Death Wells

The source of life became the source of death.

The partition of India in 1947 was a traumatic event that led to the displacement of millions of people. The violence and chaos that ensued during this period resulted in the loss of countless lives, with women being particularly vulnerable to the atrocities committed by both sides. One of the most tragic incidents that occurred thousands of times in 1947 was the suicide of women who jumped into wells to avoid being captured or raped by the opposing religious communities. Wells were a common feature of rural areas in India, and they were used as a source of water for drinking and irrigation. However, during the partition, many wells became the sources of horrendous and dreadful deaths. 

The partition of India in 1947 was a result of the British colonial rule coming to an end. The country was divided into two separate nations, India and Pakistan, with the majority of Muslims living in Pakistan and the majority of Hindus living in India. The partition was accompanied by widespread violence and bloodshed, with both sides committing atrocities against each other. Women were particularly vulnerable during this time, as they were often targeted for rape and sexual violence by the opposing communities.These suicide incidents were reported in various parts of India and Pakistan, with estimates suggesting that thousands of women lost their lives in this manner. The reasons behind these tragic events were complex and multifaceted, with factors such as fear, shame, self-respect, and honour playing significant roles. The violence and chaos that accompanied the partition created a sense of terror among the population, with people fearing for their lives and the safety of their families. Women were afraid of being captured or raped by the opposing forces, which led many to take drastic measures to protect themselves. 

In many South Asian cultures, the honour of a woman is closely tied to her sexual purity. Rape and sexual violence are seen as a stain on a woman's honour, which can bring shame not only to her but also to her family. Women who were captured by the opposing forces were often subjected to sexual violence, which led many to believe that death was a better option than living with the shame and dishonour of being raped. The impact of these tragic events on the communities affected was profound. I will state some of these dreadful incidents below:

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

There were many incidents involving water wells during the 1947 India-Pakistan Partition, but one significant incident even goes further back than 1947; on 13th of April 1919 a brutal incident happened in a public park, Jallianwala Bagh, in a little village called Amritsar in Punjab, India. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, also known as the Amritsar massacre, was a tragic incident where a peaceful gathering of thousands of people had gathered to protest the British colonial rule. The British government had imposed a series of repressive laws, including the Rowlatt Act, which allowed the authorities to arrest and detain anyone without a trial. The people of India were outraged by these laws and had organised a peaceful protest to demand their repeal at Jallianwala Bagh. On the other hand, British authorities were determined to crush the protest and had deployed many troops in the city. On the day of the incident, General Reginald Dyer, the commander of the British troops, arrived at Jallianwala Bagh with a group of soldiers. Without any warning, Dyer ordered his troops to open fire on the unarmed crowd. Jallianwala Bagh is surrounded by houses and there is only one entrance and exit to the park, British soldiers blocked this only entrance/exit and fired indiscriminately, killing hundreds of people and injuring thousands, the massacre continued for about ten minutes, until the soldiers ran out of ammunition. There was a well in the park and several people jumped in the well to be saved from British bullets and drowned in the well. There were more than 2000 casualties, and 150 bodies were found in the well, the well is called “The Martyrs' Well” (Chowdhry 2023).

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre was a brutal and senseless act of violence that shocked the world. The incident was widely condemned by people across India and around the world. Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, called it a "monstrous crime against humanity”. The British government initially tried to downplay the incident and even defended Dyer's actions. However, as news of the massacre spread, there was a growing outcry against British rule in India. The incident became a turning point in India's struggle for independence and galvanised the Indian people to fight for their freedom. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre also had a profound impact on the British public, many people in Britain were horrified by the brutality of the incident and began to question the morality of their country's colonial rule. The incident led to a growing movement for Indian independence in Britain and helped to pave the way for India's eventual independence in 1947.

Today, Jallianwala Bagh is a national monument and a symbol of India's struggle for freedom. The site of the massacre has been preserved as a memorial to the victims. The incident is remembered every year on April 13, as a day of remembrance and reflection.