Strikes in India

This is a study of strikes in India during hundred years from 1850 to 1950. Little information is available about strikes which took place in the earlier part of the period. Whatever is available is brought together in the study. About the later part com paratively more information is available in government reports, in Labour Gazettes and in newspapers. An attempt has been made to bring it together and to present it in a concise form.

Some of the strikes that took place during the hundred years are of historic importance. They played a prominent part in shaping the workers' movement. Some others are of singular importance because they throw a flood of light on the life and condition of Indian workers during those days and on the im mense difficulties that they had to face in just inviting public attention to their plight. An attempt has been made to record some of those heroic struggles in the Survey so that some in formation about them may be preserved for the benefit of future generations. It is given, wherever possible, in the words of con temporary observers. Due acknowledgement is made to the wri ters at appropriate places. However, I deem it my duty to ex press to them my deep gratitude for the record that they have left of some of the struggles of those far-off days.