Jallianwala Bagh
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For nearly two hundred years the British ruled India, first with the East India Company then the British government took control, that period of rule became known as the British Raj and lasted until India became independent in 1947.
Over the years many attempts were made to overthrow British colonial rule, but all attempts ended in failure.
Farmers were encouraged to grow crops for export and were taxed heavily, crops that could have been used to help victims of famines that struck India were exported for profit.
The British saw themselves as superior to the Indian population and looked down on them, they were subjects of the Empire and the British ruled them with an iron fist.
They imposed many restrictions and curfews and the punishment for anyone breaking the rules was harsh.
The incident in my poem refers to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre often known as the Amritsar massacre where hundreds were killed or badly injured, thousands had gathered to celebrate Baisakhi, a harvest spring festival and many did not know that gatherings of large crowds had been outlawed and had gathered at a park the Jallianwala Bagh for a peaceful protest, the events that followed was nothing short of mass murder.
The British officer commanding the troops Reginald Dyer later became known as the 'The Butcher of Amristar'.
The official death toll was 379 with over a thousand injured some seriously, but many have disputed the official death toll saying it was much higher.
Recently Britain expressed regret but stopped short of issuing a formal apology for the slaughter of innocent and unarmed civilians by the British army.
The occupation of India began, with the East India company
And prospered across large swathes of Indian territory
Then the British Crown took control, bringing military might
And to maintain superiority they were prepared to fight.
The British saw themselves as the ruling class elite
Opposing their occupation always ended in defeat
A rebellion in eighteen fifty seven, was quickly put down
No match were the rebels against the might of the Crown.
Curfews and restrictions they placed on the population
The people of India grew weary of this abomination
Civil disobedience came later, introduced by Gandhi
With the hope non violent action would set India free.
In the year nineteen ninteen on the thirteenth of April
Thousands were celebrating Baisakhi, a harvest festival
At Amritsar in the Punjab region, that's now a state
Unaware they were about to meet, with a terrible fate.
A ban on gatherings had been issued but many didn't know
And for a peaceful protest to Jallianwala Bagh they did go
A park with high walls and narrow entrances, that led you inside
Men, women and young children stood together side by side.
Brigadier General Reginald Dyer, fearing violent disorder
Ordered troops under his command to carry out mass murder
They fired round after round, there was panic and screams
A scenario you would only find in nightmarish dreams.
Hundreds were killed and on the ground they fell
Others tried to escape the carnage by jumping in a well
Many more died in the stampede, as they tried to get away
Their escape hampered by bodies that on the ground lay.
Many had serious injuries and they eventually died
No help was forthcoming because soldiers were outside
There was pools of blood everywhere and rivers of red
Bodies scattered all around of the dying and the dead.
Men, women and young children lying lifeless and still
Were victims of Brigadiers Dyers order, of shoot to kill
The people carried no weapons and were certainly no threat
They were just innocent people, who met with a violent death.
When the news broke out there was outrage across the land
But in England Dyer was applauded for making a stand
Eventually the tide turned and he was forced to stand down
It was the beginning of the end in India, for the British crown.
Non violent disobedience was now the weapon of resistance
And in ninteen forty seven India gained her independence
India had managed to shake off, the shackles of an empire
But not before more lives were lost, caught in the crossfire.
Written on 21st of June 2021.
Copyright © Tom Cunningham | Year Posted 2021
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