As per tradition , the Sikhs gathered in the Golden Temple to celebrate the festival of Baisakhi in 1919 . After their visit , many walked over to the Jallianwala Bagh next to it to listen to speakers protesting Rowlatt Act and other policies of the colonial British government . A large crowd had gathered , when the British general Reginald Dyer ordered his soldiers to surround the Jallianwala Bagh , then open fire into the civilian crowd . Hundreds died and thousands were wounded . The massacre strengthened the opposition to the colonial rule throughout India , particularly that from Sikhs . It triggered massive non-violent protests . The protests pressured the British government to transfer the control over the management and treasury of the Golden Temple to an elected organization called Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee ( SGPC ) . The SGPC continues to manage the Golden Temple
massacre
Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Golden Temple