The first British Prime Minister to visit the memorial
For many who had hoped for a full and formal apology for the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s floral tributes at the martyrs’ memorial and his comments in the visitors’ book did not go far enough. Staying close to the position that Winston Churchill took, Mr. Cameron said that Jallianwala Bagh was a “deeply shameful event in British history”. Mr. Churchill, the then Secretary for War, had called the incident an “outrage”.
Mr. Cameron later said that the incident had happened 40 years before he was born and it will not be “the right thing to reach back into history and to seek out things you can apologise for”.
In April 1919, several hundreds were killed and more than 1,200 injured at Jallianwala Bagh when British troops led by Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer fired on a peaceful gathering.
Many, including in the British media, recalled that Mr. Cameron had said sorry for the official handling of a football disaster at Hillsborough stadium in 1989 and the 1972 killings in Northern Ireland known as “Bloody Sunday,” in which 26 unarmed protesters were killed by British soldiers.
The chairman of a trust formed by descendants of those killed in the massacre, Bhushan Behal, expressed his disappointment that Mr. Cameron did not apologise. However, the secretary of the body managing the memorial, S. Mukherjee, was of the opinion that Mr. Cameron’s visit and the gesture of paying tributes to the victims could be equated to an apology. On the last leg of a three-day trip aimed at forging deeper economic ties, Cameron took the decision to visit the city of Amritsar and tackle an enduring scar of British rule over the subcontinent, which ended in 1947. Mr. Cameron is the first British Prime Minister to visit the site.
Daljit Kaur, a 29-year-old British citizen of Indian origin, praised Mr. Cameron and said: “I am proud that a British prime minister has admitted the blunders committed by former leaders and has invested his energy to understand Indian culture.”
Mr. Cameron said on Monday in Mumbai that he wanted Britain to be India's “partner of choice”, stressing their shared history, democratic values and the 1.5 million UK citizens of Indian origin as the foundation for a deeper alliance.
Keywords: British Prime Minister David Cameron, obeisance, Golden Temple, Amritsar, Jallianwala Bagh
The least a british PM can do is apologize for all the atrocities committed by the british in India. Is this even a question? De-industrialization of India, multiple famines under british rule, mass murders - are only a few examples. Imagine if the roles were reversed.. Reparations would provide some minimal justice but the ICJ is ruled by the powerful. Put aside internal problems in India, that is a seperate issue - certainly valid and important.
Coming at the eve of the U.S. pull out from Afghanistan and at a time of
worsening economy in the U.K., the overtures of Cameron could well have
other motives like rekindling the waning Khalistan supporters in his
country or to seek economic favors. Actions speak more than words, and
we Indians need to watch the actions very closely now.
When the British PM has visited the Jallianwala Bagh martyr's
memorial and paid floral tributes and also condemned the massacre as
shameful, the headline that he did not apologise is unwarrantedly
negative. It is not proper to expect a formal apology in person for
an incident that took place nearly a century ago. What he did and
said conveys the same sentiment.
The media should always highlight the positive aspect of such news.
The headline is actually misleading.
we should never forget that Mr Cameron is using symbolism to benefit his
country by favourable trade and economic ties. I will appeal all to see
through the veil and not fall in the honey-trap.
David Cameron seems to have walked an extra step over the Queen's
effort, jotting a para-long observation in the visitors' book, but in
essence he had given no more away than his predecessors. He probably
borrowed from one of them, minted a platitude of his own and offered a
formulation that avoided being described as an apology.
British PM apology should be accepted with open heart but at the same
time we indians should not let our past , howsoever it bad was , in
future relations.Instead of showing UK in bad light or asking for
compensation (as some commentators suggest) is absolutely not in the
interest of either of the nation. Instead we should endeavour and try
to form close relations (social ,economic and cultural) for betterment
of all. India should look into the possibilities of mumbai bangalore
corridor project as suggested by uk and at the same time seek better
opportunities for indian students in U.K
JALLIAN WALA BAGH MASSACRE dEEPLY SHAMEFUL: CAMERON
prime minister david cameron at amritsar in feb 20th.
your excellence you have kneeled down while paying tribute to martyr's and observed one minute silence with folded hands as a mark of respect.
As per j&k we have been seeing many jallian wala bagh's every movement and there is no one for us to regret.
