assess the role of industrial I working classes in the freedom struggle of India
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Origins (Before 1840)
-The country had primarily agricultural economy; peasants and artisans --the latter produced all the goods needed locally.
-With British consolidation in India, after 1800, the British industrial revolution needed raw materials for their industry and markets for their products. Like other colonies controlled by the British, India
became a major supplier of raw materials like cotton, coal, jute, etc. It also became a major market for British products, textiles and clothes in particular.
-This resulted in severe exploitation of the peasantry so that cheap raw material (like cotton) could be exported to England.
-This also resulted in large-scale displacement of artisans. British factory-made goods came to India and artisans became unemployed. They fell back to land, as there were not enough industrial jobs available then. The pressure on land grew, unemployment increased, and the artisans lost all their skill and expertise. Indian cottage industry was thus completely destroyed.
Early Industria1isation ( 1840-1900) : Emergency of Indian Working Class
-Industrialisation in India started in mid-nineteenth century. British tea companies came in Assam by 1839; Bengal Coal Company started in 1843; first cotton mill in Bombay and jute mill in Calcutta started in 1854.
-The first two organised industries were jute and cotton; tea plantation became other major labour employment centres.
-The British established a network of railways in 1854 to transport raw materials and manufactured goods. Railways became another major employ of labour by 1860.
-During 1840-70, more than 5 lakh Indian workers had also been sent
as indentured labour to other British co1onies.
-By 1890, about 3 lakh workers were employed in factories and mines. However, their exploitation was maximum --16 hours work day, many accidents, low wages.
Working Class Movement in India
First Phase ( l850-19QQ)
-This period coincided with early industriaiisation period and witnessed beginnings of working class movement. The main thrust of the struggles in this period was on improving the working conditions
and providing welfare facilities.
-Early supporters of workers were educated philanthropists from 'Brahrn Samaj' in -Calcutta and people like Meghajee Lokhunde in Bombay.
-Several strikes and protests were launched by workers in Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Nagpur, Ahrnedabad, Kanpur, etc.
-First major strike took place in 1862 in Howrah-- Railway workers demanded 8 hours work day.
-During 1882 and 1890, more than 25 important strikes took place all over the country.
-Most of the strikes and struggles of this period had some common characteristics --they were spontaneous, short-lived (less than 3 days) , limited to a single department or factory, focused on questions of working hours, conditions and welfare.
-Between .l879-81, several workers' associations were formed around common interests of workers on wages and conditions of work.
-The employers also formed several associations during this period:
Bombay and Bengal Chamber of Commerce, Bombay Mill Owners' Association,
Indian Jute Manufacturers' Association, Indian Chamber of Commerce.
-In 1891, some textile workers formed Bombay Mill Hands Association.
Second Phase (1900-1914)
-This period saw the beginning of trade unions in the country.
-The industrialisation in the country had grown significantly in this period: by 1914, there were 264 textile mills and 64 jute mills; a total of about 10 lakh industrial workers.
-Introduction of electricity in 1905 prompted the employers to increase work loads and working hours --the workers organised several strikes against this.
-A major strike of workers in Press and Machine Section of the government press in Madras launched a six month long struggle in 1903 against over- time without payment.
-The 1905 strike of more tnan 2000 workers of government press in Calcutta led to the formation of a Press Workers' Union --one of the -first in the country.
-The period also witnessed a Politicization of workers who began to~see the link between their struggles nd those against the British rule. The then leaders of Swadeshi and freedom movement also began to recognise the importance of workers' struggles. The 1906 strike on Bengal section of East India Railway spread to other centres with the help of national freedom movement leaders.
-The first direct political struggle of Indian Working Class was launched against the British Government -in July 1908 by textile workers of Bombay. Other sections of the working class joined in this struggle and more than 1 lakh workers went on strike on July 23. Tilak's arrest and sentence was retaliated by major working class agitations allover the country.
