplaceonApril13,1919atAmritsar.
Regardlessofhowtheseeventsunfolded,thefundamentalreasonbehindthemwastheIndiasslavery
oftheBritish.

SikhEmigrationtoCanadaandUS
InordertounderstandtheGhadarmovement,itisimportanttounderstanditsunderlyingreasons.The
SikhsandotherIndianscametoCanadaandUSforbetterlifeandopportunitiesforthemselvesand
theirfamilies.Theagriculturelandwasbeingsubdividedintosmallerlandholdingsanditwasbecoming
1

moreandmoredifficulttosurviveonsmallerpiecesofland.Inordertofundtheirownlavishlifestylein
IndianandGreatBritainandtofundWWI,theBritishIndiangovernmentleviedheavytaxeswhichwere
gettingheavierforacommonperson.Emigrationtoothercountrieswasagoodwayofimprovingones
financialstatusbecausethepaywasmuchhigherinothercountries.Theydidnothaveanypolitical
agendaatthattime.MostofthemwereSikhswhoweremarginalfarmersandartisansinPunjab.There
wasaseriesofdroughtsinPunjabaftertheBritishtookoverPunjab.ManySikhfarmershadlostquitea
bitoftheirancestrallandstoHindumoneylendersandwereinafinancialtrouble.Droughtandfailed
cropshadsappedtheenergiesofthegeneralpopulationandoffarmers.
Punjabishadheardaboutbetteropportunitiesabroad,andbytheirveryenterprisingnature,werenot
afraidtotakerisks.MostimmigrantsfromIndiawhocametoCanadaandUSwereSikhs.Theystartedto
cometoCanadaaslaborersandsemiskilledworkerstowardstheendof19thcenturyandinthe
beginningofthe20thcentury.ManyofthemwereformersoldiersintheBritisharmyinIndia,Singapore
andHongKong.However,theyhadneverevenimaginedthatbeingthepartoftheBritishcolonial
Empire,theywouldfacediscrimination,inequityandinjusticeonforeignlandsbecauseGreatBritain
hadannouncedthatallsubjectswillbetreatedonequalbasisinallitscolonies.Theyexperienced
discriminationfirsthandinCanadaandUS.TheUSwastheformerBritishcolonyoverwhichtheBritish
heldasignificantsway.ThustheSikhdiscontentandtheGhadarmovementgrewoutofdiscrimination
andhumiliationinforeignlands.TheirKingEmperordidpreciouslittletoalleviatetheirmisery.
ThefirstSikhsevertoenterCanadawereonanofficialtripaspartoftheHongKongarmyregiments
whichweretravelingthroughCanadaincommemorationoftheQueenVictoriaofEnglandsDiamond
Jubileein1897.Theylikedthelandandvastnessofthecountryandsomeofthemstayedthereand
invitedtheirrelativesandfriends.
Thingswentunnoticeduntilabout1906.However,whentheSikhsstartedtoemigratetoCanadain
morenoticeablenumbers,theCanadiangovernmentwantedtostoptheiremigrationtoCanada.Infact,
itwantedtogetridoftheIndianswhowerealreadythereandtriedtoforcethemtomovetoBritish
Honduras(nowanindependentandalmostathirdworldtinycountryknownasBelize1).
AreligiousfunctionwasheldatthesecondfloorofGurdwaraSahibVancouvertodiscussthissituation.
AnIndiandelegationoftwoSikhsnamedBhaiNagarSinghandBhaiShamSinghRajputwereselectedto
gotoBritishHondurasforafactfindingmission.Theywereinstructedtowriteasignedletterdailyfrom
thatcountrydescribingfulldetails,circumstances,climate,andlaborsituationateverystayoftheir
journeytotheChiefKhalsaDiwan.Thesetwoindividualsweremostreliableandhonestpeoplewho
knewEnglishwell.
ThisdelegationwenttoBritishHondurasandfoundoutthattheclimaticconditionswereverypoorand
wagesweretoolowandsomeIndianfamiliesovertherewerelivinginmiserableconditionsandin
abjectpoverty.Therewasagreatdangerofmalariaandyellowfever.TheIndiandelegationdidnot
agreetomovetoHondurasinspiteofgreatpressureandfinanciallurebytheCanadiangovernment.

AcountryinSouthAmericaborderedonthenorthbyMexico,tothesouthandwestbyGuatemalaandtothe
eastbytheCaribbeanSea.Belizehasanestimatedpopulationof327,219asof2012.

TheseedofdiscontentthatmanifesteditselfasGhadarmovementintheUSwasactuallysownin
Canadaasearlyas1907withtheestablishmentofKhalsaDiwanSocietyinVancouver.Itprovideda
placeofworship,communalconsciousness,rallyingpoint,andevenpracticalhelpbyprovidingfoodand
housing,andlegalassistance.ThiswastheplacewheretheSikhsdiscussedtheirissuesandtook
importantcommunitydecisions.Mostofthemworkedinthelumbermills,construction,andfarms
wheretheyoftenencountered,jealousy,racialslursandevenphysicalattacksfromthewhitepeople.In
1907racialriotsbrokeoutinBellingham,about20milessouthoftheCanadianborderinthe
Washingtonstate.AlltheSikhsandIndiansweredrivenfromtheirhomesbythewhitemobs.Allof
thesefactorssolidifiedtheunityoftheIndiansregardlessoftheirfaith.Asimilarepisodehappenedin
MarysvillenearYubaCityinCaliforniain1908.
TwentycitizensofLiveOakSaturdaynightattackedtwohousedoccupiedbyseventyHinduswhohad
beendischargedfromSouthernPacificCompanyandorderedtheHindustoleavetown.
TheHindusweredriventotheedgeofthetownandtoldtotravel.OnewenttoYubaCityandsworeto
complaintschargingthemembersofthemobwithstealing$1950.HealsotookthecasetotheBritish
ConsulatSanFrancisco.2
TheIndianswerenotallowedtobringtheirwivesandchildrentoCanada.Tomakethingsevenmore
difficult,theCanadiangovernmentcameupwithanotherplantokeeptheIndiansout.Theyuseda
threeprongapproach:
1. Putaconditiononallimmigrantsthattheirseavoyageshouldbedirectandcontinuousfrom
IndiaandtheymustnotchangetheshipatanyportbetweenIndiaandCanada.
2. MadeitmandatoryforeachpassengercomingfromIndiatoshow$200cash.
3. WorkeduptheCanadianpublicagainsttheIndiansandspreadhatredagainstthem.Thatputa
greatstressonthemandtheirfamiliesandcreatedhatredtowardstheminthemindsofthe
majoritywhitecommunity.
ACanadianimmigrationlawwasspeciallydesignedtokeeptheIndiansoutbecausetherewasnodirect
shipvoyagefromIndiatoCanada.Mostpeoplecouldnotaffordtoshow$200foreachfamilymember
whichwasaverylargesumover100yearsago.TheKomagataMarushipincidentof1914isatextbook
exampleofsuchextremelybiasedandunfairtreatmentoftheIndians.TheKomagataMaruwasa
JapaneseshipwhichwashiredandrenamedGuruNanakJahajbyGurditSinghin1914tobringthe
IndianpassengerstoCanada.
AccordingtoBabaSohanSinghBhakna,BhaiSahib[GuditSingh]hiredtheKomagataMaru(GuruNanak
Jahaj),aJapaneseshipforsixormoremonthsanddirectlyreachedfromtheportofCalcuttato
Vancounver.3Accordingtosomeotheraccounts,theKomagataMarusailedfromHongKongto
Shanghai,Yokohama,andthentoVancouver,BritishColumbiaasperplan.376travelersontheship

2
TheNewYorkTimes,28January1908.

BabaSohanSinghBhakna,MeriRamKahani,Ed.RajwinderSinghRahi(SangamPublications:Samana,2012),73

