Introduction
The Rowlatt Act was passed by the British Government in 1919. It was a legislation that aimed to curb the growing Indian nationalism and freedom struggle. The Act gave the British government sweeping powers to arrest and imprison any person without trial and to suppress any political or social activity that was deemed to be a threat to British rule in India.

Effect on National Movement
The Rowlatt Act had a profound impact on the Indian national movement. Some of the major effects are as follows:

1. Agitation and Protests: The Act was seen as a direct attack on the civil liberties of Indians and was met with widespread protests and agitation. The Indian National Congress and other political parties called for strikes, protests, and boycotts.

2. Massacre at Jallianwala Bagh: The most infamous incident in the aftermath of the Act was the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. On April 13, 1919, a British officer named General Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering of protesters in Amritsar, killing hundreds of people.

3. Emergence of New Leaders: The Rowlatt Act played a crucial role in the emergence of new leaders in the Indian national movement. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Vallabhbhai Patel played a prominent role in the protests against the Act and became the face of the Indian freedom struggle.

4. Non-Cooperation Movement: The Act also led to the Non-Cooperation Movement, which was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920. The movement was a mass civil disobedience campaign against the British rule in India and aimed to bring the British government to its knees through nonviolent means.

5. International Attention: The Rowlatt Act brought international attention to the Indian freedom struggle. The Act was widely criticized in the international community, and the British government faced immense pressure to repeal the Act.

Conclusion
The Rowlatt Act was a turning point in the Indian national movement. It galvanized the Indian people to fight for their rights and paved the way for India's eventual independence in 1947. The Act also highlighted the brutality and repressive nature of the British rule in India, which further fueled the Indian freedom struggle.

Rowlatt Act was an oppressive act introduced by the British Government in 1919. It gave the Government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.