THE FATEFUL 13TH OF APRIL

IT is exactly twelve months today since the ghastly tragedy of the Jallianwala Bagh was enacted in Amritsar under circumstances now made clear to all the world. Outraged humanity today cannot look back without a shudder on the terrible events of a year back and mourn with the relatives of the numerous dead and wounded and sympathise with the misery of the terrified spectators. All over the Punjab, all over India, and all over the world where the events of last year at this time are made known, a feeling of despair is caused by the failure of a civilised government to understand and peacefully govern a people, who by nature are averse to creating troubles of any kind. The ruthless shooting of hundreds of people in Amritsar and the horror occasioned by it all over the land can never be forgotten. The agony of the men, women and children caused by this and other deeds of wanton cruelty and outrage serves to indicate how unspeakably wicked, how utterly depraved humanity can be in spite of the tons of paint and glitter and gloss it loves to put on itself to advertise its vaunted civilisation and culture. History has recorded the errors of individuals in power and the heavy penalties they have paid for them. Indian history likewise is full of events depicting the struggle between the weak and the strong and the alternate rise and fall of dynasties and kingdoms—all sounding a warning which every one may retain in memory, but alas, forget, at the moment when it is needed most. We have no desire to dwell on the painful memories of the past. A month has wrought unexpected changes in the outlook of men and served to assuage the feelings of the outraged. The events of the Martial Law period and the real causes that led to it have been laid bare before a discriminating public and an appeal is made for an impartial verdict.

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