On 9th feb " Secret execution ghastly act of dr. Mohammad Afzal guru have awarded to kashmir nation with another monument for freedom by govt of india for their poltical gains.
Isn't this a business trip to attract more investments to UK and bag
more defence deals? What's the hoopla about this apology seeking?
Raghunathan, Srini, and Jaspal have made valuable points, and Tarsem is
realistic. Let us be united and proud to be Indian without being overly
self-righteous. Surely there are laws regarding international
compensation for historical crimes, and maybe there's a limit to how
much one can or should apologise for the sins of one's ancestors.I
appreciate the British PM's gesture.
His gesture is good: But am smelling some thing ....probably it is
attract Sikh community to get their votes during UK elections.
History always unfolds the bitter realities which take us century back and digs out every incidents. The pages of history can go wrinkled but they try all their effort to mirror the intensity of the incidents, and the intention of the perpetrators.
The recent visit of the British Prime Minister David Cameron to the holy site of Jaliyawala Bagh has made it crystal clear that he along with his country men are still very ashamed of what happened in 1919. The perpetrators are resting in their graves without, leaving some, being punished for their heinous crime committed against humanity, but their act of brutality will prove burden and utmost disappointment for the new generation to come.
The Jaliawala Bagh is symbolic for the martyrs who lost their precious life on that unfortunate day , and at the same time the four walled Bagh tells us about the killing of innocents at the hands of the British in cold blood.
Now the time has come to fight against all kind of brutality.
you got to give a better headline than that!
why the negative headline when you can easily shift the focus of the public to the better, important news of him visiting the place with a good positive headline?
and is he not right? it was something that happened years back...why do we need to keep pondering over such issues and forget/lose focus from the more important ones that we face today?
If Kevin Rudd can apologize to the Aborgine population in Australia for "The Stolen Generation", why can't Cameron do the same here? Age does not matter, it is the thought that is important. It shows hoe callous the English are, they have looted India for hundreds of years, tortured our forefathers, but do not have the heart to apologize?
Post Independence India suffers a humiliation by none other than Sikhs themselves. Why cant the SGPC and Badal government investigate into the matter of erecting memorials for Khalistan terrorists? Sikhs should tender an unconditional apology for such anti national activities. Punjab is just like any other state in India and doesn't need to feel above than its counterparts.
Sikhs should not go down as the hand that rocks the cradle. I hope wisdom prevails.
The British Prime Minister knelt and paid floral tributes to the
martyrs.That was indeed a noble gesture and we should leave it at that.
We have long back forgiven the UK for its Jallianwala Bagh massacre by falling over ourselves to go to that country for a better future. Cameron's full or half apology, therefore, does not matter much.
It is shameful that we Indians continue to tolerate such attitude, behaviour and mindset. If the British PM and the UK Government has even an ounce of respect for others including Indians, they should not only offer a full and formal apology, but also pay a hefty compensation to the relatives of the victims for their heinous crimes.
Bande Mataram!
The British PM does not need to apologise for something in which he had no part. Does India require all higher caste Brahmins to apologise to all dalits for years of oppression they suffered at the ancesters of those Brahmins? Should current day muslims apologise to the Hindus for the atrocities of Aurangazeb? The list is endless.
To Mr Vinod.
Please note that your statement about disbanding the Gurkha and
Baloch regiment is flawed and comes out of suspect logical reasoning.
The British always used one community from the Subcontinent to put
down a rebellion started by another. The Sikh help was used by the
British to put down the 1857 Revolt led by the North Indian Muslim
Nawabs and Hindu Princes. This is the simple policy of "Divide and
Rule". The British used people like Gurkhas and Baloch who had no
emotional sentiments with the Punjabi people. There was no united
Indian Army until Netaji Subash Chandra Bose brought together people
from different parts of India (Tamils/Punjabis/Pathans all Prisoners
of War at Singapore/SE Asia) to form the Azad Hind Fauj.
Now as the Republic of India, It is important for all Indian Citizens
of various states/backgrounds to understand this and never ever let a
foreign power divide and rule us.
Those who don't learn from History don't deserve to advance.
Do not wait to hear the exact words you want him to use. Understand the symbols. Other cultures, other ways of thinking, feeling and acting. Kneeling down is a sign of what could have been said and what you are asking for. This was a noble gesture. Let us forget the past and look for the future.
