Labour movement in India, (1919 -1929)

Labour Movement may be called the child of modern capitalism born out of the Industrial Revolution. The industrialization in India had developed on the ashes of Handicraft and Village Industries, because it could not compete with the cheap imported goods. Thus an effort has been made to study the various phases through which the trade union movement passed during this post war decade. The present work is an analytical attempt to study the nature, character and course of the labour movement in India during the period 1919-1929.

In India, the labour movement in initial stage was unorganised, unplanned and adhoc in nature. Whenever any problem came before the workers, they gathered together and faced it unitedly and dis membered after the situation was eased out. During this period there were long and protracted efforts made by the social reformers for the welfare of workers. In this study, an effort has also been made to unveil the attitude and policies of British Officials at different levels. It explores the spheres of conflict and tension as well as pressure and compromise. An attempt has also been made to piece together the scattered information available about the various strikes during the period and a detailed analysis Sodertaken. The problems have be examined in a historical perspective and for this purpose, the study takes into account the grievances of factory labour during the end of the nineteenth century.