wereIndians,outofwhich340weretheSikhs,24Muslims,and12Hindus.TheKomagataMaruship
wasnotallowedtodockattheCanadianshoreandwasforciblyreturnedtoIndiafromVancouver.
WhentheshipreachedatCalcutta,IndiaattheBajBajghat,about17kmfromtheCalcuttaport,atrain
waswaitingforthepassengerstotakethemdirectlytoPunjab.TheSikhinsistedupondepositingtheir
holybookSriGuruGranthSahibtoalocalGurdwaraandmanyofthemdidnotwanttogobackto
Punjab.Theywerefireduponbythepolice.Asaresultmanypeoplewereinjuredandkilled.This
incidentgaveboosttheGhadarpartyanditscause.
SikhEmigrationtotheUS
TheSikhsstartedtoemigratetotheUnitedStatesofAmericawellover100years.SanFrancisco
Chroniclewrites,ThefourSikhswhoarrivedontheNipponMarutheotherdaywerepermitted
yesterdaytolandbytheimmigrationofficials.Thequartetformedthemostpicturesquegroupthathas
beenseenonthePacificMalldockformanyaday.Oneofthem,Bakkshlled[sic]Singh,speaksEnglish
withfluency,theothersjustalittle.Theyareallfinelookingmen,BakkshlledSinghinparticularbeinga
marvelofphysicalbeauty.Hestands6feet2inchesandisbuiltinproportion.HiscompanionsBood[sic]
Singh,Variam[sic]SinghandSohavaSingharenotquitesobig.Allofthemhavebeensoldiersand
policemeninChina.TheywereintheRoyalArtillery,andthetallonewiththeunpronounceablename
wasapolicesergeantinHongKongpriortocomingtothiscountry.Theyhopetomaketheirfortunes
hereandreturntotheirhomesintheLahoredistrict,whichtheyleftsometwentyyearsago.4
WorldWarIhadjustendedin1918andIndia,especiallyPunjab,paidaheftypricebothintermsof
humanliveslostandmoneyspentonthewar.Atleast400,000Punjabiswereforcedtogotowarin
variouspartsoftheworld.Alargenumberofthemdiedindifferenttheatresofwar.Eventhoughthe
originalGhadarmovementstartedandendedbeforetheJallianwalaBaghmassacre,itcontinuedto
shapevariouspoliticaleventsinPunjab.TheGhadarmovementhadamajorimpactonvariousSikh
Morchas(agitations)inPunjabinthe1920sandgaverisetotheBabbarAkalimovementwhichhada
significantimpactintheDoabaregion(Jalandhar,Kapurthala,andHoshiarpurdistricts)ofPunjab.The
Sikhlosthundredsofpeopleinthosemorchas.TheGhadarmovementpeakedwiththemurderof
MichaelODwyeratCaxtonHallinLondononMarch13,1940whowastheformerLt.Governorof
Punjab.ItwashewhohadorderedthemassacreofthePunjabisatJallianwalaBagh).Boththeseevents
createdpoliticalturbulencethathadworldwideconsequences.Boththeseeventsshookthevery
foundationoftheBritishEmpireinIndia.

SanFranciscoChronicleApril6,1899,p.10


Figure1.MichaelFrancisODwyer(Lt.GovernorofPunjab19121919)
BabbarAkalimovementwasagreatthreattotheBritishIndiangovernmentaftertheGhadar
movement.ThegovernmentwasacutelyawareofthehostilitiesoftheCanadianSikhstowardsthe
governmentforexecutingmanyBabbarAkalis.ThisisevidentfromaletterwrittentoHisMagestys
UnderSecretaryofStateforIndiabyH.G.Haig,OfficiatingSecretarytotheGovernmentofIndia.
2.InMaylastaletterwrittenbyoneGianiHarnamSinghoftheKhalsaDiwanSociety,Vancouver,toa
SikhnewspaperinAmritsar,Punjabwasintercepted.ThisletterdescribedtheproceedingoftheDiwan
oftheSocietyheldatVancouverintheprecedingMarch.AtthatmeetingResolutionswerepassed
expressingsympathywith0thefamiliesoftheexecutedBabbarAkalis,condemningtheactionsofthe
PunjabGovernmentandcallinguponSikhstohelpthefamilies5.IntheopinionoftheGovernmentof
IndiatheinterestintheBabbarAkalispiritdisplayedbySikhsinCanadaandAmericapointstoageneral
revivaloftheseditiousactivityamongtheSikhsinthosecountrieswhichwasoriginallyassociatedwhat
isknownasGhadrmovement.5

SecretNo.147,GovernmentofIndia,HomeDepartment,(Political),datedDelhi,11thNovember,1926,P&J(S)
18841926.


Figure2.BrigadierGeneralReginaldDyer

HinduDiscriminationinCalifornia6
AccordingtotheofficialreporttoGov.WMD.Stephens,calledCaliforniaandtheOriental,published
byStateBoardofControlofCaliforniain1922,makesthesecommentsabouttheHindus,(asallIndians
werecalledbackthen),
TheHindu,intheopinionoftheCommissioneroftheStateBureauofLaborStatistics,isthemost
undesirableimmigrantinthestate.Hislackofpersonalcleanliness,hislowmoralsandhisblind
adherencetotheoriesandteachings,soentirelyrepugnanttoAmericanprinciples,makehimunfitfor
associationwithAmericanpeople.ThesereferencesapplytothelowcasteHinduorSikhs.Reportsfrom
officialauthoritiesconcerningthesepeopleonfileintheofficeintheStateBoardofControlareunfitfor
publication.7
ThisstatementsmacksofpureracismandbiasagainstSikhsandotherpersonsofIndia.
TheStateBoardofControlofCaliforniareportpaintsadismalpictureoftheHindusinCalifornia.A
letterwrittenbyShaughnessyAndAthertonAttorneysatLawofStockton,California(counselforthe
HindusinCalifornia),datedFebruary16,1920toStateBoardofControlinSacramentosays,
ThenumberofHindusinCaliforniaisfastdecreasing.AboutfivehundredofthemhaveleftforIndia
thelastyear.Aroughestimationoftheirdistributionoverthisstateisgivenbelow:

HinduwasagenericnameusedforallIndiansatthattimeintheUSandCanadawhichincludedHindus,Sikhsand
Muslims.
7
StateBoardofControlofCalifornia,CaliforniaandtheOriental(SacramentoCaliforniaStatePrintingOffice,
1922),115

Sikhs
Mohammadens
Hindus
Total

2000
500
100
2,600

ImperialValley
SacramentoCounty
AroundWillows
SanJoaquinCounty
FresnoCounty
Scattered
Total

300
500
600
300
300
600
2,600

Youarefamiliar,ofcourse,withthefactthatnoneofthemarenowpermittedtoentertheUnited
States;andnoneofthemhavebeenpermittedtobringwivesandchildrenhereandaveryfewofthem
havemarriedhere.8
Accordingtothisreportttherewereabout77%Sikhs,19.2%Muslimsandonly3.8%HindusinCalifornia
in1922.Eventhoughthisreportispreparedprimarilyagainstthegrowinginfluenceandpresenceofthe
Orientalimmigrants,especiallytheJapanese,itwastheSikhswhoweretheprimaryvictims.
ThereportmakesextremelyderogatorycommentsabouttheHindusandSikhsandsays,TheHinduhas
nomorals...ThelowcasteHindusandSikhsnoteligibletocitizenshipintheUnitedStates,butinavery
fewcasesnativesofIndiaofhighcastehaveproventothesatisfactionofthecourtstheirCaucasian
bloodandhavebeenadmittedtocitizenshipOneinvestigatorfortheStateBoardofControlstatethat
Hindus,althoughineligibletocitizenshipandthereforenotentitledtolegalownershipoflandunderthe
Californiaalienlandact,neverthelessownmanyparcelsoflandinCaliforniaandarepurchasingmore
land.9
ThisdocumentshowshowtheracialbiasandcastesystempropagatedbytheBrahmanisminIndia
founditswaytotheUSgovernmentandhowitwasusedtodeterminetheeligibilityforgranting
citizenship.
WhiletheIndianswereprohibitedfrombringingtheirwivesandchildrenfromIndia,awaveofpicture
brideswerearrivingfromJapaninlargenumbers.ManyJapanesemarriageswereinitiatedbythe
exchangeofphotographsbetweentheparties.Usually,ayoungmanfromtheUSwouldsendapicture
tohisparentsandtheywouldtakeittotheparentsofaprospectivebrideandnegotiateamarriage.
Whenbothpartiesagreed,immigrationpaperswereinitiatedandvisawasissuestothepicturebride
tocometotheUnitedStates.Themarriagewasoftenconsummatedatthearrivingdockwitha
marriageceremony.ThispracticewasapprovedbothbytheJapaneseandAmericangovernments.The
followingtableshowsthenumberofpicturebridesfromJapantotheUS.10
ThefiguresgivenfortheperiodsfromJuly1,1911,toFebruary29,1920,havebeenaddedbyState
BoardofControlofCaliforniagatheredattheUnitedStatesImmigrationStationatAngelIsland,just
outsideSanFrancisco.

StateBoardofControlofCalifornia,CaliforniaandtheOriental(SacramentoCaliforniaStatePrintingOffice,,122
Ibid,197
10
Ibid,160
9

PictureBridesArrivingattheSanFranciscoPort11
July1,1911toJune30,1912
879
July1,1912toJune30,1913
625
July1,1913toJune30,1914
768
July1,1914toJune30,1915
823
July1,1915toJune30,1916
486
July1,1916toJune30,1917
504
July1,1917toJune30,1918
522
July1,1918toJune30,1919
668
July1,1919toDecember30,1919
379
January1,1920toFebruary29,1920
95
Total8years,8months
5,749

Ontheotherhand,therewasavirtualbanonbringingwivesfromIndia.Onlyahandfulofwomenfrom
IndiaarrivedduringthisperiodandthepopulationoftheIndianimmigrantsdecreasedrapidlyand
almostcamenearextinctionby1946.
TheHindus(whichimpliesSikhshere)cametotheUSandfarmlaborers,butduetotheirhardwork
andfrugalhabits,theywereslowlyturningfromlaborerstolandlords.Beforetheywereabletobuy
land,theystartedtoleaseit,employedotherIndiansandAmericanandeventuallystartedtobecome
landlords.TheywereemployedinFresno,Kings,MaderaandTularecountiesinorchardsandvineyards.
TheywereemployedinYolocountyandSalinasvalleyinthesugarbeetfarms.TheCaliforniaandthe
Orientalreportshighlightsthisfact,Thenumberisrapidlygrowingless,forthechangefromemployed
toemployerorlesseeisrapidlyplacingtheHinduinthepositionoflittlelandlord.TheHinduwillnot
farmpoorland.Thewantsthebestandwillpayforit.ConsequentlytheAmericanownerwhocangeta
bigrentalforhislanddesiredtheHindu.Hewillpay.

