Prince William and Kate Middleton from Britain, the country that ruled over us for nearly 200 years, are on a goodwill trip to India.

On April 13, i.e. today, as India remembers the martyrs of the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre that took place 97 years ago in 1919, it would have been a far more meaningful gesture by the royal couple if they had taken some time out to visit the memorial in Punjab.

It was 97 years ago when hundreds of non-violent protesters fell to the bullets of the British troops, led by General Reginald Dyer. Came to be known as the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre, April 13, 1919 was one dark day in the history of India after which the country saw the consequential Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-22.

Bullets on Baisakhi

On April 13, 1919, the day of Baisakhi, one of the major festivals of Punjab, civilians gathered in huge numbers for the annual celebrations but the Punjabi new year came with an atrocious bloodbath.

Unarmed men, women and children were shot at the 6-acre wide Jallianwallah Bagh. On Dyer's orders, the firing went on for ten minutes and the troops kept showering bullets until they ran out of ammunition.

The British government stated that 379 people died in the massacre and around 1200 were wounded but the figures provided by the Indian National Congress portrayed a much grave picture. Other sources as well claimed that the death toll reached a thousand and 1500 people were wounded.

This incident shook the entire country and is said to have galvanised the Indian national movement.

The ill-publicised marital law

The passing of Rowlatt Act in 1919 annoyed many Indian leaders and the public. From hartal in Delhi and riots in Punjab, the country displayed its discomfort with what was called by Gandhi a "black act".

The protest movement became so strong in Punjab that army was called. With disruptions in rail, telegraph and communication system the unrest in Punjab continued. To curb the riot and unrest, marital law was imposed but this news was not publicised well.

People coming to celebrate Baisakhi were not aware of the martial law and the atrocities that succeed on the maidan left the country in shock and anger.

Uprising of Bhagat Singh

It was the sight of the bloody maidan of Jallianwallah that triggered the instinct to fight for the country's freedom in the young Bhagat Singh.

When 11-year-old Bhagat Singh heard of the tragedy, he ran bare feet to witness what had happened. The disturbing event had made a deep impact on the mind of this child.

Queen's 30 second homage in 1997

During her visit to India in 1997, Queen Elizabeth along with her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburg, visited the site of Jallianwallah Bagh massacre and paid 30 seconds of silent homage.

Wearing a saffron outfit, the Queen stood bare feet and laid white and gold marigolds at a pink granite memorial at Jallianwallah Bagh.





Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2016 visit

From playing cricket to attending 'royal' Bollywood gala night, the royal couple seems to be having a fancy time in the country.

After being treated with the flavours of Indian food and musician Rahul Sharma's melodious santoor session at the stately Hyderabad house, the royal couple travelled to Assam to visit the Kaziranga National Park.

But when the Prince and the Duchess visit the Kaziranga National Park today to bring attention to conservation, should not they be paying homage at the massacre site.

Sure, the history of the British colonialism cannot be rewritten or rubbed off but such a timely opportunity perhaps should not have been missed by Prince William and Duchess Kate.