1932 Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Strike
Encyclopedia
1932 Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Strike was a general strike
launched against the retrenchment
policies of the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Company. The strike lasted from 24 October 1932 to 8 January 1933 and was moderate and non-violent in character as opposed to the 1928 South Indian Railway Strike
which was extremely violent.
throughout 1931 and early 1932. On 24 October 1932, a major strike erupted in the Mechanical Workshops of the Perambur
branch of the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway company.
joined in the strike. This was followed by a strike of the employees of engineering and mechanical workshops at Hubli in Bombay Presidency
. Consequently, there were strikes in Bezawada
, Betragunta and Rajahmundry
.
A settlement was eventually reached when the Sheriff
of Madras brokered a peace between the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway
and the striking workers. The strike was called off on 8 January 1933 at the instance of Jamnadas Mehta and V. V. Giri
.
farmers of Nellimarla
, the workers at the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills
, the International Transport Workers Federation, British Trade Union Congress, Railway Clerks Association, National Union of Railways of Great Britain and the International Federation of Trade Unions contributed enormous amounts of money for the strike relief fund. The B. N. Railway Labour Union also resolved to observe 13 November 1932 as "M&SM Railway Strike Day".
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
launched against the retrenchment
Retrenchment
Retrenchment is an act of cutting down or reduction, particularly of public expenditure.-Political usage:The word is familiar in this, its most general sense, from the motto of the Gladstonian Liberal party in British politics, "Peace, Retrenchment and Reform."The manifesto for 1906 Liberal...
policies of the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Company. The strike lasted from 24 October 1932 to 8 January 1933 and was moderate and non-violent in character as opposed to the 1928 South Indian Railway Strike
1928 South Indian Railway Strike
The 1928 South Indian Railway Strike was a general strike by the South Indian Railway Workers Union against plans of the South Indian Railway Company to lay off over 3,100 workers in order to reduce the expenditures of the company. The strike lasted from June 29 to August 2, 1928 and severely...
which was extremely violent.
Prelude
There were protests against retrenchment policies in the Madras and Southern Mahratta RailwayMadras and Southern Mahratta Railway
The Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway was a railway company that operated in southern India. It was founded on January 1, 1908, by merging the Madras Railway and the Southern Mahratta Railway. Initially, its headquarters was at Royapuram in Madras but later shifted to a newly constructed...
throughout 1931 and early 1932. On 24 October 1932, a major strike erupted in the Mechanical Workshops of the Perambur
Perambur
Perambur , is a locality in Northern part of the metropolitan city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu state, India.It is one of expensive area in chennai with all facilities of needs....
branch of the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway company.
Events
The strike began on 24 October 1932 in Perambur demanding the reinstation of 93 railway workers who had been laid off, the previous year. On 3 November, the employees of the engineering workshop at ArakkonamArakkonam
Arakkonam is a mid-sized City in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with a population of about 101,626 as per the census 2011...
joined in the strike. This was followed by a strike of the employees of engineering and mechanical workshops at Hubli in Bombay Presidency
Bombay Presidency
The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...
. Consequently, there were strikes in Bezawada
Bezawada
Bezawada is the older name for Vijayawada city in Andhra Pradesh, India.Bezawada, an Indian surnames, can also refer to:* Bezawada Bapa Naidou, the first Mayor of Yanam* Bezawada Gopala Reddy, an Indian politician and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh...
, Betragunta and Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
.
A settlement was eventually reached when the Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Madras brokered a peace between the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway
Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway
The Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway was a railway company that operated in southern India. It was founded on January 1, 1908, by merging the Madras Railway and the Southern Mahratta Railway. Initially, its headquarters was at Royapuram in Madras but later shifted to a newly constructed...
and the striking workers. The strike was called off on 8 January 1933 at the instance of Jamnadas Mehta and V. V. Giri
V. V. Giri
Varahagiri Venkata Giri , commonly known as V. V. Giri, was the fourth President of the Republic of India from 24 August 1969 to 23 August 1974.-Early life:...
.
Support
The Nizam Guaranteed State Railway Workers' Union, the B. N. Railway Labour Union, the juteJute
Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fibre that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from plants in the genus Corchorus, which has been classified in the family Tiliaceae, or more recently in Malvaceae....
farmers of Nellimarla
Nellimarla
Nelli-marla is a census town and Mandal located in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh state in south India.-Geography:Nellimarla is located on the banks of Champavathi River at . It has an average elevation of 190 metres .-Demographics:...
, the workers at 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 &...
, the International Transport Workers Federation, British Trade Union Congress, Railway Clerks Association, National Union of Railways of Great Britain and the International Federation of Trade Unions contributed enormous amounts of money for the strike relief fund. The B. N. Railway Labour Union also resolved to observe 13 November 1932 as "M&SM Railway Strike Day".