1921 Buckingham and Carnatic Mills Strike
Encyclopedia
The 1921 Buckingham and Carnatic Mills Strike was a strike by the workers of Buckingham and Carnatic Mills
in the city of Chennai
, India
. against the managing company, Binny and Co.
The strike, which lasted from June to October 1921, caused severe losses to the Madras economy. It also created a rift in the ruling Justice Party
forcing many Dalit
leaders to leave.
and was founded by B. P. Wadia and V. Kalyanasundaram Mudaliar on 3 April 1918. Early union activity took place in the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills
during October–December 1920 when workers struck work in protest against working conditions. The government responded by ordering the police to shoot down striking workers on 9 December 1920 bring the strike to a forceful end.
There was widespread unrest among the workers over the low wages and poor working conditions. Their demands were supported by Indian nationalists C. Rajagopalachari
, S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar
, A. Rangaswami Iyengar
, Singaravelu Chetty, Sakkarai Chetty and S. Sathyamurthi and by the self-rule supporting Indian National Congress
as well as the pro-British Justice Party
.
refused to work until the management agreed to discuss their wage rise demands. The protest reached serious proportions when an official strike was declared on 20 June 1921. The striking workers were led by Congressman V. Kalyanasundaram Mudaliar. The Indian National Congress convened a meeting in Madras on 10 July 1921, in which, C. Rajagopalachari
moved a resolution sympathizing with the workers of the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills and supporting their cause.
The strike lasted for a total of six months. The authorities adopted a ruthless policy to suppress the agitation. On 29 August 1921, the police opened fire killing six workers.Almost all the Justice Party leaders joined hands with the Indian National Congress politicians and supported the strike. The support lent by the Justice Party towards striking workers is believed by some to have been influenced by caste identifications while others believe that the strike actually gave the Justice Party ministry a stick to beat the Governor's council with, as the Home ministry came under the direct control of the Governor of Madras. The management tactfully broke up the unity of the workers by allegedly enlisting the support of Dalits and Indian Christians who had not joined the strike.
The abstention of Dalit workers from the strike was severely criticized by the Raja of Panagal, the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency
and O. Thanikachalam Chetti
. The strike gradually evolved into a confrontation between caste Hindu and Muslim workers who were determined to continue the strike on one hand and Dalits and Indian Christians who did not participate in the strike on the other. A communal riot broke out on 28 June 1921 when a caste Hindu mob attacked the Dalit village of Puliyanthope and burnt a hundred huts.The Justice Party's mouthpiece, Justice blamed the riots on the "pampering" of Dalits by the Labour Department of the Madras government while Dalit leader M. C. Rajah
accused the union leaders of threatening non-participating Dalits from entering the mills. He also criticized the attitude of the Justice Party government of the Raja of Panagal towards Dalits.
The strike eventually came to an end in October 1921 through the mediation of C. Natesa Mudaliar
. In October 1921, Sir P. Theagaraya Chetty, the then President of the Madras Labour Union, advised workers to resume work. But with the exception of a few, most of the striking workers were not admitted.
blamed the government for the ruthless suppression of labour activities while the Justice Party
blamed the Non-Cooperation Movement
for causing the unrest and criticized the government for showing partiality towards Dalits. The party demanded that the provision of free meals to Dalits in government camps should be stopped and offenders from all the communities should be punished.
The Madras government appointed a three-member enquiry committee headed by Sir William Ayling to investigate the causes of the strike. The committee squarely blamed the striking workers for causing extensive damage to property and life and highlighted the victimization of "Adi Dravidas". The Home Member of the Governor's Executive Council, Sir Lionel Davidson, said that all the violence was caused not by a labour strike but by "a faction inflammed by caste prejudice".
M. C. Rajah
made the following observation on Dalits and the strike:
Buckingham and Carnatic Mills
Buckingham and Carnatic Mills , popularly known as B & C Mills, were textile mills run by Binny and Co. in the city of Chennai, India. The mills were closed down in 1996 and the site is presently used as a container freight station and is a popular venue for film shootings.- History :Messrs Binny &...
in the city of Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. against the managing company, Binny and Co.
Binny and Co.
Binny and Co. is a shipping, textile, banking and insurance firm based in the city of Chennai, India. It is one of the oldest business firms in Chennai city.- History :...
The strike, which lasted from June to October 1921, caused severe losses to the Madras economy. It also created a rift in the ruling Justice Party
Justice Party (India)
The Justice Party , officially known as South Indian Liberal Federation, was a political party in the Madras Presidency of British India. The party was established in 1917 by T. M. Nair and Theagaroya Chetty as a result of a series of non-Brahmin conferences and meetings in the presidency...
forcing many Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
leaders to leave.
Causes
The Madras Labour Union was one of the first organised labour unions in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and was founded by B. P. Wadia and V. Kalyanasundaram Mudaliar on 3 April 1918. Early union activity took place in the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills
Buckingham and Carnatic Mills
Buckingham and Carnatic Mills , popularly known as B & C Mills, were textile mills run by Binny and Co. in the city of Chennai, India. The mills were closed down in 1996 and the site is presently used as a container freight station and is a popular venue for film shootings.- History :Messrs Binny &...
during October–December 1920 when workers struck work in protest against working conditions. The government responded by ordering the police to shoot down striking workers on 9 December 1920 bring the strike to a forceful end.
There was widespread unrest among the workers over the low wages and poor working conditions. Their demands were supported by Indian nationalists C. Rajagopalachari
C. Rajagopalachari
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari , informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, independence activist, politician, writer and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India...
