Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Book Review Challenges Longstanding Myths About Jallianwala Bagh
Kishwar Desai wrote a book about what happened at Jallianwala Bagh in 1919.
The book looks closely at stories people have accepted over time.
One story says that many women were at the site.
Desai says the evidence may show that this was not true.
Children were there too, often with their families.
Another story says people chose to jump into a well to escape the shooting.
Desai says many people may have fallen into it while trying to hide or run away.
Her book tries to explain the event using evidence rather than repeated stories.
Kishwar Desai’s book examines competing versions of the Jallianwala Bagh story.
Desai challenges the belief that many women were present at the site.
She cites evidence that children were also present, often with family members.
The book disputes the idea that people voluntarily jumped into the well.
Evidence suggests many fell into the well while hiding from or fleeing bullets.
- Who
- Kishwar Desai and the people present at Jallianwala Bagh.
- What
- A book review of Desai’s examination of accepted accounts of the Jallianwala Bagh firing and the deaths around the well.
- When
- 1919.
- Where
- Jallianwala Bagh.
- Why
- To challenge versions of the story that Desai argues are not supported by the evidence.
Accepted Versions
Desai’s Evidence-Based Challenges
Presence of women
Accepted Versions
A commonly accepted version holds that many women were present at Jallianwala Bagh.
Desai’s Evidence-Based Challenges
Desai points to evidence suggesting that many women were not present.
Deaths in the well
Accepted Versions
One account says people voluntarily jumped into the well to escape the firing.
Desai’s Evidence-Based Challenges
Desai argues that many were trying to hide or flee bullets and fell into the well amid the chaos.
- Book
- Jallianwala Bagh, 1919: The Real Story
- Author
- Kishwar Desai
- Historical year
- 1919
- Disputed claim
- That many women were present at Jallianwala Bagh
- Children present
- Children were present, often accompanying family members
- Disputed well account
- The belief that people voluntarily jumped into the well
- Alternative explanation
- Many may have fallen into the well while hiding from or fleeing bullets