-After the outbreak of first world war, the Indian industry began to expand rapidly, and so did the profit.
-The country had primarily agricultural economy; peasants and artisans --the latter produced all the goods needed locally.
-With British consolidation in India, after 1800, the British industrial revolution needed raw materials for their industry and markets for their products. Like other colonies controlled by the British, India
became a major supplier of raw materials like cotton, coal, jute, etc. It also became a major market for British products, textiles and clothes in particular.
-This resulted in severe exploitation of the peasantry so that cheap raw material (like cotton) could be exported to England.
-This also resulted in large-scale displacement of artisans. British factory-made goods came to India and artisans became unemployed. They fell back to land, as there were not enough industrial jobs available then. The pressure on land grew, unemployment increased, and the artisans lost all their skill and expertise. Indian cottage industry was thus completely destroyed.
Early Industria1isation ( 1840-1900) : Emergency of Indian Working Class
-Industrialisation in India started in mid-nineteenth century. British tea companies came in Assam by 1839; Bengal Coal Company started in 1843; first cotton mill in Bombay and jute mill in Calcutta started in 1854.
-The first two organised industries were jute and cotton; tea plantation became other major labour employment centres.
-The British established a network of railways in 1854 to transport raw materials and manufactured goods. Railways became another major employ of labour by 1860.
-During 1840-70, more than 5 lakh Indian workers had also been sent
as indentured labour to other British co1onies.
-By 1890, about 3 lakh workers were employed in factories and mines. However, their exploitation was maximum --16 hours work day, many accidents, low wages.
Working Class Movement in India
First Phase ( l850-19QQ)
-This period coincided with early industriaiisation period and witnessed beginnings of working class movement. The main thrust of the struggles in this period was on improving the working conditions
and providing welfare facilities.
-Early supporters of workers were educated philanthropists from 'Brahrn Samaj' in -Calcutta and people like Meghajee Lokhunde in Bombay.
-Several strikes and protests were launched by workers in Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Nagpur, Ahrnedabad, Kanpur, etc.
-First major strike took place in 1862 in Howrah-- Railway workers demanded 8 hours work day.
-During 1882 and 1890, more than 25 important strikes took place all over the country.
-Most of the strikes and struggles of this period had some common characteristics --they were spontaneous, short-lived (less than 3 days) , limited to a single department or factory, focused on questions of working hours, conditions and welfare.
-Between .l879-81, several workers' associations were formed around common interests of workers on wages and conditions of work.
-The employers also formed several associations during this period:
Bombay and Bengal Chamber of Commerce, Bombay Mill Owners' Association,
Indian Jute Manufacturers' Association, Indian Chamber of Commerce.
-In 1891, some textile workers formed Bombay Mill Hands Association.
Second Phase (1900-1914)
-This period saw the beginning of trade unions in the country.
-The industrialisation in the country had grown significantly in this period: by 1914, there were 264 textile mills and 64 jute mills; a total of about 10 lakh industrial workers.
-Introduction of electricity in 1905 prompted the employers to increase work loads and working hours --the workers organised several strikes against this.
-A major strike of workers in Press and Machine Section of the government press in Madras launched a six month long struggle in 1903 against over- time without payment.
-The 1905 strike of more tnan 2000 workers of government press in Calcutta led to the formation of a Press Workers' Union --one of the -first in the country.
-The period also witnessed a Politicization of workers who began to~see the link between their struggles nd those against the British rule. The then leaders of Swadeshi and freedom movement also began to recognise the importance of workers' struggles. The 1906 strike on Bengal section of East India Railway spread to other centres with the help of national freedom movement leaders.
-The first direct political struggle of Indian Working Class was launched against the British Government -in July 1908 by textile workers of Bombay. Other sections of the working class joined in this struggle and more than 1 lakh workers went on strike on July 23. Tilak's arrest and sentence was retaliated by major working class agitations allover the country.
-After the outbreak of first world war, the Indian industry began to expand rapidly, and so did the profit.
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