CongressionalHearingRelatedtoIndianImmigrationtotheUSatWashington
TheIndiansfoughthardagainsttherepressiveimmigrationpolicyoftheUSandusedwhicheveravenues
wereopentothem.AhearingtookplacebeforetheCommitteeonImmigrationintheHouseof
Representatives(SixtyThirdCongress)onFebruary13,19and26,1914,andonApril16and30,1914in
whichtheHinduImmigrationcasewasheardanddecided.
TwoIndiansSudhindraBose12andBishenSinghsubmittedaletterandpleadedthecaseoftheIndiansin
frontofthiscommitteeonbehalfofthePacificKhalsaDewanSocietyandtheHindustanAssociationof
AmericaonFebruary12,1914pleadedthecauseoftheIndians.Inthislettertheytriedtopresentthe
IndianpopulationintheUSasthesubjectsoftheBritishgovernmentandclaimedsomeprivilegesand
protectionunderinternationallaw.Theyalsoarguedthatintheeventsuchprotectionisnotprovidedto

11

Ibid,161
SudhindraBose(1883May26,1946)wasborninKeotkhalinearDhaka(nowinBanglaDesh).Hecameto
UnitedStatesin1904andreceivedaPh.D.inPoliticalSciencefromtheUniversityofIowain1913.HewasLecturer
inOrientalPoliticsattheUniversityofIowa.
12

them,thiswouldcreateadiplomaticstalematebetweenthosetwonations.ThefactistheBritish
governmentdidnotwanttoprotectthembecausetheyweresimplyconsideredtroublemakers.It
furtherargued,
AtpresenttheHindusarethecitizensoftheBritishEmpire,andhavethesameinternationalcivilstatus
astheCanadiansorAustralasians.IninternationallawaHinduisprotectedbytheBritishflag.Any
attemptstoplaceanimportantportionoftheBritishEmpireinapositionofirritationwiththeUnited
Stateswouldbeunfortunateatthismoment,asitmightcreateanothercauseofdiplomaticfriction
betweentheUnitedStatesandGreatBritain.
ThefactisthattherewasnotreatiesbetweentheUSandGreatBritainthatwouldprohibittheUnited
StatesfromexcludingIndianswhenitcametoimmigrationtotheUS.SudhindraBosedidtryhisbestin
answeringabatteryofquestionsinfrontofthispowerfulcommittee,butgaugingthemoodofthe
Committee,noanswercouldhaveeversatisfiedthem.Thisletterwasperhapswrittenwithallthegood
intentions,butitdidnotproducethedesiredresults.Sincetherewasaracialtensionandoppositionto
theOrientalsattimewhoareconsideredtobeoftheMongolianorigin,theIndianswantedto
differentiatethemselvesandarguedthattheHindusarenotMongolians.TheysaidthattheHindus
areCaucasiansraceandthattheirclassiclanguageSanskrit,pointstotheirunmistakablekinshiptoall
AryanracesofmodernEurope.
EventhoughthismaybetechnicallycorrectinthecaseoftheNorthernIndians,itisnotentirelytrue.
IndiansfromtheSouthareofDravidianorigin.ThisargumentdoesnotmakesensefromtheSikh
perspectivebecauseSikhismbelievesinequalityofhumanrace.Thisargumentwasprobablymadedue
totworeasons:1)TheIndiansdidnotwanttobebracketedwithChineseandJapaneseandtheythought
provingthemselvesasCaucasianracemightgivethemsomebreak;and2)theremighthavebeenthe
influenceofBrahmanismworkingbehindsuchstatementsbecausethespokesmanoftheIndianswas
SudhindraBose,aHindu.13
Thiscommitteehad15members.AlmosttheentirecommitteewasextremelybiasedagainsttheIndians
fromtheverybeginning.HereisanexcerptfromthehearingandastatementformMr.DenverS.
Church,amemberofCongress(7thDistrict)fromtheStateofCalifornia,
Thatbringsmethisproposition:Whilewecangetalong,yetthereare350,000,000ofthemoverthere,
andtheyarecomingandtheygoingtocontinuetocome,becauseconditionsaresobadoverintheir
owncountry.Itisaselfevidentfactthatsoonerorlaterwewillhavetoexcludethem.Whynotdoit
nowwhenwearemastersofthesituation?
TheChairman:Haveyouheardofanyoftheleadersteachinganyanarchisticideas
Mr.Church:Ofcourse,theHindusdowninmycountry,intheinteriorofCalifornia,arethereforthe
purposeofgettingjobssoastoearnmoneytosendbacktoIndia.Ihaveheardthatoccursinthe

13

(LettersubmittedtotheUSCongressandpartoftheCongressionalrecords.)HinduImmigrationHearingsBefore
theCommitteeonImmigrationHouseofRepresentativesSixtyThirdCongressSecondSessionRelativeto
RestrictionsofImmigrationofHinduLaborersFebruary19,1914,(WashingtonGovernmentPrintingOffice),52

sectionsaroundthebay.Icannotgiveyouanydefiniteinformationastowhethertheyteachrevolution
andanarchy.ThereisnodoubtfromwhatIhaveheardthattheydoandthatthesepeopleareacquiring
alltheknowledgetheycandoastobeinapositioninthefuturetorebelagainsttheformof
governmentunderwhichtheyareatthetimeliving.14
ThisindicateshowbiasedtheImmigrationCommitteeintheUSCongresswasandhowtheywere
worriedaboutrevolutioninIndiaagainsttheBritishagainstwhomtheUnitedStatesitselfhad
rebelledandfreeditselffromtheBritishslavery.ItalsoindicatesthattheCaliforniaIndianimmigrants,
whowerepredominantlySikhs,wereactiveinthrowingtheBritishoutofIndia.

GhadarMovement,ItsOriginandDevelopment
SohanSinghJoshwritesaboutthebirthofPacificCoastHindustaniAssociation,
OnsomedayinJuly1912,theIndianmillworkersgatheredatPortland.HarnamSinghKotlanaudh
Singh,andsomeothersfromBridalVeil,PanditKashiRamandothersfromSaintJohn,andBhaiSohan
SinghBhaknaandotherscompanionsparticipatedinthismeeting.Adecisionwastakentoestablish
PacificCoastHindustanAssociationandtoopenitsofficebyrentingahouse.Allthosewhowere
present,becameitsmembers.BhaiSohanSinghBhaknawasappointeditspresident,BabuGuruDutt
wasappointeditsgeneralsecretaryandPanditKashiRamwasappointeditstreasurer...LalaThakur
Das,whowasworkingwithPanditKashiRaminSaintJohn,suggestedtoPresidentSohanSinghBhakna
andotherstoinviteLalaHarDayalwholivedinSanFrancisco,toleadthiseffort.Thissuggestionwas
acceptedinthePortlandmeetingandLalaThakurDaswasgiventheresponsibilityofpersuadingLala
HarDayaltoacceptthisrole.15
ThusthegroundworkforthesolidarityoftheIndianshadbegunintheUS.OneThakurDaswrotea
lettertoLalaHarDayalin1912tocometoOregon.InareplyHarDayalnotifiedhimabouthisvisitto
SaintJohnonDecember25,duringtheChristmasholiday.Allthefriendswerehappyaboutthisnews
thattheworkwillnowbegin.However,only34daysbeforetheappointeddate,theywere
disappointedtoknowthatHarDayalwouldnotbeabletomakeittoSaintJohnthen,butduringthelast
weekofMarch1913.16
AccordingtoBabaSohanSinghBhakna,oneofthefoundersofthisassociation,In1912ourfactory
LiftonwasclosedforonemonthduetoChristmasholidays.SoIwenttoafactoryinAstoriawhere
approximately250Indiansworked.AmongthemBhaiKesarSinghwashighlyregardedbyallandtheyall
particularlytrustedhimandIalsostayedwithhim.Whenwediscussedtheprosandconsofthe
nationalindependence,thenwereachedaconclusionthatwithoutactionandsacrificeandtheabilityto
showtheresults,onecannotachievefreedom.Soitisimportanttostartanationalwarandtoprepare
anarmyoftheIndianspatriotsintheUSwhichshouldbeabovecommunallines,andbeinganIndian
eachofitssoldiershouldenrollhimselfinittoachievefreedomforhismotherlandAttheend,bothof

14

Ibid,p.82
SohanSinghJosh,GhadarPartyDaSankhepItihas(Ludhiana:ChetnaParkashan,2007),107
16
Ibid,107
15

10

usdecidedthatweshouldcallameetingonthecomingSundayinordertoestablishasocietyforthat
purposeAttheend,thesocietywasestablishedwhichwascalledHindiMahaSabha.Itspresident
wasBhaiKesarSingh,VicePresidentaMuslimandIwaselectedtheSecretary.Theprimarygoalofthis
associationwassettofreeIndiaafterunitingallIndiansintoanationalchain.17
ThustheHindiMahaSabhaalsoknownasPacificCoastHindustanAssociation,wasestablishedin
thecityofAstoria,intheOregonstatesoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.ThiswaslaterknownasGhadar
Party.
AccordingtoastatementpublishedintheStocktonDailyEveningRecordofDecember6,1913,
International(foreign)moneyordertotheamountof$26,282.82weresoldbytheStocktonpostoffice
duringthemonthofOctoberTheIndianshadtransmitted$18,489.27inOctober.Ofthisamount,
$18,469.27wassenttoBritishIndianoffices.18Thisamountwassentinasinglemonthwhich
amountedto70.30%ofthetotalforeignmoneyorderssentbytheresidentsof16othercountriesliving
intheStocktonareamostofwhichwereEuropeans.ThenextsecondhighestwasJapanwhere$3908.00
weresent.ThisbecameacauseofalarmintheUSandthisissuewasraisedintheUSCongress.

RoleofLalaHarDayal

LalaHarDayalwasborninDelhiinaHinduKaisth19familyin1884.Hewasabrilliantstudent.He
receivedhisM.A.inEnglishfromGovernmentCollegeLahoreandanM.A.inHistorythenextyear.Then
hewenttoOxfordUniversityforfurtherstudies.HecamebacktoIndiain1908andreturnedtoEngland
againwherehepublishedtheBandeMatramnewspaper.AccordingtoBritishIntelligencedocuments,
HewasthecleverestoftheyoungIndianextremistsinParis,buthewasquiteunbalancedinhisviews
andmuchhandicappedbyillhealth.InApril1911,hewasinCaliforniaandcontributedtotheModern
Review(July1911)anexcellentarticleonIndiainAmerica,givinghisaddressasBerkeley,thesuburbs
ofSanFranciscowheretheUniversityofCaliforniaissituated.In1912hewasappointedlectureron
PhilosophyandSanskritatStanfordUniversity.20
InFebruary1912,hewasappointedtheGeneralSecretaryoftheGhadarPartyandtheChiefEditorof
theGhadar(GhadarDiGoonj)newspaper.HewroterevolutionaryarticlesinGhadarwhichoriginally
startedinUrdu.Later,itwaspublishedinGurmukhiandotherIndialanguages.Hehadlecturedon
anarchismatStanfordUniversitybeforehejoinedthePacificCoastHindustaniAssociation.Accordingto
GianiWadhawaSingh,theformerGranthiofStocktonGurdwara,Afterthis,LalaHarDayaldidnothave
anycorrespondenceorconnectionwiththeGhadarParty.HediedinPhiladelphiain1939.Thereisno
doubtthatthefoundationoftheGhadarPartywaslaiddownbeforehejoinedtheparty,theworkofthe

17 17

BabaSohanSinghBhakna,MeriRamKahani,Ed.RajwinderSinghRahi(SangamPublications:Samana,2012),
7980
18
HinduImmigrationHearingsBeforetheCommitteeonImmigrationHouseofRepresentativesSixtyThird
CongressSecondSessionRelativetoRestrictionsofImmigrationofHinduLaborersFebruary19,1914,
(WashingtonGovernmentPrintingOffice),p.81
19
MeansascribeinSanskrit.
20
25HarDayal,S9DCIDprofileintheIndiaOfficeLibrary

11

partywentonwithfullforceafterheleft,buttheofficeworkthathedidforthepartyandtheworkhe
didforthenewspaperforfiveandahalfmonthswillstayaliveinthehistoryoftheGhadarParty.21
HarDayalalsoaddressedmeetingsinvarioustownsinAmericainsupportoftheIndianrevolutionary
movementuntilMarch,1914.ThenhewasarrestedbytheauthoritiesoftheUnitedStatesGovernment,
withaviewtohisdeportationasanundesirablealien.Releasedonbail,heescapedtoSwitzerland
possiblywiththehelpoftheGhadarparty.Afterthewarbrokeout,hejoinedtheIndianNationalParty,
whichworkedinBerlinunderthedirectionsoftheGermanForeignOffice.Itseemslikehisloveaffair
withGermanydidnotlastlong.Inhisbookhedescribedhisexperiencesandthereasonsthathaveled
himtochangehisattitudetowardsBritishruleinIndia.HarDayalwrites,ThehistoryofGermanyduring
thelastfiftyyearsmaybedescribedasthetragedyofawholesociety.Thisnationisutterlysickinhead
andheart.Ithaslostitswits,andithaskilleditsconscience."Whomthegodsdestroy,theyfirstmake
mad."Itwilltakeaverylongtimetorestorethisdementedanddemoralisedpeopletohealthand
sanity.22
HarDayalalmostbecameamouthpieceoftheBritishgovernmentinhislateryears.Heexpressedthat
EnglandhasbeeninthefieldofcreatingcoloniesandFranceisnotfarbehind.Thusitwasagoodideato
supportthemintheirendeavorandcooperatewiththem.Hewrites,AmongEuropeannations,
Englandhasbeenalreadyinthefieldforacentury,andFrancehasalsoacquiredvastdependenciesin
AsiaandAfrica.Itis;therefore,wisetocooperatewiththesenationsfortheestablishmentand
continuanceofgoodgovernmentinAsiaticcountries,whatevercolourtheflagmayhave.23
Inshort,hepropagatedperpetualslaveryofIndiaandalltheothernationscolonizedbyGreatBritain
andFrance.Afterreadingthisstatementonewonderswhatkindofmindsethepossessedandwhyhe
flipfloppedonindependenceofIndiaandotherslavenations.Hisbookleaveslittledoubtthathewasin
leaguewiththeBritishintelligence.
HerearetheviewsofMichaelODwyeraboutLalaHarDayal,
HearrivedintheUnitedStatesearlyin1911,andestablishedhimselfatBerkeley,California,where
seditiousmovementhadbeenatworkforsomeyearstocorrupttheIndianimmigrants,chieflySikhs,of
whomseveralthousandhadsettledsince1907alongthePacificcoastfromVancouvertoSanFrancisco.
HarDayalfoundthegroundpreparedandatoncesettoworktosowtheseedTheinfamousGhadar
newspaper,whichopenlyincitedtomurderandmutinyandurgedallIndianstoreturntoIndiawith
expressobjectofmurderingtheBritishandcausingrevolutionbyanyandeverymeans,wasstartedby
HarDayalin1913.24
GhadarPartypublishedthefirstissueofGhadardiGunj(EchoofMutiny)inNovember1913.Kartar
SinghSarabhawroteinthefirstissue:"Todaytherebegins'Ghadar'inforeignlands,butinourcountry's
tongue,awaragainsttheBritishRaj.Whatisourname?Ghadar.Whatisourwork?Ghadar.Wherewill

21

WadhawaSingh,IntroductiontotheSikhTempleStocktonandGhadarParty(Stockton:SikhTempleStockton,
1983),127
22
LalaHarDayal,FortyfourMonthsinGermanyandTurkey(Westminster:P.S.King&Son,Ltd.,1920),28
23
LalaHarDayal,FortyfourMonthsinGermanyandTurkey(Westminster:P.S.King&Son,Ltd.,1920),53
24
SirMichaelODwyer,IndiaAsIKnewIt(London:Constable&Company,1925),186

12

betheRevolution?InIndia.Thetimewillsooncomewhenriflesandbloodwilltaketheplaceofpens
andink."
ModernHinduhistorians,especiallythoseundertheinfluenceoftheHindunationalistBJP(Bhartiya
JanataParty)givemuchcredittopeoplelikeHarDyaltopushtheirHindutivaagenda.Heworkedwith
theGadharitesforlessthansixmonths.Heseemedtohaverevolutionaryideasandplayedanimportant
roleintheformationoftheGhadarmovementinitsinitialphase.However,hedidnotstickwiththe
GhadarideologyverylongandmadeanaboutturnsoonafterhelefttheUnitedStates.Hisviewsand
deedsareatvariance.Ontheotherhand,theSikhGhadaritesfoughtfearlesslyandtheircommitmentto
theGhadarmovementwasunflinching.ThereweresomeHinduandMuslimGhadariteslikeRashBihari
Bose,V.G.Pingle,SachindranathSanyalandMaulanaBarkatullawhofoughtwithgreatpassionandpaid
aheavyprice.
KhushwantSingh,whilepayingatributetoHarDyalwrites,
Whatmadehisreputationimpregnablewasthefactthathewasalsoarevolutionarywhospurned
governmentpatronage,directedtheGhadarMovementinitsearlyyearsintheUSandCanada,became
theprincipaladviseroftheGermanGovernmentsattempttofomentarevoltagainsttheBritishRaj
duringWorldWarI.ThenlikehisequallydistinguishedcontemporaryVeerSavarkar,hetookacomplete
somersault,apologisedforhispasterrorsandpledgedloyaltytothemHebecameanardentadmirer
oftheBritishasa"truthfulpeople...whohadamoralandhistoricalmissioninIndia."TheBritish
governmenthadhispronouncementstranslatedintoHindianddistributedfreeinIndia.25Thispretty
muchsumsuphiscommitmenttotheGhadarmovementandthecausethathesodearlyespoused.

