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Indian Freedom Struggle (1707–1947 A.D.)

Notes • A trade union may be defined as “a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose
of maintaining or improving the conditions of their working lives”. Political motivations and
ideologies influenced the Indian trade union movement and were in turn influenced by its
increased strength.
• The first commission was appointed in 1875 although the First Factory Act was not passed
before 1881. The Act prohibited the employment of children under the age of 7, limited the
number of working hours for children below the age of 12 years and provided that dangerous
machinery should be fenced.
• The initiative in organising a Trade Union on the national basis was taken by the nationalist
leaders and the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was founded on 31 October 1920.
The Indian National Congress President of the year, Lala Lajpat Rai, was elected its President.
The national leaders kept close association with this Trade Union and nationalist leaders like
C.R. Das, V.V. Giri and later on Sarojini Naidu, J.L. Nehru and Subhash Bose presided over
its annual sessions.
• The 4th Congress of the Communist International sent a message to the AITUC not to be
content with ‘fair day’s wages for a fair day’s work’ but to fight for the ultimate goal of
overthrow of capitalism and imperialism. Further, the Indian Communists were urged to
organise the Trade Union movement ‘on a class basis and purge it of all alien basis’.
• In March 1929 the Government of Lord Irwin arrested the principal leaders of the working
class movement and brought them to Meerut for trial. The principal charge against the
31 trade union leaders was of “conspiring to deprive the King of his Sovereignty of India”.

8.5 Key-Words

1. Taluqdars : Big landlords
2. Nazrana : Illegal levies
3. Bedakhli : Arbitrary ejectments

8.6 Review Questions

1. Discuss the peasant movement in the first half of the 20th century.
2. The motive of Mappila rebellion was religious. Discuss.
3. Briefly explain the peasant movement in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
4. Briefly describe trade union.
Answers: Self-Assessment
1. (i) 2. (ii) 3. (ii) 4. (i) 5. (iii)
2. (i) Bombay (ii) 1938 (iii) Malti Chowdhury
(iv) 1875 (v) the reforming
8.7 Further Readings

1. V.D. Mahajan, History of Modern India, S. Chand and Co. Ltd. New Delhi.
2. Chandra, Bipin, India’s Struggle for Freedom (1857–1947) Penguin, Delhi, 1996.

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