An irregular quadrangle of space in differently walled, three trees, a shrine, a well and a narrow entrance. This was Jallianwala Bagh, where, on that fateful Sunday, the 13th of April, 1919, an assembly of about 25000 unarmed and defenceless people was mowed down, under a hail of bullets from the guns at the command of General Dyer. The whole scene was macabre. It was estimated that 379 people were killed and about 1200 wounded. But the precise numbers will never be known.

The events that Jed to this grim and grue­some tragedy on that Baisakhi day are only too well known. The popular resentment, against the repressive measures taken by the British rulers had been growing apace with the rising tempo of Indian nationalism. When the infamous Rowlatt Acts were imposed on 23rd March 1919, the cries of "Na Appeal, Na Dalil, Na Vakil" which rent the air, pithily summed up the draconian character of this legislation. Mahatma Gandhi's call for hartal and passive resistance roused the nation to mass action with Punjab and especially Amritsar giving the lead. Prominent leaders were arrested and demonstrations by the people were fired upon resulting in deaths and injury. The military was called in to take charge of Amritsar.

On the 13th of April 1919, the ban on public meetings which was announced early in the day, was not beard by many in the city and especially those who came in from the outskirts for the Baisakhi Mela. As the hour of dusk drew near, the peaceful gathering in Jallianwala Bagh swelled to many thousands of people whose one thought was to demonstrate their solidarity and express their will to freedom. Little did they realize the fate that awaited them.

The martyrdom of those who laid down their lives that day at Jallianwala Bagh, strengthened the resolve of the people to oppose foreign rule, undaunted by suffering and struggle for Independence and hastened the dawn of freedom. Today Jallianwala Bagh is an everlasting symbol of nonviolence, peace, unity and stead-­fastness of purpose in the quest for liberty and freedom.

The Dept. of Posts is privileged to bring out a special postage stamp to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrdom.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India