, S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar
S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar
Sesha Iyengar Kasturi Ranga Iyengar was an Indian lawyer, Indian independence activist, politician and journalist who served as the Managing Director of The Hindu from April 1, 1905 till his death in December 1923....
, A. Rangaswami Iyengar
A. Rangaswami Iyengar
A. Rangaswami Iyengar was an Indian journalist, lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Central Legislative Assembly and as the Chief Editor of The Hindu from 1928 till his death in 1934. He was a nephew of Kasturi Ranga Iyengar....
, Singaravelu Chetty, Sakkarai Chetty and S. Sathyamurthi and by the self-rule supporting Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
as well as the pro-British Justice Party
Justice Party (India)
The Justice Party , officially known as South Indian Liberal Federation, was a political party in the Madras Presidency of British India. The party was established in 1917 by T. M. Nair and Theagaroya Chetty as a result of a series of non-Brahmin conferences and meetings in the presidency...
.
Events
On 20 May 1921, the workers in the Spinning Department of the Buckingham and Carnatic MillsBuckingham and Carnatic Mills
Buckingham and Carnatic Mills , popularly known as B & C Mills, were textile mills run by Binny and Co. in the city of Chennai, India. The mills were closed down in 1996 and the site is presently used as a container freight station and is a popular venue for film shootings.- History :Messrs Binny &...
refused to work until the management agreed to discuss their wage rise demands. The protest reached serious proportions when an official strike was declared on 20 June 1921. The striking workers were led by Congressman V. Kalyanasundaram Mudaliar. The Indian National Congress convened a meeting in Madras on 10 July 1921, in which, C. Rajagopalachari
C. Rajagopalachari
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari , informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, independence activist, politician, writer and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India...
moved a resolution sympathizing with the workers of the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills and supporting their cause.
The strike lasted for a total of six months. The authorities adopted a ruthless policy to suppress the agitation. On 29 August 1921, the police opened fire killing six workers.Almost all the Justice Party leaders joined hands with the Indian National Congress politicians and supported the strike. The support lent by the Justice Party towards striking workers is believed by some to have been influenced by caste identifications while others believe that the strike actually gave the Justice Party ministry a stick to beat the Governor's council with, as the Home ministry came under the direct control of the Governor of Madras. The management tactfully broke up the unity of the workers by allegedly enlisting the support of Dalits and Indian Christians who had not joined the strike.
The abstention of Dalit workers from the strike was severely criticized by the Raja of Panagal, the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
and O. Thanikachalam Chetti
O. Thanikachalam Chetti
O. Thanikachalam Chetti was an Indian lawyer and politician who is considered to be one of the pioneers of the Dravidian Movement.- Early life :...
. The strike gradually evolved into a confrontation between caste Hindu and Muslim workers who were determined to continue the strike on one hand and Dalits and Indian Christians who did not participate in the strike on the other. A communal riot broke out on 28 June 1921 when a caste Hindu mob attacked the Dalit village of Puliyanthope and burnt a hundred huts.The Justice Party's mouthpiece, Justice blamed the riots on the "pampering" of Dalits by the Labour Department of the Madras government while Dalit leader M. C. Rajah
M. C. Rajah
Rao Bahadur Mylai Chinna Thambi Pillai Rajah was a Dalit politician, social and political activist from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu....
accused the union leaders of threatening non-participating Dalits from entering the mills. He also criticized the attitude of the Justice Party government of the Raja of Panagal towards Dalits.
The strike eventually came to an end in October 1921 through the mediation of C. Natesa Mudaliar
C. Natesa Mudaliar
C. Natesa Mudaliar , also known as Natesan, was a politician and activist of the Dravidian Movement from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He was one of the founders of the Justice Party along with Theagaroya Chetty and Dr. T. M. Nair....
. In October 1921, Sir P. Theagaraya Chetty, the then President of the Madras Labour Union, advised workers to resume work. But with the exception of a few, most of the striking workers were not admitted.
Aftermath
In the aftermath of the strike, the major political factions in the Madras Presidency began trading charges against one another. The Indian National CongressIndian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
blamed the government for the ruthless suppression of labour activities while the Justice Party
Justice Party (India)
The Justice Party , officially known as South Indian Liberal Federation, was a political party in the Madras Presidency of British India. The party was established in 1917 by T. M. Nair and Theagaroya Chetty as a result of a series of non-Brahmin conferences and meetings in the presidency...
blamed the Non-Cooperation Movement
Non-cooperation movement
The non-cooperation movement was a significant phase of the Indian struggle for freedom from British rule which lasted for years. This movement, which lasted from September 1920 to February 1922 and was led by Mohandas Gandhi, and supported by the Indian National Congress. It aimed to resist...
for causing the unrest and criticized the government for showing partiality towards Dalits. The party demanded that the provision of free meals to Dalits in government camps should be stopped and offenders from all the communities should be punished.
The Madras government appointed a three-member enquiry committee headed by Sir William Ayling to investigate the causes of the strike. The committee squarely blamed the striking workers for causing extensive damage to property and life and highlighted the victimization of "Adi Dravidas". The Home Member of the Governor's Executive Council, Sir Lionel Davidson, said that all the violence was caused not by a labour strike but by "a faction inflammed by caste prejudice".
M. C. Rajah
M. C. Rajah
Rao Bahadur Mylai Chinna Thambi Pillai Rajah was a Dalit politician, social and political activist from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu....
made the following observation on Dalits and the strike: