Renovated Jallianwala Bagh Complex

Context

PM Modi virtually inaugurated the Jallianwala Bagh memorial complex in Amritsar.

What led to the event?

• After passing the Rowlatt Act on March 10, 1919, the Punjab Government set out to suppress all opposition.
• On April 13, 1919, the public had gathered to celebrate Baisakhi.
• The British point of view, as seen from the documents present in the National Archives of India, indicates that it was a political gathering.
• General Dyer’s orders prohibiting unlawful assembly, people gathered at Jallianwala Bagh, where two resolutions were to be discussed
  • One condemning the firing on April 10 
  • the other requesting the authorities to release their leaders.
• After the news reached Brigadier-General Dyer, headed to the Bagh with his troops.
• He entered the Bagh, deployed his troops and ordered them to open fire without giving any warning. People rushed to the exits but Dyer directed his soldiers to fire at the exit.
• The firing continued for 10-15 minutes. 1650 rounds were fired. The firing ceased only after the ammunition had run out. 
• The total estimated figure of the dead as given by General Dyer and Mr Irving was 291. 
• However, other reports including that of a committee headed by Madan Mohan Malviya put the figure of dead at over 500.

ABOUT THE MEMORIAL COMPLEX

• Four museum galleries have been established through adaptive reuse of redundant and underutilised buildings.
• They showcase the historical value of events that unfolded in Punjab during that period, with the fusion of 

• • Audio-visual technology
  • Projection mapping
  • 3D representation
  • Art and sculptural installations
• The Smarak established by the state government “ seeks to pay tribute to the great martyrs so that history may always remember their sacrifice and our present and future generations can draw inspiration from their patriotism.