Jallianwala Bagh is a historic garden and ‘memorial of national importance’ in
Amritsar, India, preserved in the memory of those wounded and killed in the
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre that occurred on the site on the festival of
Vaisakhi, 13 April 1919. It houses a museum, gallery and a number of memorial
structures.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, also known as the Amritsar massacre, took place
on 13 April 1919, when Acting Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered troops
of the British Indian Army to fire their rifles into a crowd of unarmed Indian
civilians in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab, killing at least 400 people
including men and women. Over 1,000 people were injured.
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Entering Jallianwala Bagh Memorial.
The 28,000 m2 (7-acre) site is located in the vicinity of the Golden
Temple complex.
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The narrow passage.
The entrance to Jallianwala Bagh is via a narrow passage, the same
passage that was the only entry and exit point at the time of the
massacre and the same route that General Dyer and his troops took to
reach the grounds.
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Old trees.
Once entered, some old trees can be seen in the garden with some
buildings at the back.
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Martyrs Well.
The 'Martyrs Well' is surrounded by the Martyr's memorial, a large
structure with a sign giving a figure of "120" as the number of bodies
that were recovered from the well.
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It was designed by American architect Benjamin Polk and inaugurated in
1961.
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Bullet holes in the walls.
A number of the bullet holes in the walls are preserved.
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One of the walls with bullet holes has a plaque reading: «The wall has
its own historic significance as it has thirty-six bullet marks which
can be easily seen at present and these were fired into the crowd by
the order of General Dyer. Moreover, no warning was given to disperse
before Dyer opened fire which was gathered here against the Rowlatt
Act. One Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty Rounds were fired.»
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Martyrs' Obelisk.
Red stone obelisk built in the memory of innocent unarmed Indian
civilians killed by Gen. Dyer.
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More bullet holes in the walls.
Other plaques are seen inside the garden, one of which reads:
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«This site is saturated with the blood of thousands of Indian patriots
who were martyred in a nonviolent struggle to free India from British
domination. General Dyer of the British army opened fire here on
unarmed people. Jallianwala Bagh is thus an everlasting symbol of
non-violent and peaceful struggle for the freedom of India.»
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The Eternal Flame (Amar Jyoti).
With the words 'Vande Mataram', a flame titled
Amar Jyoti (Eternal Flame) is seen burning to the right under a
domed meditation area.
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Representing Dyer's soldiers.
The portico pillars, just inside the garden, represent Dyer's soldiers.
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See also
Sources
Location
