Roadmap for Answer Writing
Introduction
- Define the Working Class: Briefly explain what constitutes the working class in the context of India.
- Contextual Background: Mention the emergence of the working class in the late 19th century due to industrialization under British rule.
Evolution of the Working Class
- Destruction of Traditional Economy:
- Discuss how British free trade policies dismantled the village economy, leading to rural displacement and migration to urban areas for employment.
- Source: “The Working Class of India: History and Perspective” by R. K. Sharma.
- Emergence of Industrial Labor:
- Explain the rise of the industrial working class in cities like Bombay and Calcutta, driven by the demand for cheap labor.
- Mention the exploitation of workers, particularly women and children, due to unregulated working conditions.
- Legislative Improvements:
- Highlight the introduction of the Factories Act of 1881 and Factories Act of 1891, which aimed to improve working conditions.
- Source: “Trade Union Movement in India” by A. K. Sen.
- Organizational Growth:
- Discuss the shift from economic to political issues, with workers organizing strikes and protests (e.g., the Ahmedabad mill strike).
- Mention the formation of trade unions, particularly the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920.
- Influence of Communist Ideology:
- Explain how Marxist and Leninist ideologies began to shape the working class’s political consciousness in the 1920s and 30s.
- Source: “The Role of Working Class in India’s Freedom Struggle” by P. S. Gupta.
Involvement in the Freedom Struggle
- Participation in National Movements:
- Detail the active participation of the working class in major movements such as the Swadeshi Movement, Non-Cooperation Movement, and Quit India Movement.
- Example: Railway workers’ protests during the Rowlatt Agitation.
- Strikes and Hartals:
- Discuss how strikes and hartals were organized to press for economic and political demands, contributing to the national struggle.
- Source: “The Indian National Movement: A History” by B. R. Nanda.
- Critique of Imperialism:
- Mention Lala Lajpat Rai’s role in linking capitalism with imperialism and emphasizing the working class’s role in combating colonial rule.
- Formation of Trade Unions:
- Explain the proliferation of trade unions in 1919-20 and their role in integrating workers into national politics.
- Left Movement and Its Impact:
- Discuss the emergence of a strong leftist movement and its influence on the working class, including the suppression of communist activities by the British.
- Mention the role of the left during the INA trials and the naval ratings’ mutiny in 1946.
Conclusion
- Summarize Key Points: Recap the evolution of the working class and its significant contributions to the independence movement.
- Reflect on Legacy: Briefly reflect on the lasting impact of the working class’s involvement in shaping modern India.
Relevant Facts
- The working class emerged in India in the second half of the 19th century due to industrialization under British rule.
- The destruction of the traditional village economy led to rural displacement and migration to urban areas.
- The Factories Act of 1881 and Factories Act of 1891 improved working conditions for laborers.
- The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was formed in 1920, marking a significant consolidation of the working class.
- The working class actively participated in major national movements, including the Quit India Movement and the Non-Cooperation Movement.
- Lala Lajpat Rai linked capitalism with imperialism, emphasizing the working class’s role in the struggle against colonialism.
Model Answer
Evolution of the Working Class in India
The working class in India began to take shape in the latter half of the 19th century, primarily due to the growth of modern industry under British colonial rule. This evolution was closely tied to the broader Indian national movement.
Evolution of the Working Class
The destruction of the traditional village economy, driven by British free trade policies, forced many impoverished rural workers to migrate to urban areas in search of employment. This migration laid the foundation for the industrial working class, particularly in cities like Bombay and Calcutta, where demand for cheap labor surged (Source: “The Working Class of India: History and Perspective” by R. K. Sharma). Initially unorganized and exploited, especially women and children, the working conditions began to improve with the introduction of legislation like the Factories Act of 1881 and the Factories Act of 1891.
As the working class became more organized, they shifted focus from purely economic issues to broader political concerns. This transformation was evident in significant strikes and protests, such as the Ahmedabad mill strike. The establishment of trade unions post-World War I, exemplified by the formation of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920, marked a consolidation of the working class. During the 1920s and 30s, communist ideologies began to influence the working class, promoting political activism (Source: “Trade Union Movement in India” by A. K. Sen).
Involvement in the Freedom Struggle
The working class actively participated in key national movements, including the Swadeshi Movement, Non-Cooperation Movement, and Quit India Movement. For instance, railway workers protested during the Rowlatt Agitation, showcasing their commitment to the national cause (Source: “The Role of Working Class in India’s Freedom Struggle” by P. S. Gupta).
Strikes and hartals became common as workers sought to address both economic and political grievances, exemplified by strikes in government presses and textile mills. Lala Lajpat Rai, president of AITUC, notably critiqued the link between capitalism and imperialism, positioning the working class as a vital force against colonial rule.
Trade unions proliferated in 1919-20, further embedding workers in the national political landscape. Many prominent leaders, including C.R. Das and Subhash Chandra Bose, collaborated with the AITUC, urging workers to engage in political activism.
Though the emergence of a strong leftist movement in the late 1920s caused some tensions with the Congress Party, the working class remained essential to the freedom struggle, particularly in the post-World War II period during the INA trials and the naval ratings’ mutiny in 1946 (Source: “The Indian National Movement: A History” by B. R. Nanda).
In summary, the working class evolved from a fragmented group into a politically conscious force, playing a pivotal role in India’s struggle for independence.