The Bombay Textile Workers’ Strikes and the Emergence of the Indian Labor Movement

The Bombay textile workers’ strikes in the late 19th century played a significant role in the emergence of the Indian labor movement. These strikes, which took place in the 1870s and 1880s, were a response to the poor working conditions, low wages, and long working hours faced by textile workers in the city’s mills.

Background

The Bombay textile industry, which was dominated by British-owned mills, was a major source of employment for many Indians in the late 19th century. However, the workers were subjected to poor working conditions, including long working hours, inadequate wages, and hazardous working conditions. The industry was also characterized by exploitation and oppression, with workers being treated as commodities rather than human beings.

The Strikes

The first major textile strike took place in 1875, when workers at the Bombay Spinning and Weaving Company, one of the largest textile mills in the city, went on strike to demand better working conditions and higher wages. The strike was led by a group of workers who were influenced by the ideas of socialism and communism. The strike was eventually crushed by the police, but it marked the beginning of a wave of labor unrest in the city’s textile industry.

In the following years, there were several more strikes in the city’s textile industry, including a major strike in 1882 that involved thousands of workers. These strikes were characterized by violence and repression, with workers being arrested and beaten by police.

Impact on the Labor Movement

The Bombay textile workers’ strikes had a significant impact on the labor movement in India. The strikes drew attention to the poor working conditions and exploitation faced by Indian workers, and they inspired other workers to organize and demand better working conditions and higher wages.

The strikes also led to the formation of trade unions and labor organizations in Bombay, which provided a platform for workers to organize and negotiate with employers. One of the most notable labor organizations formed during this period was the Indian Textile Labour Association (ITLA), which was established in 1884.

The ITLA was led by Indian workers who had been influenced by socialist and communist ideologies. The organization was dedicated to improving the working conditions and wages of textile workers, and it played a key role in organizing strikes and negotiating with employers.

Legacy

The Bombay textile workers’ strikes had a lasting impact on the labor movement in India. The strikes helped to establish labor as a major force in Indian society, and they inspired other workers to organize and demand better working conditions and higher wages.

The strikes also led to changes in government policy towards labor. In 1884, the British government introduced the Trade Union Act, which allowed workers to form trade unions and engage in collective bargaining. The act also provided for the establishment of labor courts to settle disputes between workers and employers.