LONDON: For the first time, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre — one of the most brutal episodes of the British Raj in India — is to be taught in schools in the United Kingdom as part of a new curriculum aimed at encouraging students to gain a better understanding of the empire.

The massacre on April 13, 1919, in which hundreds of unarmed people, including women and children, were killed by Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer's men, remains a blind spot for many "raj" historians who argue that Dyer's action prevented a "second Indian mutiny" and thus "saved" the empire.

Expressed regret

The British Government has never apologised for it. But the Queen, during a visit to Amritsar in 1997, expressed regret in response to calls for a public apology. But it was overshadowed by a controversy over the remarks of the Duke of Edinburgh, who was reportedly overheard saying that the scale of the massacre had been exaggerated.

Not surprisingly, the move to teach the "Amritsar massacre" to British teenagers has been attacked by right-wing historians who fear that it would dilute the legacy of the "raj."

"The general tone of [the proposed history] unit is anti-British, with little about positive consequences of imperial rule," said Chris McGovern, director, History Curriculum Association.

But the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) said the proposed lesson on the Jallianwala Bagh carnage was intended to help schools explore in depth the events that shaped the "raj," and enable students to have a better understanding of Indo-British history.

Valuable insight

The QCA's chief executive Ken Boston said: "Given the mix of nationalities in England, it is important to foster understanding through learning. Children need to learn more about British history, but (they) also need to improve their knowledge of the events that shaped the world we live in. Learning more about the recent history of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh can help children better understand the legacy of the British empire, providing an important and valuable insight into the history of their own country."

The new "unit" of the school history curriculum, entitled "How and why is the legacy of British rule in the Indian subcontinent interpreted in different ways," would also discuss Mahatma Gandhi's method of non-violent direct action. It will feature an image of Gandhi in his loincloth with a caption saying: "India's strongest man, 1947?"

"The pupils speculate on how such a figure could be called `strong.' From this starting point, the pupils track the rise of Indian nationalism from 1857 to 1947, considering the nature of the Raj, the impact of the world wars and how Gandhi's methods proved to be so effective," the QCA's website says.

Salt march

Other events which pupils will be encouraged to explore include the Salt March, the Second World War and India's Partition.

The QCA has cautioned teachers that the unit explores "issues and events that may evoke strong feelings in some pupils [and] care should be taken to present them in a manner that is sensitive, objective and balanced."

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