Massacre in a Bagh

Datta's book made it clear that the horror of the massacre shaped the making of Gandhi and the nationalist movement he led

It was April 13, 1919. Punjab, though in political turmoil, was celebrating the traditional New Year’s Day, Baisakhi. The day also marked the anniversary of the formation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. As a part of the celebrations and also to make a political statement against British rule and its oppressive laws, a large number of people in Amritsar had gathered in an enclosed space called Jallianwala Bagh, which was a popular spot because it was close to the Golden Temple complex. Jallianwala Bagh measured approximately seven acres, about 200 yards long and nearly a square.