Transformation New Trends and Reaction

Contents: 1. Land and the people. 2. The Rowlatt bills. 3. Firing in the Bagh. 4. Mass reaction. 5. The assessment. 6. The movement. 7. The boycott. 8. Swadeshi and picketing. 9. British attitude. 10. Violence and reaction. 11. The conclusions. 12. Bibliography.

The land of the Punjab stretching from Delhi to the borders of the North-East frontier province with its alluvial soil irrigated by its prominent rivers and a network of canal system, had been the centre of numerous social, cultural, religious and political organizations. By a consistent flow of violent onslaughts on its land by the ambitious foreign rulers a spirit of fearlessness, determination and sacrifice had been generated amongst the brave people of this province. With the establishment of the British rule in the Punjab in a couple of years after the demise of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the anti Raj, feeling did not die down rather it was utilised at one time or the other to make their nation free from the foreign yoke. The kind of model presented by the Kuka Movement: participation of prominent leaders in the freedom struggle under the banner of the Indian National Congress, the agitation and resentment in the canal irrigated zone of the province and last but not the least the patriotic role played by the Ghadr party had a most significant impact on the thinking of the people who has begun questioning the role of the Raj in terms of the benefits enjoyed by the people of India in services or otherwise. (jacket)