'Regret' and not 'apology', definitely a worthy play of words exhibiting control over
your native language. What you have not demonstrated Mr. Cameron on behalf of
your nation, is the courage to accept one's actions! I'm more than glad to introduce
you to a certain Orwell, whose works talk a lot about the bane of hanging, leave
alone bloody massacres.
Before the British PM makes an apology, I think the time is ripe for the Indian Government and its people to make an apology for desecrating the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. We've had 60+ years of freedom and we're still behind many of the countries that gained their freedom after we did. We can start by apologizing for the ongoing All India Bandh...
If the British were to apologize for the crimes they have committed on
all the countries they have occupied, it would take A!eons!
Cameron is being practical.
Common guys...lets stop digging in to the past and cruise in to the
future and build better and stronger ties with Britain.
Sir,
In admitting that the Jallianwala Bagh massacre was a deeply
shameful event in British history, the UK Prime Minister David Cameron
has indeed condemned the incident. The condemnation is stronger than
an apology. Moreover,an apology has its significance only when it is
tendered by the persons responsible for the incidents or lapses.
Apology by the present Prime Minister cannot soothe the feelings of
the kin of the deceased in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre case in which
hundreds of men and women were killed in April 1919. The courage of
Cameron to condemn the incident while paying homage to the martyrs
must be appreciated.
The more serious crime was the hanging of Kattabomman and his brother for not paying taxes and that too not to English crown but to a business entity called East India Company. The worst still was the hanging of Lala Nanda Kumar by Warren Hastings for forgery of accounts.Who will apologise? Only the present UK Government for the act of the then British Government which gave the Charter to East India Company The list is longer
Why doesn't the Indian Government seek compensation in the British Court like the Africans have done?
There is a big difference between farce and honesty, ones actions is the thing that describes everyone.
Realists have a great ability to see through gimmickry. And I think Indian (Sikhs) are the greatest realists you will ever find.
Would these words of regret ('Regret' mind you not 'apology') come if
AgustaWestland wouldnt be in bribery scandal. These remark are too late
and for the purpose of deflecting attention on more pressing business on
hand. Media obliged willingly. Wake up countrymen all British PM is
doing divide and rule again. His mission is to protect interest of
AgustaWestland which he made clear on arrival.
Cameron in India for business, he will do and say anything that would enhance
British business interest including this comment of 'deeply shameful act in British
history' and 'kneeling down while paying tribute to martyrs and observed one-
minute silence with folded hands as a mark of respect.' Let Indians understand this
simple fact.
The role of the solders is to follow the orders not questions or judge, Gurkha regiment is one of the best in the world and army never discriminates on the basis of ethnicity or religion, if it was to be so then what about sikh regiment? The apology British PM can't bring justice to those men an women and their children who died their on that evening not knowing why they are being killed. Take this apology with a pinch of salt, I am sure it has some political and financial significance.
The riflemen who shot the innocents were drawn from the Gurkha and Baluch
regiments. I truly hope that the Gurkha battalion that participated in this massacre has
been disbanded and is no longer a part of the Indian Army. It is a shame that no
professional army battalion can and should live with.
The British Prime Minister, should also tell the sikhs who live in United Kingdom to be loyal to India, from where they migrated. Its a regular eyesore overseas to see fringe sikh groups, burn Indian flags during Independence day celebrations. There have been many serious violations of such nature across UK.
Disappointingly, neither the British government or any Sikh groups condemned it. Further insult, is the glorification of Khalisthan terrorists and Kanishka flight bombers. Sikhs has to come out and declare their true intentions. They cant have best of both, betraying the loyalty between countries. The tag of mercenaries haunts sikh communty, if seen their anti Indian activities within and outside India. This country has been greatly considerate and accomodating to sikhs and they should not forget this.
Well, the place has not yet become a compulsory site ,to be visited
by every child in India.What better pilgrimage centre can there be
in Independent India than this place.Cameroon did what any other
sane person would and there is no magnanimity in it than diplomacy.
A humble and noble gesture. But we did not get freedom from the British to deny the rule of law to our own citizens. It is appropriate for right wing nationalists to use the microphone and the stage to whip up mob fury to kill thousands of innocent people only because they belong to a different caste, creed or social standing.Where is the accountability of our own politicians who have committed mass murder in the name of politics or religion. Or is that acceptable if we kill our own?
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