The Jallianwala Bagh massacre goes down in history as indisputably the worst political crime of the 20th century. Gandhiji had already received a tremendous response from Punjab on 30th March and 6th April for his call for a country-wide hartal to protest against Rowlatt Acts. Mass upheaval throughout the country against these acts had already resulted in mobilising tremendous public opinion towards an agitational move, popular resentment had been brewing in Punjab since the beginning of the war mainly due to the ruthless drive for recruiting soldiers and forced contributions to the war fund. Hindu-Muslim solidarity demonstrated on the hartal days and on 9th April celebration of Ram Navami festival had made the British administration panicky. Gandhiji's entry into Punjab was banned and Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal, two prominent leaders of Punjab were arrested. On the fateful day of Baisakhi, 13th April, 1919, a meeting had been called at the Jallianwala Bagh, enclosed on all sides with only one entrance. Amritsar's city administration, under Brigadier-General Dyer, had already clamped a ban on meetings and made indiscriminate arrests. Thousands, including villagers from the surrounding areas, had gathered there, unaware of the ban. Dyer surrounded the meeting place with armed personnel, including armoured vehicles. Without any warning, a fusillade of gunfire started on the completely peaceful and defenceless crowd, consisting of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, continuing till ammunition ran out. In ten minutes 1650 rounds were fired resulting in 1560 casualties.

The massacre, unparalleled in history, stunned the entire nation, leaving insurmountable physical and mental scars on the people of India. It left no doubt in the minds of people that a new and irreversible point had arrived in the struggle for India's Independence.