GhadarMovementOperationsandPlans
EventhoughtheGhadarmovementoriginatedintheNorthAmerica,itsoperationalfieldandprimary
targetwasIndia.ItsprimarypurposewastocausearebellionagainsttheBritishgovernmentinIndia
andsetIndiafreefromtheBritishyokewiththehelpofarms.ItsinitialgoalwastoinculcatetheGhadar
thinkinginthemindsofthepeopleofIndiaandtheBritishIndianarmyandattackBritishestablishments
usingallmeans,includingviolence.
ItisoftensaidthattheSikhshavebeenmakinghistory,buttheyhavebeencarelessinpreservingit.This
isalsotrueoftheGhadarmovement.TheGhadarmovementwasconceivedandorganizedbytheSikhs
inNorthAmerica,butvariouscommunistpartiesinIndia,whowerenotevenonthesceneformany
moreyears,havetriedtomisappropriateitandclaimitsownership.TheGhadarmovementwasnota
communistinspiredmovementatall.Itistruethatsomecommunistsdidjoinit,buttheydidsoata
muchlaterstagewhentheoriginalGhadarmovementwasgoneforthemostpart.Theywereallowedto
joinitbecauseofthesecularnatureofthefightagainsttheBritish.ThefaultliesprimarilywiththeSikhs
whoabdicatedtheirresponsibilityinpreservingtheSikhlegacy.ItisencouragingthattheSikhshave
finallybecomeawareofthisissueinthelastfewyears.

25

KhushwantSingh,TheTribune,Singh,August16,2003

13

TheBritishIndianarmywasnotonlysettledinIndia;butalsogotinvolvedinvariouswartheatres
throughouttheworldwheretheywereorderedtogoasBritishmercenaries.TheBritishinIndiahadhit
asweetspotwhenitcametogettingarmyrecruitsfromPunjab.Theyexploitedtheyoungmenof
PunjabandusedthemasfodderinbothWorldWars.Inordertoaccomplishtheirgoal,theypittedone
communityagainstanotheringettingmaximumnumberofrecruits.BothMuslimsandSikhswerethe
backboneoftheBritishIndianarmy.Interestingly,Sikhs,whomadeonly2%ofthetotalIndian
population,providedatleast25%ofthemilitaryrecruits.
WhilethegoaloftheGhadariteswastothrowtheBritishoutofIndiaasquicklyaspossible,theprincely
statestriedtooutdoeachotherinsycophancyoftheBritish.Theyspentenormousamountofmoneyon
WWIandWWIIandsentalargenumberofsoldierstointernationalwartheatres.TheMaharajaof
KapurthaladuringthevisitofViceroyofIndiaMontaguChelmsfordsparednowordsforthepraiseof
theViceroyandtoldhimhowhisstatehadcontributedmorethan4000recruitstowardsthewarefforts
andhowhehadextendedwarloanstotaling1.2millionrupeesandover300,000rupeestowardwar
efforts.TheViceroy,inturnpraiseshimforsubvertingtheGhadaritesinthisstate,YourHighnesshas
recentlygivenonemoreproof,thoughnonewasneeded,oftheloyaltyoftheKapurthalaStatetothe
BritishGovernment.DuringtherecenttroubloustimesthroughwhichthePunjabpassedasaresultof
theinfluxofseditiousagitatorsandreturnedemigrantstheStatecooperatedwholeheartedlywiththe
PunjabGovernmentinitseffortstoexpatriatecrimeandtobringtheguiltytojustice.Themovements
ofsuchofthesepersonsasenteredtheStateswerekeptundercarefulsurveillance,andtheefficiency
ofStatePolicewasdemonstratedbythesuccesswhichwasachieved.26
DuringWWI,theGermanswerefishinginthetroubledwatersofIndiathroughPersiaandAfghanistan
throughthetribalareasoftheborder.ThisisdocumentedbynoneotherthantheinfamousGeneral
ReginaldDyer(alsoknownasbutcherofAmritsar)whowrites,Theywerepouringtheiragents,with
theirlyingpropaganda,intoIndiaviaPersiaandAfghanistan.Afghanistan,likePersia,wasnominally
neutral,butshewasbreakingherneutralitybymanyopenactsofaggression,andwasofferingevery
facilityinherpowertotheGermanagentsintheirpassagethroughherterritories,andthenceintothe
Punjab.27Ontheotherhand,GermanysallyTurkeywasMahommedanandtheMuslimsinIndiawere
askedbytheBritishtofightagainsttheircoreligionistsbytheBritish.
AccordingtoGeneralDyer,ThesetribesweregenerallyfriendlywiththeBritish,butGermanshad
bribedthemheavilyandhadmoreoverassuredthemthatGermanyhadturnedIslam[sic]andthatthe
KaiserWilliamhimselfwasaconverttotheirreligion.AstheSarhad28tribeswerealwaysoutforagood
thingforthemselves,andastheybelievedthelieabouttheGermanconversion,theyhadallowed
themselvestobetrickedintohelpingtheGermans.29

26

SpeechesbyLordChelmsfordViceroyandGovernorGeneralofIndia(Simla:TheGovernmentMonotypePress,
1921),202
27
BrigadierGeneralR.E.H.Dyer,TheRaidersoftheSarhad(London:H.F.&G.Witherby,1921),16
28
Border
29
Ibid,17

14

GeneralDyerwasaruthlessmanwhodidnothesitatetobendthelaworbluffpeopleinorderto
achievehisgoals.WhendealingwiththelawlessrebelsneartheborderofIranandBaluchistan1916,he
actedasageneralwhenhewasnot.Hewrites,

Meanwhile,thoughIwasnotyetaGeneralIdeterminedtoactthepart.The28thLightCavalrymade
crossedswordsformyshouldersandthenecessaryredtabs.Theformerwereconsiderablybiggerthan
theregulationpattern,butwereotherwisewellmade.ThenLandonandIwentoffbycarto
Nasaratabad.30

PlantoInfiltrateandAttackMilitaryCantonments
TheGhadariteshadinfiltratedatleast20militarycantonmentsinPunjab,UPandotherpartsofIndiain
ordertocreatearebellion.However,theirfirsttargetsweretheLahoreandFerozepurcantonmentsin
Punjab.Thesoldiersof23rdRegimenthadaskedforanearlierdate.Thesoldiershadanotherreasonto
bepiquedattheBritishgovernment.TheywerebeingsenttoothercountriesasfodderforWWIforthe
British.Theexpectationwasthatoncetherevoltislaunchedatthesetwomilitarybases,itwasgoingto
spreadinothermilitarybasesinIndiaaswell.Thedateforthearmyrevoltwassetforthenightof
February21,1915.Contactsweremadewiththearmymeninthesebases.Duetothetreacheryofone
KirpalSingh,theplansofrevoltwereleakedtothepolice.Asaresult,mostoftheGhadarleaderswere
arrestedandtheplandied.
VariousgroupsofrevolutionarieshadgatheredatFerozepurinlargenumbers.BhaiRandhirSingh
(founderofAkhandKirtaniJatha)arrivedatFerozepurrailwaystationwithapartyofabout60menwith
himtoparticipateintherevolt.Theysanghymnswithharmoniumastheypassed.Thewhitepolicemen
thoughttheywereasingingpartyandletthempasswithoutanyproblem.BhaiRandhirSinghwas
arrestedandsenttojailbyaspecialtribunalintheSecondLahoreConspiracycase.Hewassentencedto
deathalongwithother23peoplebythistribunal.However,duetotheinterventionoftheViceroyof
IndiaLordHardinge,onlysixpeoplewerehangedincludingKartarSinghSarabha.BhaiRandhirSingh,
alongwithother17peopleweresenttoprisonforlife.ThisaccountisprovidedbyLordHardinge
(ViceroyofIndia)himselfinhisbiography,MyIndianYears19101916.
TheLahoreConspiracygavememuchtroubleatthistime.Nolessthantwentyfourmenwere
condemnedtodeathbyaSpecialTribunal.IwenttoLahoretoseetheLieutenantGovernor,SirM.
ODwyer,andtoldhimcategoricallythatIabsolutelydeclinedtoallowaholocaustofvictimsinacase
whereonlysixmenhadbeenprovedtobeactuallyguiltyofmurderanddacoity.Herecommendedthat
onlysix[sic]ofthetwentyfourshouldhavetheirsentencescommuted.Iagreedtocommutationin
thesecasesbutsubmittedtheremainingeighteencasestothejudgmentoftheLawMember.Heproved
tomeconclusivelythatinthecaseofallexceptsixactuallyguiltyofmurderanddacoity,theyhadbeen
31
convictedunderaclauseofthepenalcodewhichcouldnotentailadeathsentence.

