which of the folowing best explain the impact of passing the Rowlatt Act had a significant impact on Indian nationalism?

Answer 1

The Rowlatt Act was legislation passed by the British colonial government in India in 1919. It authorized the government to detain individuals without trial, thereby suppressing civil liberties and curtailing freedom of speech and assembly. This act had a significant impact on Indian nationalism, as outlined below:

1. Indignation and protests: The Rowlatt Act was widely seen as a direct assault on the rights and freedoms of Indians. It generated strong feelings of anger, injustice, and frustration among the Indian population. Mass protests, strikes, and demonstrations erupted across the country, demonstrating the growing nationalist sentiment and unity against British rule.

2. Mistrust in British intentions: The enactment of the Rowlatt Act confirmed Indian suspicions that British rule in India was fundamentally oppressive and aimed at maintaining control rather than promoting the welfare and rights of the Indian people. This deepened the divide between the British government and Indian nationalists while increasing nationalist demands for self-rule and independence.

3. Emergence of national leaders: The brutal repression and indiscriminate arrests carried out under the Rowlatt Act led to the emergence of new national leaders in India. Prominent figures like Mahatma Gandhi, who previously advocated for reconciliation with the British, now began advocating nonviolent civil disobedience and resistance as a means to combat the oppressive act. The Rowlatt Act helped catalyze the growth of Indian nationalism and solidify its leaders.

4. Birth of the Non-Cooperation Movement: The Indian response to the Rowlatt Act paved the way for the Non-Cooperation Movement, initiated by Gandhi in 1920. This movement aimed at boycotting British institutions, engaging in civil disobedience, and promoting Indian self-rule. The Rowlatt Act's repressive measures served as a catalyst and rallying point for this movement, which further intensified nationalist sentiments and demands for independence.

Overall, the Rowlatt Act's impact on Indian nationalism was significant. It provoked widespread protests and feelings of injustice, strengthened nationalist sentiment, deepened mistrust in British intentions, and influenced the emergence of national leaders and movements advocating for Indian self-rule.