Mill Strike in Gujarat

Ahmedabad mill strike 1918 was one of the most important historical events. It was one of the earliest strikes in one of the biggest production centres of the cotton mill during that time. The Ahmedabad mill had around 40000 labourers working in 1918.

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The Indian Independence Movement: Entry of Mahatma Gandhi 

Mahatma Gandhi’s entry into the independence movement led to many formative and historical events which are remembered even today. The appearance of Mahatma Gandhi in Indian politics led to many remarkable campaigns, Ahmedabad mill satyagraha, and other events. One such historical event in the history of India is the Ahmedabad mill strike, the topic of discussion of this article. 

After spending more than 20 years in South Africa, Gandhi returned to India in 1915. Gandhi became quite popular in South Africa as he led many peaceful yet powerful agitations against the discrimination faced by Indians there. Soon, Gandhi emerged as a leader in South Africa.

When he returned to India, he initially lived in the Sabarmati ashram, located in Ahmedabad. Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a social reformer, advised Mahatma Gandhi to observe the socio-political situation in the country first and then act accordingly. 

Gandhi used his leadership abilities and skills against British rule in India in Champaran for the first time. The first satyagraha is famously known as the Champaran satyagraha. Then he organised the Kheda satyagraha in 1918 and the Ahmedabad mill strike in 1918.

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Ahmedabad Mill Satyagraha 1918 – The Context

• In 1917, a heavy monsoon destroyed the crops of the season and led to an epidemic (plague), claiming more than 10% of lives in Ahmedabad

• The duration of the epidemic ranged between August 1917 and January 1918

• During this phase, employers gave plague bonuses to the workers of the textile factories to help the workers and dissuade them from fleeing to some other place

• However, in January 1918, after the plague subsided, the mill owners declared their intention to stop the plague bonuses. It made the workers demand DA or dearness allowances (cost of living) of 50% of their salaries for their livelihoods to sustain the wartime inflation due to the involvement of Britain in World War I

• The whole incident soured the relationship between the mill owners and workers. Also, the former dismissed the latter randomly and hired new from Bombay. It agitated the workers even more

• The frustrated mill workers turned to Anusuyya Sarabhai, a famous social worker, for help

• Anusuyya Sarabhai then requested Mahatma Gandhi to intercede and help fix the ongoing dispute between the owners and the workers

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Ahmedabad Mill Satyagraha 1918 – The Highlights

The highlights of Ahmedabad Mill Satyagraha:

• Following the Champaran Satyagraha movement in 1917, the Ahmedabad mill strike became the biggest civil disobedience movement of its time. In this strike, Gandhi used the tools of non-violence in the form of a hunger strike and satyagraha for the first time

• Under British rule, Ahmedabad was part of the Bombay presidency. It was a prominent commercial centre at that time. The cotton industry in Ahmedabad grew during British governance

• In 1918, there was an industrial dispute between the workers and owners of a cotton mill located in Ahmedabad

• The owners of the mill wanted to take back the plague bonus that was entitled to the workers

• On the other hand, the workers demanded a 50% hike in their wages. However, the mill owners were ready to only give a 20% hike

• Gandhi organised a peaceful strike where he also went on a hunger strike to protect the rights of the workers

• The Ahmedabad mill satyagraha, just like other satyagrahas, was successful

• When Gandhi took the responsibility to lead the protests, he wanted to find a way that would not harm the self-respect and interests of both the parties – workers and owners of the mill

• He then started demanding a 35% wage hike for workers. It was between what workers demanded (50%) and what mill owners were willing to give (20%)

• Gandhi organised protests in a non-violent way. If he had not been there as a leader during the strike, it is believed that many shops would have been picketed

• However, the protests were completely non-violent, which resulted in a 35% wage hike for workers

• As mentioned earlier, it was in the Ahmedabad mill strike Gandhi used the means of hunger strike for the first time. His fast created a stir amongst the mill owners, and they finally had to submit to the demands that were put forward

Conclusion

This article reads about the context and outcomes of the Ahmedabad mill strike held in the year 1918. The father of the Nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, played a key role in devising and making this movement a success with the weapons of non-violence.