30
31

Ibid,50
LordHardinge,MyIndianYears19101916(FromeandLondon:ButlerandTannerLtd.,1949),p.130

15

JallianwalaBaghMassacre
On10December1917,theViceroyofIndiaLordChelmsfordappointedaSeditionCommittee,popularly
knownasRowlattCommitteenamedafteritschairman.Itscharterwastoinvestigateandreportonthe
natureandextentofthecriminalconspiraciesconnectedwiththerevolutionarymovementinIndia,and
toadviseastothelegislationnecessarytodealwiththem.HarbansSinghwrites,Basedonthe
recommendationsofthiscommittee,twobills,popularlycalledRowlattBills,werepublishedinthe
GovernmentofIndiaGazetteon18January1919.MahatmaGandhidecidedtoorganizeasatyagrah
(nonviolentcivildisobediencecampaign)againstthebills.OneofthebillsbecameanAct,nevertheless,
on21March1919.Callforacountrywidehartalorgeneralstrikeon30March,laterpostponedto6
April1919,wasgivenbyMahatmaGandhi.32

TherewereriotsinAmritsarandLahoreinApril1919alongwithpassiveresistanceagainsttheRowlatt
Billsthatthegovernmenthadpassed.Dr.SaifudDinKitchluandMr.SatyaPal,thetwomainagitators
werecalledtotheDeputyCommissionersoffice,arrestedandsentofftoDharamshala(nowin
HimachalPradesh)bycar.ThisledtoageneralstrikeinAmritsarandmobsattackedsomegovernment
buildingsandbanks.TheyinjuredandkilledaEuropeanguardnamedRobinson.TheTownHall,the
telegraphofficeandtheNationalBankbuildingswerewrecked.TwoEuropeanofficialsofthebankMr.
StewartandMr.Scottweremurdered.Thecrowdwasstoppedandfireduponneartherailwayfoot
bridge.

OnApril13,1919,severalthousandunarmedIndians,peacefullyassembledinJallianwalaBagh,
Amritsar,tolistentoseveralprominentlocalleadersspeakoutagainstBritishcolonialruleinIndiaand
againstthearrestanddeportationofDr.SatyaPal,Dr.SaifudDinKitchlew,andfewothersunderthe
unpopularRowlattAct.MichaelODwyerhaddeclaredamartiallawwhichnotannounced.Heprobably
madesomeannouncementsaboutitinsomelocalitiesinthecitybeforehand,butthegeneral
populationwasnotawareofit.ThepoliticalinstabilitymadeitverydifficultforhimtostayinPunjab
muchlongeraftertheAmritsarmassacre.Hesays,IarrivedinIndiainNovember,1885,andwasposted
toLahore,thecapitalofthePunjab.IleftLahoreandthePunjabforgoodinMay,1919.33

GeneralReginaldDyerbroughtinfiftyriflemen;fortyGurkhasarmedwiththeirtraditionalweapon,the
kukrisandtwoarmoredcarsandmarchedtowardstheJallianwalaBaghwithaclearintentionofkillinga
largenumberofpeopleandthusteachingthePunjabisalesson.

32
33

HarbansSinghJallianwalaBaghMassacre,TheEncylopaediaofSikhism
SirMichaelODwyer,IndiaAsIKnewIt(London:Constable&Company,1925),27

16

Figure2.EntranceGateofJallianwalaBagh

Figure3.MartyrsWellAtJallianwalaBagh

17


Figure4.AshesofSardarUdhamSinghBroughttoIndiafromEnglandonJuly19,1974keptatthe
JallianwalaBaghMuseum,Amritsar

SardarUdhamSinghsasheswerebroughtbackfromEnglandtoIndiainJuly1974.Theywereparaded
throughoutPunjabandotherpartsofIndiainaspeciallydecoratedbus.Thatbusalsovisitedmycollege
GuruGobindSinghRepublicCollege,Jandiala,JalandharinPunjab.Allthestudentsandcollegestaff
receivedthefloatwithgreatenthusiasm.VariousleadersofPunjabaccompaniedSardarUdhamSinghs
ashesandbrieflyspokeonthatoccasion.AmongthemwasS.AmarSinghDosanjh,theeditorofAkali
Patrika.

18

Figure5.ReceptionofHolyAshesofShahidUdhamSinghatGuruGobindSinghRepublicCollege,
Jandiala,Jalandar(thispictureistakenfromthecollegeMagazineTheBaaz,197576.)

DyerhadaminuteglimpseoftheassemblyofthepeopleintheBaghwheretheseventhspeaker,
DurgaDaswasspeakingfromtheplatform.TheearliersixspeakerswereRaiRamSingh,DarSingh,
AbdulMajid,BrijGopiNath,HansRajandGurbakashRai.Dyer,whowasinindependentcommandsof
theforceunderhim,wasnottoconsulanybodyatthispointoftime.Hehadalreadymadeuphismind
toactinawaywhichmightbealessongivingtothepeopleofPunjab.Notlosingevenaminute,heat
onceorderedhissepoystoadoptkneelingposition,ausualpostureforasoldiertofire.Thefiringorder
wasgivenandthenumerousvolleysofshotsbegantopierceintothebodiesofthepeopleinthe
Bagh.34

Firingcontinuedforabouttenminutesuntiltheammunitionwasexhausted.Itpanickedthecrowdand
theyraninalldirections.Manyjumpedintothewellinthehopethatitmightsavetheirlives.Theywere
soondrowned.Thosewhoheldonforsometimedrownedundertheweightofothers.Therewasno
onetopullthemout.Thatwellisstillpresent.Alltheexitsandescaperouteswereblockedbythearmy.
GeneralDyerpersonallydirectedthefirewherethecrowdwasthethickestorinthedirectionpeople
wererushinginordertosavethemselves.

34

ArthurSwinson,SixMinutestoSunet(London:1964),pp.4749

19

Figure6.JallianwalaBaghMemorial

GeneralDyerknewwellinadvancethatpeopleweregatheringattheJallianwalaBagh,buthedid
nothingtodispersethemnordidhegivethemthechancetoescape.TheMartialLawwasinplace,but
mostpeoplecamefromvillagesfarawayfromthecityandtheywerenotawareofit.

IronicallymanypeopleinEnglandsupportedGeneralDyer.JosephRudyardKipling,anIndiabornBritish
writerwhowonaNobelPrizeinLiteraturein1907,supportedtheactionsofGeneralDyer.Heclaimed
Dyerwas"themanwhosavedIndia."Hestartedabenefitfundwhichraisedover26,000pounds
sterling,including50poundscontributedbyKiplinghimself.ThemoneywaspresentedtoDyerwhenhe
settledinEnglandonhisretirement.Ontheotherhand,RabindraNathTagore,wholaterwonthe
IndianNobelPrizeinpoetry,condemnedthisbarbarousactandrenouncedhisKnighthoodthatthe
BritishCrownhadgrantedhimin1915bywritingthisletter:
YourExcellency,

TheenormityofthemeasurestakenbytheGovernmentinthePunjabforquellingsomelocal
disturbanceshas,witharudeshock,revealedtoourmindsthehelplessnessofourpositionasBritish
subjectsinIndia.Thedisproportionateseverityofthepunishmentsinflictedupontheunfortunate
peopleandthemethodsofcarryingthemout,weareconvinced,arewithoutparallelinthehistoryof
civilisedgovernments,barringsomeconspicuousexceptions,recentandremote.
20


B.G.Hornimanwrites,

FloggingswereacommonfeatureoftheadministrationofMartialLawinAmritsarasin
otherareas.Thesentenceswereinflictedbysummarycourtsfortrivialoffencesontrumpery
evidence.Thepublicfloggingofsomemenwhowereallegedtohavebeenconcernedinthe
assaultonMissSherwood,wasanexceptionalincident,akintothecrawlingorder.Thesemen
hadnotbeentriedorconvictedforthecrime.Theywereawaitingtrial.Buttocreatean
example,theywerebroughttothesceneoftheassault,andpubliclyfloggedinthestreet.35

MurderofMichaelODwyerbyUdhamSingh

UdhamSinghwasaneyewitnesstothishorribleeventandithadamajorimpactonhim.On30August
1927UdhamSinghwasarrestedatAmritsarforpossessionofunlicensedarms.Somerevolvers,a
quantityofammunition,andcopiesofaprohibitedGhadarPartypapercalled"GhadrdiGunj"("Voice
orEchoofRevolt")wereconfiscatedfromhim.Hewasprosecutedundersection20oftheArmsAct.It
tookhimanother21yearstotakerevenge,afterhereachedEnglandandshotMichaelODwyerdeadat
CaxtonHallinLondononMarch13,1940.UdhamSinghdidnottrytofleethesceneandtookfull
responsibilityofhisactofbravery.Infact,hedefiantlysaid,

"IdiditbecauseIhadagrudgeagainsthim.Hedeservedit.Hewastherealculprit.Hewantedtocrush
thespiritofmypeople,soIhavecrushedhim.Forfull21years,Ihavebeentryingtowreakvengeance.I
amhappythatIhavedonethejob.Iamnotscaredofdeath.Iamdyingformycountry.Ihaveseenmy
peoplestarvinginIndiaundertheBritishrule.Ihaveprotestedagainstthis,itwasmyduty.Whata
greaterhonourcouldbebestowedonmethandeathforthesakeofmymotherland?

