Prelims – History of India and Current events of national importance.
Mains (GS I) – Indian Heritage and Culture.
Why in News?
Prime Minister Recently recalled Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair, who fought a battle against a senior official of the Raj who had sued Sir Sankaran for holding him responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
- He is a nationalist and jurist and a firm opponent of British colonialism.
- Born in - 1857 in an aristocratic family in Malabar’s Palakkad district.
- Graduated from - Presidency College in Madras and got a degree in law.
- Hired by - Sir Horatio Shepherd who later became Chief Justice of Madras High Court.
- Contributions - Led the Indian National Congress Session in Amraoti in 1897.
- Sankaran Nair was designated as the public prosecutor in 1899 and later ascended to the position of judge at the Madras High Court in 1908.
- In 1912, he was honored with a knighthood by the British Crown.
- By 1915, he became a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council, focusing on educational reforms.
- In 1919, he played an important role in the expansion of provisions in the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms.
Montagu-Chelmsford reforms introduced a system of dyarchy in the provinces and increased participation of Indians in the administration.
- However, in 1919, he chose to resign in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
- Nair believed in India’s right to self-government.
- Acted as the chairman of the All-India Committee, which engaged with the Simon Commission in 1928–29, albeit with limited success.
- Held the position of councillor to the Secretary of State for India from 1920 to 1921.
- In 1922, Nair published Gandhi and Anarchy, a book in which he spelt out his critique of Gandhi’s methods of non-violence, civil disobedience, and non-cooperation.
- He also accused Michael O’Dwyer, who was Lieutenant Governor of Punjab at the time of the massacre, of following policies that led to the deaths.
- Nair passed away in 1934 at the age of 77.
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Jallianwallah Bagh Massacre
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- Incident happened on - April 13, 1919.
- It coincided with Baisakhi, a widely celebrated harvest festival in Punjab and northern India.
- Reason – To protest against the detention of two prominent leaders, Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew, as well as the enforcement of the Rowlatt Act.
- The gathering convened at Jallianwala Bagh; a park surrounded by walls with only a few small entrances.
- During the meeting, Brigadier-General Reginald Edward Harry Dyer, who had approached the scene with the intent to reprimand the assembled crowd, commanded the soldiers accompanying him to open fire on the attendees.
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Rowlatt Act
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- Passed on - March 10, 1919.
- It authorizes the government to imprison or confine, without a trial, any person associated with seditious activities.
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Reference
The Indian Express | Sir Sankaran Nair
