Question

How was the struggle built up by workers decisive for the national movement ? 

Answer 1

India witnessed an industrial revolution in the latter half of the 19^th Century with the opening of railways.

1. Several textile mills, a variety of industries, railway companies, etc. developed in the country, increasing the need for workers.
2. With the rise in employment, the workers were often exploited, and their basic requirements went ignored.
3. The exploitation of the workers led to continuous strikes, as exhibited by the agitation of the tea plantation workers in Assam and the strike called by the Great Indian Peninsular (GIP) Railway workers in 1899.
4. To correct these issues, there was a need to unite the workers under a banner, which would allow them to negotiate better with the owners. This led to the establishment of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920.
5. Lala Lajpat Rai, who was the president of the first session of AITUC, told the workers to actively participate in the national movement.
6. Other socialist leaders like Shripad Amrut Dange and Muzaffar Ahmed spread the socialist ideology among the workers and worked to form militant organisations.
7. In 1928, the Mumbai Mill Workers Union went on strike for six months, followed by many such strikes made by the railway workers, jute mill workers, etc. This created a lot of problems for the government, which passed several legislations in an attempt to curb the protests.
8. Ultimately, the worker’s struggle proved beneficial and decisive for the national movement.