Jallianwala Bagh, a historic garden in Amritsar, a place of national importance, on April 13, 1919, witnessed a tragic turn of events after the then-acting Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer summoned troops of the British-Indian Army to wipe out the crowd of Indian civilians present in the place. That led to at least 379 deaths and injuries of over 1,200 people. This dreadful event is labelled as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre or the Amritsar massacre.

Here are some of the books written on the Jalliawalla Bagh massacre:

1. ‘Jallianwala Bagh, 1919: The Real Story’ 

Written by Kishwar Desai, the book talks about how the British troop fired bullets for ten minutes at a group of unarmed civilians inside a community park, which had only one narrow exit. The book also emphasizes and analyses the various reasons that led to the infamous day. Based on various historical data, the book provides information about the action and its consequences.

Also Read: The lesser known connection between Old Monk and General Reginald Dyer

2. ’Jallianwala Bagh: An Empire of Fear and the Making of the Amritsar Massacre’

Written by Kim A Wagner, the book sheds a different light on the event, as it not only takes us through the gruesome event but also focuses on the causes and results of the massacre. Wagner, in the book, argues that the massacre was initiated due to the fear that lurked into the minds of the British rulers.

2. ‘Eyewitness at Amritsar: A Visual History of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre’

Written by Amandeep Singh Madra and Parmjit Singh, with a Foreword by Kim A Wagner, the book puts out a vivid description of the event, with detailed visual descriptions. It also provides a chronological narrative based on eyewitnesses along with actual images.

Also Read: History of Jallianwala Bagh massacre: What happened on the grim day of April 13, 1919

3. ‘Jallianwala Bagh: A Groundbreaking History of the 1919 Massacre’

Written by VN Datta, the book provides details based on primary sources and testimonies by the survivors of the event. The book is a well-analysed narration and description of the massacre and everything that revolved around it.

4. ‘The Case that Shook the Empire’

Written by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, the book deals with the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, mainly focusing on the defamation case filed by former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab Michael O’Dwyer, under whose tenure the massacre took place, against Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair for publishing a book that portrayed the major barbarities committed by the British empire. The book also digs into the court proceedings that unzipped the details of what happened on April 19, 1919.