GNDU researchers unearth Jallianwala Bagh’s literary legacy

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 is often remembered as one of the most pivotal moments in India’s struggle against British imperialism. Yet, the literary responses to this tragedy, particularly within Punjabi poetry, remain largely unexplored in historical documentation.

Dr Amandeep Bal, chairperson of the Jallianwala Bagh Chair at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), is working to fill this gap by tracing the profound literary responses to the massacre, which include powerful works by prominent writers such as Sadat Hasan Manto and Feroz Din Sharaf.

Dr Bal emphasises that literature and history are deeply intertwined, stating, “The goal is to view Jallianwala Bagh not just as a massacre, but as an event that shook the very foundations of imperialism. The literature of the time offers a glimpse into how imperialism functioned and was eventually uprooted.”

Working alongside Dr Parminder Singh, a historian and former Head of the Department of English at GNDU, Dr Bal is focusing on archiving literary works that provide a unique historical perspective.

They highlight poets like Sharaf, often referred to as the ‘Bulbul of Punjab,’ whose poetry documented the emotional and political fallout of the massacre. Their research also delves into the role of Punjabi poetry in the larger political landscape, noting the interplay between literary expression and the activism surrounding the Gadar Movement and figures like Saiffuddin Kichlew and Dr Satyapal.

Dr Singh, whose book Saka Jallianwala Bagh (2019) examines the massacre through a political and literary lens, highlights the suppression of literature from this period. “Poets like Feroz Din Sharaf penned verses about unity, such as ‘Hindu paani-Muslim paani,’ symbolizing the harmony before the massacre.

However, after the event, his works were banned, as were others like Khooni Vaisakhi by Nanak Singh. These poems, though crucial to understanding the emotional and social impact of the massacre, are still difficult to access outside of national archives,” he explained.

In 2019, historian Rakshanda Jalil curated Jallianwala Bagh: Literary Responses in Prose and Poetry, an anthology that includes works from celebrated authors like Manto, Abdullah Hussein, Mulk Raj Anand, Bhisham Sahni, and Sarojini Naidu.

These stories provide a nuanced perspective on the massacre’s aftermath, its emotional and social implications, and the people’s resistance movement, making them vital pieces of India’s literary and historical heritage.