Pakistan showcases rare documents linked to Jallianwala Bagh massacre
For the first time in its history, Pakistan has put on display some of the rare documents of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to mark its 100th anniversary. The six-day exhibition, showcasing about 70 historical documents related to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and Martial Law in Punjab in April 1919, opened at the Lahore Heritage Museum yesterday. Here's more about it.
Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on April 13, 1919
In 2018, Pakistan had exhibited the archives of the trial of revolutionary leader Bhagat Singh in Lahore. The massacre took place at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar (undivided Punjab) during the Baisakhi festival on April 13, 1919, when troops of the British Indian Army under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer opened fire at a crowd of people holding a pro-independence demonstration, leaving scores dead.
Archived documents displayed to mark the massacre's centenary year: Chughtai
Speaking to the media, Pakistan's Punjab province government's archive department director, Abbas Chughtai said, "The government has decided to showcase archives of different historical events and famous personalities so that people could know what had happened during that period." Chughtai said that the archived documents are displayed to mark the massacre's centenary year and the practice will continue in coming days as well.
We urge people to visit Lahore Heritage Museum: Chughtai
Chughtai said, "We are also planning to exhibit the documents related to the work of Rudyard Kipling." "We urge people to visit the Lahore Heritage Museum and go through the pages of history," he said, adding that the exhibition will go on till April 26.
Here's what the documents on exhibition include
The documents on exhibition include number of Martial Law Order, copy of the ordinance regarding continuance of trials held by Commissions and Summary Courts, copy of the questions raised by Lord Sydenhamin (House of Lords, England) about sentence passed by martial law commission to Muhammad Bashir, whose proclamation was an immediate cause in bringing a large mob to Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919.
Other copies include Murree's letter and Rawalpindi governor's letter
The documents also have a copy of assistant commissioner Murree's letter about sending European and Anglo Indians to Murree from Lahore for their safety during the disturbance. They also include the Rawalpindi governor's letter to the chief secretary to declare martial law in Jehlum to teach the people discipline as a punishment for throwing stone on Mr. Barton's car, the deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi.
291 including two women and five children were massacred: Documents
About the death toll in the massacre, the 3rd September letter of deputy commissioner Amritsar in the documents reported the final figure of death at Jallianwala Bagh to 291 including two women and five children. The documents also included a copy of notice both in Urdu and Hindi language informing them about how many were killed in the massacre.
