Amritsar- 13th April 1919.

March st, 1919 Officer’s Barracks, Amritsar:1

Dear Jane,2

Sweet heart, The Rowlatt Act was finally declared. Mass agitation is expected and so my return back to Yorkshire will be delayed. I hope his Lordship keeps well. And does my brother still keep to his fox-hunting ways? Things are bad here love. I promised you that I will return, but present events are scaring me. Things are starting to get hot around here. The locals are turning more violent and I feel the Rowlatt Act is not going to curb them; it seems to spurn them on. These Sikhs seem to have more spunk in them than their sedately appearance give people to believe. Gandhi, the national leader has called for a ‘Hartal’ a nation wide boycott of industry. The economy is nearly suspended here, thus delaying my return. General Dyer takes this only as an affront. Indian blood will be spilt soon I fear. A few of my friends from college are also said to be here, but I have not seen anyone yet. You shine like a beacon in my heart love, write to me soon. I long to see our son. Tell him I love him for me.3

Yours truly,4

Hugh.5

         6

       7

April Th, Amritsar : 8

It was in the middle of the monsoons, in Punjab-The Land of five rivers. For once the British and their Rowlatt Act were out of Indian minds. They were engaged in a far merrier prospect- Baisakhi had come at last. Bai sakhi is the harvest festival of Punjab- the festival of the Bhangra and Gidda dances. It was also the day of the meeting a Jallianwallah Bagh.9

The Indians in their non-cooperation movement against the Rowlatt Act that prevented them from assembling peacefully decided to congregate at Jallianwallah Bagh a small enclosed park in Amritsar. And today they were in no mood to tolerate restrictions on gathering together. Udham Singh an orphan from roughly the age of four also decided to attend the meeting. It was an event that changed his entire life.10

With careless boredom he surveyed the crowd of children, women and old people. His coat suit was a marked difference with the Kadhi surrounding him. He smiled to himself “Appears everyone has a grudge against the British.” He thought of his English friends and their complete ignorance of their nation’s colonies. Listening to tales from the peninsula as though they were fairy tales... The meeting was peaceful and perhaps a bit boring. He stifled a yawn as the sound of marching feet suddenly reached his ears. His body stiffened instinctively. He had arrived from England only a few months ago but those months were enough for him to learn the meaning of that sound. For to many Indians like him... the sound of marching feet meant only one thing...  that blood shed was to come. 11

May 22nd, Officer’s Barracks. Amritsar.12

Sweet Jane,13

It has been a month and a day since that bloody episode in that park. My hands still shake at the memory of it. The despair of the women and the cries of the babies…they still sound in my dreams. But what could I a mere junior officer do? I had orders- true…but is it right to slaughter women and children against the will of my conscience just because I was told to do so? Oh, sweet Jane I do not know what to do or what to think. I wish you were near me to comfort and counsel me. I have stopped looking at General Dyer with respect. All I feel towards him is contempt and hatred. You say our son is a year old... yet I have not set my eyes on him... forgive me Jane... I have a single favor to ask... one my closest friends... the only Sikh I knew intimately also died in that accursed park- can we name our son after him? I wish I could to return to you but conditions here prevent me from doing so. I love you and always will- to eternity do us part...14

Yours truly,15

Hugh.16

May rd, Jallianwallah Bagh.17

Udham stood at the only entrance of the park and drank in the foul odor. The screams always tore through his dreams until he could bear it no more. His left hand still in a sling, he placed the flowers at the foot of the mud wall bearing bloody witness to the event that had taken place. Udham now could only think of Jallianwallah Bagh, General Dyer and his people…His People... In a single day he had been transformed from a young man caring only for the ways of fashion... to a survivor thirsting for revenge. At that spot he took his vow... he would bring down General Dyer no matter what. And thus he set off on his quest with a determination only the sight of death can bring. He traveled widely and built his revolutionary ties... and reached an internationalist approach. He joined programs to hood wink the British, while forever ploughing towards his goal.18

October 13th, Officer’s Barracks. Amritsar.19

Darling,20

I’ll be returning home once again. General Dyer has left fearing for his life, as rumors spread about a group of assassins plotting against him. Security is maximum but I’ll be leaving India once and for all. I cannot write more at the moment for I have a lot of business to attend to before the ship docks or we’ll miss the tide. 21

Yours truly,22

Hugh.23

March 14th,1940, London.24

Dear father,25

I’m now positioned as a guard for General Dyer- was actually. The old man has out grown the fieriness of his youth and is very little like the man you had described him to be. Yesterday was his end. After 21 years an Indian finally managed to get close enough to fire at him. The two .45 mm bullets killed Dyer immediately. Investigations show that it was man named Udham Singh. Odd isn’t it? Does it have anything to do with my name?26

Sincerely,27

Phillip Udham Dracott.  28