Early Efforts

The early nationalists, especially the Moderates,

● were indifferent to the labour’s cause;

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● differentiated between the labour in the Indian- owned factories and those in the British-owned factories;

● believed that labour legislations would affect the competitive edge enjoyed by the Indian-owned industries;

● did not want a division in the movement on the basis of classes;

● did not support the Factory Acts of 1881 and 1891 for these reasons.

Thus, earlier attempts to improve the economic conditions of the workers were in the nature of the philanthropic efforts which were isolated, sporadic and aimed at specific local grievances.

1870 Sasipada Banerjea started a workingmen’s club and newspaper Bharat Shramjeevi.

1878 Sorabjee Shapoorji Bengalee tried to get a bill, providing better working conditions to labour, passed in the Bombay Legislative Council.

1880 Narain Meghajee Lokhanday started the newspaper Deenbandhu and set up the Bombay Mill and Millhands Association.

1899 The first strike by the Great Indian Peninsular Railways took place, and it got widespread support. Tilak’s Kesari and Maharatta had been campaigning for the strike for months.

There were many prominent nationalist leaders like Bipin Chandra Pal and G. Subramanya Aiyar who demanded better conditions for workers and other pro-labour reforms.