THE MOVEMENT OF THE WORKING CLASS IN INDIA

Introduction:
The Indian working class faced severe exploitation similar to early European industrialisation: low wages, long hours, unhygienic and dangerous work conditions, child labour, and no basic amenities. They struggled under two main oppressive forces:
- British imperial rule.
- Economic exploitation by both foreign and Indian capitalists.

Early Nationalist Attitude:
Moderate nationalists were mostly indifferent to labour issues because:
- They feared labour laws would weaken Indian-owned industries.
- They differentiated between Indian and British-owned factories.
- They aimed to avoid class divisions in national movement.
- They opposed Factory Acts (1881, 1891) fearing negative effects on Indian industry.

Early Developments Before 1900:
1870 – Sasipada Banerjea:
- Started a Workingmen’s Club and published “Bharat Shramjeevi”.

1878 – Sorabjee Shapoorji:
- Introduced a bill for better labour conditions in Bombay Legislative Council.

1880 – N.M. Lokhande:
- Founded “Deenbandhu” newspaper.
- Started Bombay Mill and Millhands Association.

1899 – First major railway strike:
- Great Indian Peninsular Railway workers struck work.
- Tilak’s Kesari and Mahratta supported the agitation.

Nationalist Support:
- Leaders like B.C. Pal and G. Subramanya Aiyar pushed for labour reforms.

During Swadeshi Movement (1905–08):
- Workers actively joined political struggles.
- Major strikes in government presses, railways, jute mills.
- Leaders included A.C. Banerjee, P.K. Roy Chaudhuri, Premtosh Bose.
- Subramaniya Siva and Chidambaram Pillai led workers’ strikes in Tamil Nadu.
- Biggest strike occurred after Tilak’s arrest.

First World War and After:
- Industrialists made huge profits; workers faced high prices and low wages.
- Worker discontent increased.
- Global influences:
  - Russian Revolution (1917).
  - Formation of ILO (1919).
- Led to organised trade unionism.

Formation of AITUC (1920):
- All India Trade Union Congress formed on 31 October 1920.
- Lala Lajpat Rai: first President.
- Dewan Chaman Lal: first General Secretary.
- C.R. Das presided over later sessions; wanted Congress to adopt workers’ issues.
- Gaya Congress (1922) welcomed AITUC.

Influence of Ideologies:
- Initially influenced by British Labour Party’s social democratic ideas.
- Gandhi promoted trusteeship, non-violence, class harmony.
- Gandhi organised Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association (1918):
  - Secured 27.5% wage increase; later 35%.

Trade Union Act, 1926:
- Legal recognition of trade unions.
- Conditions for registration, regulation.
- Provided immunity from civil/criminal action for lawful union activities.
- Placed restrictions on political activities of unions.

Rise of Communists in Labour Movement (1920s):
- Strong communist influence from 1928.
- Bombay Textile Strike (1928) lasted six months led by Girni Kamgar Union.
- 1928 saw widespread industrial unrest.
- Key leaders: S.A. Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, P.C. Joshi, Sohan Singh Joshi.
- Alarmed government passed:
  - Public Safety Ordinance (1929)
  - Trade Disputes Act (1929)
    - Mandatory Courts of Inquiry.
    - Banned strikes in public utilities.
    - One-month notice for strike.
    - Banned sympathetic and political strikes.

Meerut Conspiracy Case (1929):
- 31 labour leaders arrested.
- Trial lasted 3.5 years.
- Convicted leaders included: S.A. Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, Philip Spratt, Ben Bradley.
- Case gained global attention but temporarily weakened movement.
- Workers took part in Civil Disobedience Movement (1930).

Split in AITUC (1931):
- N.M. Joshi left AITUC, formed All India Trade Union Federation (AITUF).
- Communists rejoined AITUC in 1935.

Under Congress Ministries (1937–39):
- AITUC supported Congress in elections.
- Congress ministries supported workers; passed pro-labour laws.

During Second World War:
- Workers initially opposed war.
- After USSR joined Allies (1941), communists supported war, calling it “People’s War”.
- Communists opposed Quit India Movement.
- Advocated industrial peace.
- 1945–47: workers joined national political upsurge.
- 1945: Bombay and Calcutta dock workers refused to load ships bound for Indonesia.
- 1946: workers supported Naval Ratings’ revolt.

Formation of Organisations (1870s–1930s):
- Bengal:
  - Working Men’s Club (1870) – Sasipada Banerjee.
  - Working Men’s Mission (1878) – Brahmo Samaj.
  - Working Men’s Institution (1905).
- Maharashtra:
  - Bombay Millhands Association (1890).
  - Dinbandhu journal (1898).
  - Bombay Millhands Defence Association (Tilak, 1908).
- These early bodies focused on welfare more than organised labour struggles.

Role of Communists:
- CPI formed in USSR in 1920; became active in India.
- Strong influence in Bombay (cotton mills) and Calcutta (jute mills).
- By 1928–29, communists gained control of AITUC.
- At Nagpur (10th session), communists demanded:
  - AITUC break ties with ILO.
  - Join League against Imperialism.
- Moderates objected and formed IFTU.
- 1931 split led to formation of Red Trade Union Congress (RTUC).
- By 1931 three national federations existed:
  - AITUC
  - IFTU
  - RTUC
- Later:
  - Railway unions and unaffiliated unions formed NFTU (1933).
  - AITUC and RTUC reunited (1935).

Limitations of the Working-Class Movement:
- Large unorganised sector left out.
- Multiplicity of unions fragmented the movement.
- Rivalry among unions weakened struggles.
- Weak political consciousness.
- Limited alliances with peasants and other oppressed groups.
- Issues of women and socially oppressed groups often neglected.

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Subject: Modern History

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