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were divided into two parts—the Reserved principles and further aroused the anger of the
and the Transferred. Important subjects like people and increased the unrest in the country.
law and order, finance, etc., were reserved Today, in India, a person cannot be arrested
subject. They were in the hands of the without being given a reason for it and he/she
governor, which he addressed, with the help
had the right to be brought in front of the nearest
of his Council. Whereas the transferred magistrate within twenty-four hours. Moreover, a
subjects like health, local self-government,
person arrested has the choice of defending
education, etc., were administered with the
himself/herself through a lawyer or personally.
help of members from the legislature who
were Indian. But, their views and opinions THE GANDHIAN ERA
could be overruled. The reserved subjects The Gandhian Era represented a special time in
were the more important ones and hence Indian history when Gandhi was preaching for
the real power was still in the hands of the
freedom and all of India was behind him in
British and they controlled the purse strings.
support. In 1919, the British government passed
This meant that the Indian ministers many a
an Act call the Rowlett Act. This act allowed
times could not do much about the trans-
people to be imprisoned without a trial or convic-
ferred subjects due to lack of finance.
tion in a court of law. This act was strongly
3. Communal Electorates which were intro-
protested against by all the Indian people and as
duced in 1909 were now extended to
a result it broke into a huge massacre in
Anglo-Indians and Sikhs also.
Jallianwala Bagh. The main reason for this
Though on the face of it, this Act provided for
protest was to terrorize the people.
more representation to the Indians and also gave
Later on, in 1920, Gandhi set up and let set up
some of them the right to vote, this Act fell much
what was known as the non-cooperation move-
below the expectations of the Indian people. This ment. This started out when Indians decided
along with hardships that the Indians had to
they didn't like the way British made them say
undergo due to the wars frustrated them further.
"sir" as an honorary title. As a result of this
THE ROWLATT ACT boycotts broke out again legislation, elections
The Indians were not at all satisfied with the and anything relating to the government. Indians
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms and they felt began to burn the clothes of the British and soon
discontented and unhappy. This feeling of khadi became a symbol for their freedom. This
disillusion led to protest movements all over the movement was an overall success. But, unfortu-
country. To control the growing restlessness, the nately ended sadly in February of 1922 when a
British passed the Rowlatt Act in 1919. Through violent attack broke out and Gandhi called the
it anyone could be arrested and property could whole movement off. Soon, after that, Gandhi
be searched without a warrant. Also, anyone was put in jail.
could be detained without a trial and special Later on, during this Era in 1929, the Simon
courts would try people where there would be no Commission was formed. The purpose was to
provision for right to appeal. This meant that the see if there were any other changes that needed
arrested person was not given the right to appeal. to be made to the government in 1919. But,
It meant ‘No Appeal, No Dalil, No Vakil’. because all the members in this commission were
This was in direct contravention of demoratic all English the whole thing didn’t last and con-
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