On4June1940,hewascommittedtotrial,attheCentralCriminalCourt,OldBailey,beforeJusticeOn1
April1940,UdhamSinghwasformallychargedwiththemurderofMichaelO'Dwyer.Atkinson.When
thecourtaskedabouthisname,hereplied"RamMohammadSinghAzad",(RamasaHinduname,
MohammadasaMuslimnameandSinghasaSikhname).Azadmeanstobefree.On1April1940,
UdhamSinghwasformallychargedwiththemurderofMichaelO'Dwyer.HewashangedatPentonville
PrisononJuly31,1940.

RoleofMichaelODwyerandGeneralReginaldDyer

MichaelODwyer,theLt.GovernorofPunjab,wasthelynchpinoftheJallianwalaBaghmassacre.There
isquiteabitofcontroversyaboutMichaelODwyerwhoapprovedtheactionsofGeneralDyer.Michael
ODwyerwrites,GeneralBeynontoldmehewasconveyingapprovalofhisactiontoDyerandaskedif
hemightaddmine.Ihadatfirstsomehesitation,asDyer'sactionwasamilitaryone,butonfuller
considerationIthoughtitadvisabletoendorseGeneralBeynon'sapproval.Hethensentthemessage
(byaeroplane,Ithink)toDyer.Thefactisthismassacrecouldnothavehappenedwithouttheexpress
approvalofMichaelODwyer.ItwasMichaelODwyerwhohadendorsedGeneralDyerandcalledthe
massacrea"correct"action.

35

B.G.Horniman,AmritsarandOurDutytoIndia(London:T.FisherUnwin,Ltd.,1920),124125

21

Therewasacurfeworderinplaceinthecity.Peoplewereafraidtogoabouttheirbusinessandkept
theirbusinessesandshopsclosed.GeneralDyerissuedanotherwarningtoPunjabisbyissuinganotice
inUrduwhichistranslatedhere:

"YoupeopleknowwellthatIamaSepoyandsoldier.Doyouwantwarorpeace?Ifyouwishforawar,
theGovernmentispreparedforit,andifyouwantpeace,thenobeymyordersandopenallyourshops;
elseIwillshoot.FormethebattlefieldofFranceorAmritsaristhesame.IamamilitarymanandIwill
gostraight.NeithershallImovetotherightnortotheleft.Speakup,ifyouwantwar?Incasethereisto
bepeace,myorderistoopenallshopsatonce.YoupeopletalkagainsttheGovernmentandpersons
educatedinGermanyandBengaltalksedition.Ishallreportallthese.Obeymyorders.Idonotwishto
haveanythingelse.Ihaveservedinthemilitaryforover30years.IunderstandtheIndianSepoyand
Sikhpeopleverywell.Youwillhavetoobeymyordersandobservepeace.Otherwisetheshopswillbe
openedbyforceandrifles.YouwillhavetoreporttomeoftheBadmash[scoundrel].Iwillshootthem.
Obeymyordersandopenshops.Speakupifyouwantwar?Youhavecommittedabadactinkillingthe
English.Therevengewillbetakenuponyouanduponyourchildren."36

GeneralDyerwasamilitarymanwholookedatevenanormalsocialdiscordandprotestasamilitary
problemandtriedtodealwithitaccordinglyasiffightingaforeigninvadingarmy.Onepersonwhofully
exposedtheAmritsaratrocitieswasafearlessBritisheditorofBombayChronicler,B.G.Horniman.He
writes,

GeneralDyersaidhefired,andfiredwell,becausehedidnotwantanyonetohavetoshootagainin
thePunjab.WhatfollowedontheAmritsarbattue37anditisnotunreasonabletoarguethatitwasa
resultwaswholesaleshootingandbombingofunarmedpeopleinotherpartsofthePunjab,andsix
weeks'agonyunderMartialLaw.38

ABritishwomanMissSherwoodlivedinAmritsarandwasattackedbythemobfewdaysbeforethe
April13,1919incident.Shewassavedbythelocalresidentswholivedonthesamestreet.GeneralDyer
issuedacrawlingorderandmadeallthepeopletocrawlonallfourwhohappenedtopassthrough
thatstreet.Thiswasahumiliatingactforthehonorablepeoplewholivedonthatstreetorhadtogo
throughthatstreet.

BombingofGujranwalaonApril14,1919
TheAmritsarmassacreisawellknownfact.However,theGujranwalabombing,whichisequallyserious
isoftenoverlookedbythehistorians.Thisoccurredduringthemartiallawwhichwasdeclaredby
MichaelODwyerwiththeapprovaloftheIndiangovernment(MontaguChelmsford,ViceroyofIndia).
OnApril14,1919wellover100peopleperishedinGujranwalawhenthreeairplanesofRoyalAirForce
droppedbombsonciviliansandfiredmachinegunroundsfromtheair.Thebombingoperationwas
carriedoutbytwoR.A.F.officers,MajorCarberryandLieutenantDodkins.AbombfellneartheKhalsa
Schoolhostelandinjuredonestudent.TherewereseriousprotestsinAmritsar,Lahore,Gujranwalaand
KasuraftertheRowlattBillswerepassed.OnApril14,1919,thetelegraphoffice,postoffice,and

36

Source:http://www.tutorgigpedia.com
undiscriminatingslaughterofdefenselessorunresistingcrowds
38
B.G.Horniman,AmritsarandOurDutytoIndia(London:T.FisherUnwin,Ltd.,1920),99
37

22

railwaystationandcollectorsoffice,achurch,aschoolandarailwayshedweresetonfire.Therewere
alsosomeminorincidentsatsomeotherplaces.ACommissioncalledHunterCommissionwas
appointedbytheBritishIndiangovernmenttoinvestigatetheincidentsofPunjab.Anindependent
committeewasappointedbytheIndianNationalCongresswhichhadcollectedmassevidencebytalking
toalargenumberofpeople,butitwasnotheardbytheHunterCommission.B.G.Hornimanadds,
IfDyerarchyinAmritsarhadbegunandendedwiththisincident,thedisgracetoBritainwouldhave
beensufficientlydeep.Butitwasbroughttostillfurtherdepthsbytheiniquitieswhichfollowedduring
thesixweeksofadministrationofMartialLawunderDyer,withthecontinuedapproval,knowledge,and
cooperationofSirMichaelO'Dwyer,andalsotheGovernmentofIndia,whohadgiventheLieutenant
Governorablankchequeandprovidedhim,byaseriesofproclamationsandordinances,withunlimited
powertooverridetheordinarylawanddestroyliberty.39
QutubuddinAzizwrites,
WithMartialLawclampedonthePunjabbyitssadistLieutenantGovernor,SirMichaelODwyer,who
hatedalleducatedIndiansandrelishedinflictingthevilesthumiliationandatrocitiesonthelocals,the
bloodyyear1919alsowitnessedtheruthlessbombingofthesmalltownofGujranwala,barely60miles
fromLahore,bythreewarplanesofthenascentBritishRoyalAirForcethenextdayafterBritishguns
hadmoweddownunarmedIndiansinthekillingfieldofJalianwalaBaghinAmritsar.40
TheCivilandMilitaryGazetteprovidedanofficialreportinwhichthegovernmentprovideditsown
versionanddownplayedtheincident.Accordingtothereportonlyninepeoplewerekilleddueto
airplanebombing,twentysevenwerewoundedbypoliceandaeroplanes.Thereportwasobviously
dishonestwhichtriedtoconvincepeoplethatdroppingofatleastthree20lbsbombsand255roundsof
machinegunfiredatclosequartersintocrowdsofpeoplekilledonlyninepeople.

AkaliMorchasJoinedbyFormerGhadarites
ThereisenoughevidenceavailablethateventhoseSikhs,whohadservedintheBritisharmyinIndia,
Singapore,HongKong,etc.,werequitedismayedbythetreatmentmetedouttothembytheCanadian
governmentandcitizens.Somuchsothattheyhadburnedtheirmilitarydischargecertificatesandwar
medalsthattheyhadwonintheBritishIndianarmyindifferentwartheatres.SomeonenamedJ.A.W
(whoseemstobeaninfluentialperson),writes,
AfterastudyofthefileswhichunfortunatelyaresomewhatmeagerreferringtotheIndianagitation
inCanadalookingtothegeneralmovementinEuropethatthesituationinCanadaandspeciallyonthe
WestPacificCoastissuchthatitbehoovesus,toatleastkeepwellintouchwiththeAntiBritish
agitationthere.InarecentconversationwithawelleducatedIndiangentlemanwhohadvisitedthe
localityhetoldmethattheagitationhasworkeduptheSikhlabourerstheretosuchanextentthat
thoseofthoseofthemwhohadbeensoldiersintheIndianarmy,andhadWarMedals,andArmy

