Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The Komagata maree case

The Komagata maree case

The Komagata maree case created an explosive situation in the Punjab. Baba Gurdit Singh chartered a Japanese ship Komagata maree for Vancouver and sought to carry 351 Sikhs and 21 Punjabi Muslims to that town. The Canadian authorities refused permission to the ship to land and the ship returned to Budge Budge, Calcutta on 27 September 1914. The inmates of the ship believed that the British Government persuaded the Canadian authorities. The Government of India ordered all the passengers to be carried direct by train to the Punjab. The already exploitative situation in the Punjab worsened with a band of fresh malcontents. Large-scale political atrocities were committed in Jullunder, Amritsar, Ludhiana etc.

The Government unleashed repressive legislation to meet revolutionary activities. The prevention of Seditious Meetings Act[1907], the Explosive Substance Act[1908], the Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act[1908], the Newspaper Act[1908], the Press Act[1910] etc were passed to meet the challenge. A temporary respite came in revolutionary activities with the close of the First World War. The discussions on the new scheme of constitutional reforms also created an atmosphere of compromise and conciliation. Above all Gandhiji’s emergence on the national scene with a new weapon of non violence also halted the pace of revolutionary activities.



Bipan Chandra :India's Struggle for Independence
Bipan Chandra edtd : Freedom Struggle
Tara Chand : Freedom Movement
NCERT Text book

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