Overview On Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918) 

Ahmedabad satyagraha is one of the movements of the satyagraha movement. It is organised in Ahmedabad, the city of Gujrat, by cotton mill workers. The cotton mill workers have organised Ahmedabad satyagraha with Mahatma Gandhi against British government rules. The movement was organised in the early twentieth century in the year 1918. Gandhi Ji regulated the Ahmedabad movement after returning from South Africa. Ahmedabad satyagraha is one of the biggest revolutionary movements of Mahatma Gandhi. The cotton mill workers protested the rules and regulations of the British government related to their services and wages. 

Ahmedabad satyagraha

Gandhi Ji organised the Ahmedabad satyagraha to fulfil the demands of mill workers. When Gandhiji returned to India from South Africa, he decided to live in his ashram after settling down the labour disputes. So, he went to the ashram, which was situated in the village of Gujrat, which lies within the boundaries of Ahmedabad. When he reached, he noticed that the surrounding of his ashram was very dirty due to the plague, so one hos volunteer had arranged a new ashram for him named Sabarmati ashram. 

During that time, the prices in the market are rising, and the mill workers are demanding higher wages from the British government. The owners of the mills and the British government have directly refused any increment in the wages. 

Causes of Ahmedabad satyagraha 

The Ahmedabad satyagraha is also called a cotton mill workers satyagraha. Let’s understand the various reasons which rise into the Ahmedabad movement. 

• The British government provides very low wages to the cotton mill workers. It aroused anger among the workers of cotton textiles. 
• In 1918, the crops of various farmers were damaged due to the plague. Instead of ruining the crops, the British government asked for a 23% tax. Along with this, owners of cotton textiles also charge a very high tax on their workers, which they regularly cut from their salaries. 
• The textile mills do not provide any kind of medical facilities to their workers, due to which sometimes they have to face large losses because of injuries while working.
• The mill owners want to increase their wages up to 36% from the previous wages. They also demand remission for the farmers who face deterioration in their crops due to plague and cholera. 
• The workers are also demanding their previous bonuses. 

Supporters of Ahmedabad satyagraha 

The cotton mill workers, along with farmers, have supported this movement. Along with this, various social reformers and lawyers joined this Ahmedabad satyagraha. The lawyers inspired the citizens of Ahmedabad to join this movement. But, Gandhi Ji restricted the entry of any normal citizen from any other state of India. This is because he wants to make this movement completely the struggle of Gujaratis. Later, in large numbers, Gujaratis joined Ahmedabad satyagraha and served themselves in the freedom of India.

Strikes during Ahmedabad satyagraha 

When the Britishers did not accept the demands of cotton mill workers, the workers started a hunger strike. They start organising rallies, marches on the roads of Ahmedabad. They are using all the non-violence actions for demonstrating their anger toward the policies of the British government. 

Actions of the British government 

After listening to the higher demands of mill workers, the cotton mill owners get ready to increase the labour wages up to 20%. But, still, Mahatma Gandhi suggested remaining consistent on cotton mill workers’ satyagraha. After this, Anasuya Ben Sarabia and his younger brother Ambalal Sarabhai invited Mahatma Gandhi to discuss their demands. Anasuya was a social reformer who had returned from England to settle this movement. Gandhi put all his demands in front of them. In the beginning, they refused the demand of Gandhi Ji, but when they monitored the actual evocation of Ahmedabad citizens, they accepted their demands. They agreed to increase the wages of mill workers up to 35%. They removed unnecessary taxes from the peasants, farmers and workers. However, they also accepted not taking the crop tax because the crops get destroyed due to plague and cholera.

Conclusion 

Ahmedabad satyagraha is one of the most important revolutionary movements, which plays a great role in the freedom of India. Ahmedabad satyagraha is the third satyagraha movement regulated by Mahatma Gandhi. After Champaran Satyagraha for indigo cultivators, kheda satyagraha for peasants, Ahmedabad satyagraha was the third movement for cotton mill workers. The owners of cotton textiles do not pay even that amount to workers who can eat the bread twice a day. They also forced them to do more work in a day, due to which the mill workers got angered and resulted in the evocation of Ahmedabad satyagraha.