39
40

Ibid,121122
DAWN,Pakistan,November4,2001

23

DischargeCertificates,intheirpossession,burntthemonabonfireatapublicmeeting,atthesametime
denouncingtheBritishinviolentterms.41
TherearesomeintelligencedocumentsthatshedlightontheformerGhadaritsjoiningvariousAkali
morchasoragitations.ManyGadhariteSikhs,whoreturnedtoIndiaduringthepeakoftheGhadar
movement,joinedtheAkalisagainsttheBritishgovernmentaftertheGhadarmovementwasfaded.
TherewereseveralAkalimorchasoragitationsinthe1920swhichincludedNanakanaSahibMorcha
(1921),ChabianDaMorcha(192122,agitationrelatedtothekeysofmostimportantSikhshrines),Guru
KaBaghMorcha(1922),andJaitoDaMorcha(1923).
6.MitSingh.MitSingh,aprominentmemberoftheGhadrParty,whorecentlyreturnedtoIndiafrom
America(videparagraphs5,WeeklyReport,dated29thAugust)hasbeenappointedaJathedarat
Muketsar.42
TheCID(CriminalInvestigationDepartment)waskeepingtabsonthem.5.ArrivaloffourAkalisin
Shanghaiforsecretwork.FourAkalis,twoofwhomnamedHarnamSinghandGurditSinghalias
GophaSingh,wereassociatedwiththenotoriousGurditSinghoftheKomagataMarufame,arereported
tohavebeeninShanghaisinceMaylast,withtheobjectofworkingsecretlywiththeSikhs.Harnam
Singhisstillthere,butGurditSinghhasgonetoMexico.Furtherinquiriesarebeingmade.43

MurderofMichaelODwyerandGhadarPartyConnection
ThereseemstobeadirectconnectionbetweenthemurderofMichaelODwyerandtheGhadarPartyof
California.ThefactisFBIwastippedoffbyanIndianaboutapossibleattemptonthelifeofMichael
ODwyerwhichinturn,hadwarnedMichaelODwyerinwritingaboutthependingdangertohislife
fromtheSikhGhadaritesinCalifornia.Infact,FBIhadadvisedMichaelODwyertostayhomeifall
possibleandhemustgoout,heshoulddosounderapoliceguard.ThemurderofMichaelODwyer
seemstobeplannedbytheGhadarparty,butitwasUdhamSinghwhoactuallyexecutedthatplanvery
carefullyandwithoutdivulginganydetailstoanyperson.
TheBritishIndiaOfficeLibraryreleasedsomedocumentsin1997whichincludedmanydocuments
relatedtotheGhadarmovementsandUdhamSingh,OneofthesecretreportsfromtheBritish
Consulatesays,

J.A.W.,NotesonthePersonalView(partoftheIndiaOfficeLibraryArchives)May22,1912

41

42

ExtractfromWeeklyReportoftheDirector,IntelligenceBureauoftheHomeDepartment,GovernmentofIndia
DatedSimla,26thSeptember1923
43

ExtractfromWeeklyReportoftheDirector,IntelligenceBureauoftheHomeDepartment,GovernmentofIndia
DatedSimla,17October,1923.

24

LocalpolicestatethattheyhavereceivedreportfromanIndianinformantthatIndianextremistsin
CaliforniamaybecontemplatingattemptonthelifeofMr.ODwyer.Inviewofthecriminalrecordof
manyIndiansinCaliforniapoliceconsiderthisreportshouldnotbedisregarded.
Ihaverequestedthepolicetotakeprotectivemeasuresbuttheymaintainthatitisimpossibleto
guaranteethatattackbysomefanaticmaynottakeplace.IamalsoconsultingF.B.I.Inthemeantimeall
reasonableprecautionswillbetaken.
RepeatedtoWashingtontelegramNo.62.44
Thereisanothersimilarcodedmessage,
IMMEDIATE.
YourtelegramNo.22[ofthe22ndMarch]concerningthreatstoMr.Dwyerslife]
IfyouthinkadvisablearrangeforMr.ODwyertostayinhishouseorothersafeplacewithpoliceguard
untilpositionisclarified.IfafterconsultationwithpoliceandorF.B.I.youthinkMr.ODwyershould
takeleavelocalorotherwiseyoumayinstructhimaccordingly.Asweseeitnoquestionofprestigeis
involved.Itwouldbedeplorableifanyincidentweretooccur.
RepeatedtoWashingtonNo.462.45
Unfortunately,thehistoricalfactsaresotwistedandbeatenoutofshapebysomevestedintereststhat
thewholeGhadarmovementispresentedasifitisbrainchildoftheCommunistsorinspiredbyits
principles.TheGhadarmovementwasstartedanddominatedbytheSikhs,buttheywelcomedany
otherIndiancommunitiesintoitsfoldregardlessofreligiousbeliefsorpractices.Thiswasajointeffort
bytheSikhs,MuslimsandHindusanditsprimarypurposewastodrivetheBritishoutofIndiabyforce.
Inconclusion,theGhadarmovementlastedonly67years,butithadalastingeffectontheIndian
freedomstruggle.InalmostAkalimorchastherewereexGhadariteswhohadreturnedfromUSAor
Canada.Sikhs,therealheroesoftheIndiasfreedomarebeingignoredbythemodernhistorianswho
areeitherbrainwashedbytheHindunationalismorbythecommunistswhohaveatacitcollusionwith
theCongresspartyandhavelivedoffdolesthrownatthembyChinaandformerUSSR.Bythetimethe
BabbarAkalimovementwassuppressedintheDoabaregionofPunjab,ithasspreadinothercountries
likeAfghanistan,USandCanada.Itcontinuedwithgreatstrengthuntilatleast1926.
Insummary,allthesacrificesmadebytheGhadaritesplayedakeyroletowardsthefreedomofIndia.It
issadthatthehistoryisbeingsliced,diced,andcorruptedbysomemodernhistoriansinIndiatoplease
onepoliticalpartyoranotherortopushonesownpoliticalagenda.Oneneedstolookatthisissueina

44

No.23,March22nd,1940,Decypher.Mr.Butler(SanFrancisco)22ndMarch1940.Thismessageseemstoreferto
someearliercommunicationbecausethemurderofMichelODwyerhadtakenplaceonMarch13,1940
45
OutwardTelegramThisdocumentisthePropertyofHisBritannicMajestysGovernment,andshouldbekept
underlockandkey.(A2127//45)LimitedDistribution,CyphertelegramtoMr.Butler(SanFrancisco),Foreign
Office.23rdMarch,1940.6:30PMNo.4.

25

moreobjectivemannerandinvestigatethetruth.Duringanysincereanddiligentresearch,onewould
findthattherolesplayedbytheGhadaritesactedasatriggerpointwhichunleashedmanypolitical
eventsandeachoneofthembroughtIndiaclosertoitsfreedom.ItwasajointeffortbytheSikhs,
HindusandtheMuslims,buttheGhadarmovementwasspearheadedbytheSikhsandthrustand
trajectorywasalsoprovidedbytheSikhsinwhichtheKhalsaPacificDiwanSociety(GurdwaraSahib
Stockton)playedakeyroleasitprovidedthenecessaryrefuge,infrastructureandsupport.Thereare
hundreds,perhapsthousandsofunsungGhadariteheroeswhosenamesareneverseeninthe
newspapersorhistorybooks,buttheytooplayedakeyroleinthefreedomofIndia.
Itisquitedisturbingthattherearetoomanysocalledmelas(festivals)thatarebeingorganizedin
nameoftheGhadriBabasthroughouttheUSandCanada.Unfortunately,thesehavenothingtodowith
theGhadriBabasbecausethesefestivalsareallaboutbusiness,dance,merrymakingandself
promotion.Infact,theydogreatinjusticetoourforefathers.Sikhsshouldshunandtotallydiscardsuch
fakememorialswhichnotonlybelittlethesacrificesoftheGhadriBabas,butalsotwistourhistory.
Sikhsneedtowakeupandreclaimtheirrichheritage.
Therehasalsobeenapositivedevelopmentlately.TwoSikhcentennialscholarlyconferencesarebeing
organizedbyPacificCoastKhalsaDiwanSociety(StocktonGurdwaraSahibinCalifornia).Itisastepin
therightdirectioninwhichalmost30historiansandtopnotchscholarsfromtheEastandWestare
presentingtheirpapersrelatedtotheGhadarmovement.Similareffortsarealsotakingplaceinother
partsoftheUSandCanada.Theseeffortsleavenodoubtinanyonesmindthattherealheroesofthe
GhadarmovementsweretheSikhswhosufferedthemostforthefreedomofIndia.
AbouttheAuthor:Dr.TarlochanSinghNahalisahistorianandindependentresearchscholar.He
receivedanM.A.inEnglishfromGuruNanakDevUniversity,Amritsar.HeobtainedhisPh.D.inPolitical
SciencetheUSunderthesupervisionoflateDr.NoelQ.King,thenProf.Emeritus,UCSantaCruz,
California.Dr.NahalisaSr.StaffTechnicalWriterinthehightechindustryinCalifornia.Hisgranduncle
S.MihanSinghwasmemberoftheGhadarPartyinCaliforniawhocametotheUSaround1910and
passedawayinStockton,Californaiin1963.Dr.NahalistheauthorofReligionandPoliticsinSikhism:
TheKhalsaPerspective,publishedbySinghBrothers,Amritsar,India.Dr.Nahaliscurrentlydoingsome
researchonancientPunjab.Hecanbereachedattnahal99@yahoo.com.

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