 "The Jallianwala Bagh incident rocked the world with its severity. File image/PTI")
Thousands of people met at a public park in Amritsar during the Baisakhi festival to attend a peaceful nationalist demonstration on April 13, 1919. What they had not imagined was that their meeting would turn into a bloodbath. The incident later came to be known as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, is considered to be a significant event of the freedom struggle.
If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.
In 2017, the United States military dropped its most powerful non-nuclear bomb, popularly known as ‘Mother of All Bombs’ on Afghanistan. On this day in 1997, Tiger Woods became the youngest golfer to win the prestigious Masters Tournament.
Here is all that took place on April 13 over the years.
Jallianwala Bagh massacre
A group of people gathered at the Jallianwala Bagh , in central Amritsar on April 13, 1919. Most of them came from the nearby villages to attend the city’s traditional fairs during the Sikh Baisakhi festival. Many of them had joined a nationalist demonstration taking place there to protest against the British government’s forced conscription of Indian soldiers and the heavy war tax imposed against the Indian people.
Just a few days ago, British Brigadier General Reginald Dyer had banned all meeting and gatherings in the city. Unaware of this development, thousands of people including came to Amritsar children and women from surrounding villages convened at the park. Dyer’s troops surrounded the park and without warning opened fire on the crowd, killing several hundred and wounding more than a thousand. The firing lasted about 10 minutes, with soldiers expending 1,650 rounds of ammunition.
Official British reports recorded around 379 deaths and over 1,200 injuries, though Indian sources estimate the toll to be much higher. The massacre caused national and international outrage, marking a turning point in India’s struggle for independence. It exposed the brutality of British rule and galvanised Indian resistance.
Mahatma Gandhi, who had previously supported limited cooperation with the British, launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in response to the massacre. Rabindranath Tagore renounced his British knighthood in protest. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre became a symbol of colonial oppression and remains etched in the memory of the Indian people.
US military drops ‘Mother of All Bombs’
The United States military dropped the biggest ever non-nuclear weapon on Afghanistan on this day in 2017 which came to be known as the ‘Mother of All Bombs’. The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb landed on a tunnel complex in Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan killing more than 90 Islamic State militants .
To neutralise deeply buried targets and infrastructure, an approximately 21,600-pound bomb was deployed from a US Air Force MC-130 aircraft. Its substantial blast radius was specifically intended to collapse tunnel networks utilised by ISIS fighters for movement, storage and the conduct of ambushes. The MOAB’s mid-air detonation generates a destructive shockwave, achieving its tactical objective while limiting long-term radioactive contamination, unlike nuclear weaponry.
The Pentagon stated that the strike was aimed at reducing the ISIS-K militants’ ability to manoeuvre and strengthen their foothold in the region. The action followed the death of a US Special Forces soldier in the area days earlier. The unprecedented use of the MOAB drew significant global attention. Supporters of the operation argued it was a necessary show of force against a growing terrorist threat, while critics raised concerns about civilian safety and the escalation of military tactics.
Tiger Woods wins first Masters
21-year-old Tiger Woods won the prestigious Masters Tournament by a record 12 strokes in Augusta, Georgia. He became the youngest golfer to win the Masters and the first person of Asian or African heritage to win a major.
Woods began the tournament with a rocky front nine, shooting a 40. However, he quickly found his rhythm, finishing the first round with a 70 and taking the lead by the second day. From there, he never looked back. With a combination of powerful drives, precise iron play, and masterful putting, Woods dominated the field, finishing with an 18-under-par 270, another tournament record at the time.
The 1997 Masters not only marked the beginning of Tiger Woods’ legendary career but also ushered in a new era in professional golf. His incredible performance set the stage for a reign of dominance that would see him win 15 major championships and become one of the most influential athletes in sports history.
This Day, That Year
On this day in 2024, Iran struck Israel with hundreds of drones and missiles during the Israel-Hamas War.
Sidney Poitier became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor on this day in 1964.
In 1941, Japan concluded a neutrality pact with the Soviet Union in World War II.