Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Lord Chelmsford
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre in April nineteen nineteen is one of the most tragic events in the history of the Indian freedom struggle. British troops under General Dyer fired on an unarmed crowd in Amritsar, causing hundreds of deaths. For many examinations, it is important to know which British Viceroy was in office at that time, because this event had major political consequences and intensified the demand for independence.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
To answer, you need a timeline of British Viceroys. Lord Chelmsford served as Viceroy of India from nineteen sixteen to nineteen twenty one. This period includes the time of the massacre. The other names belong to earlier or different time periods and do not match the date of the event. Matching the year of the incident with the tenure of each Viceroy is the core approach.
Step by Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on thirteen April nineteen nineteen.
Step 2: Identify the tenure of Lord Chelmsford as Viceroy from nineteen sixteen to nineteen twenty one.
Step 3: Note that this tenure covers the year nineteen nineteen, the year of the massacre.
Step 4: Check other Viceroys. Lord Curzon served earlier, at the beginning of the twentieth century. Lord Ripon and Lord Canning also served in the nineteenth century.
Step 5: Therefore, only Lord Chelmsford matches the required time frame.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross verify by remembering that the Montagu Chelmsford Reforms, which led to the Government of India Act nineteen nineteen, are named after Edwin Montagu and Lord Chelmsford. These reforms were introduced at almost the same time as the massacre, which confirms that Chelmsford was the Viceroy then. Standard history references on the non cooperation movement also mention Lord Chelmsford as Viceroy when public outrage over Jallianwala Bagh grew.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lord Curzon: He served as Viceroy from eighteen ninety nine to nineteen five, long before the massacre, so this option is incorrect.
Lord Ripon: He was Viceroy in the eighteen eighties and is remembered for liberal policies, so he cannot be connected with Jallianwala Bagh.
Lord Canning: He was Viceroy during the revolt of eighteen fifty seven and the transfer of power to the Crown, not during nineteen nineteen.
Common Pitfalls:
A common error is confusing the roles of General Dyer and the Viceroy. Many students remember Dyer as responsible for issuing the firing order and mistakenly choose his name if it appears as a Viceroy in some questions. It is essential to distinguish between military officers on the ground and the Viceroy who was the head of the colonial administration at that time.
Final Answer:
The Viceroy of India at the time of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre was Lord Chelmsford.
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