Working Class Movement in Travancore (1922 - 1949)
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WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT IN TRAVANCORE (1922 - 1949) Thesis submitted for the Degree of Docotor of Philosophy in History of Goa University K. CHANDRAN , M. A., M. Phil., or DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY GOA UNIVERSITY BAMBOLIM, GOA 1989 K.CHANDRAN,M.A.,M.Phil. ; Department of History, Goa University, Bambolim, Goa - 403 005. STATEMENT BY THE CANDIDATE I hereby state that the thesis for the Ph.D. Degree on "WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT IN TRAVANCORE, 1922-1949" is my original work and that it has not previously formed the basis for the award of any degree, diploma, associateship, fellowship or any other similar title. Place: GOA Signature of the candidate Date: 1 /5-`) (K.CHANDRAN) Dr eK. Reader ; - Academic Goa University, Bambolim, Goa - 403 005. PREFACE The present thesis represents an earnest endeavour to study the history of Working Class Movement in Travancore, the southern part of present day Kerala, from 1922 to 1949. With a mind to select a socio-economic topic for my research work, I have been going through the published materials on Kerala History for a quite long time. And naturally a brewing struggle between the labourers and the capitalists in contempo- rary Travancore and Malabar areas fell into my attention. It was a good time for me to collect a plethora of information for an intensive study of the labour problems and administrative responses. It was originally intended to select an area common to the entire Kerala, but as Travancore formed . a separate politi- cal entity under a princely order it was found essential to concentrate exclusively on that State. Since the growth of a movement among the workers under a political leadership could not escape external influence, it was found essential to treat the subject in the perspective of similar developments in the neighbouring states. Moreover in their struggle to set up a democratic government in the State, the Travancore factory workers had always united with the agri- cultural labourers. Thus under the purview of the title Working Class I had to join both the factory and field workers into a single power. A timely discussion with my research supervisor led me to restrict the period of study between 1922 and 1949, : : for 1922 and 1949 synchronised with important landmarks in the working class movement. The Working Class in Travancore, through their organised trade unions, responded to every phase of social reforms in the State. Thus a study of the organised labour force in Travancore is a new trend at work in historical writing. Restricted by ideology and leadership, the consolidated force of the labourers as a class had undergone different overtones. And, infect, the improperly catalogued records in the Government Secretariat at Trivandrum furnished neither complete nor succinct information on the subject. But to my excitement, the normally ignored papers, the Cochin and Madras Files and the Revenue Section Books in the English Records Section in the same Secretariat came to my help. Interestingly in the course of my research I could find a growing trend in the leftist movement in Travancore. The Travancore Police. Reports and Bulletins, Government Publica- tions and. Private Papers shed light on the different facets of the Movement. In the discussion I have made a sincere effort to explain the various factors that influenced the organisation of the industrial as well as the agricultural workers. The condition of labour, idea of organisation, drift to political parties and finally the workers' pursuit for the establishment of a workers' government in the State are dealt with their historical setting. :iii: I am greatly indebted to my Guiding Teacher Dr.K.M. Mathew, M.A., Ph.D., Reader, Academic Staff College, Goa University With sincere and heartfelt thanks I remember the days I spent with my professor whose patient guidance, constant encouragement and ready help made me to complete the thesis in time. A historian with balanced approach and critical analysis, he extended to me his support and helped me with suggestions in the course of my research work. In my attempt to interview personally the labour leaders directly connected with the Movement, I approached a large number of people. Among them I could get the benefit of the counsel of late Mr.M.N.Govindan Nair. A popular trade union leader of Kerala, he recollected for me, the predicament of workers before the formation of unions and the influence of political parties on the labour movement in Travancore. My thanks are due to the Government of Kerala for giving access to the English Records, Home Department, Government Secretariat, Trivandrum. The personnel of English Records Section assisted me in the consultation of records even uncatalogued, I convey my sincere thanks to them. The Staff of the State Archives, the Kerala University Library and the Legislative Library all at Trivandrum and the T,P,M.Library at Madurai Kamaraj University permitted me to refer the rare books and newspaper bundles relevant to my topic. I owe my indebtedness to them. Finally I convey my sincere thanks to Mr.E.Mothilal,M.A., for doing an excellent job in typing the present thesis so neatly as it is. K.CHAIsiDRAN CONTENTS pageNo. Preface INTRODUCTION • • 1 - 17 The State: Its Land and People • • 1 Economy and Occupation • • 4 Caste and Class Structure • • 6 Study of the sources • • 14 Chapter T - TRAVANCORE LABOUR ASSOCIATION 18 - 59 Changing Class Relations .. 18 Landlordism and Agricultural Labour.. 27 Growth of Industries 35 Working Conditions of Factory Labour. 43 Awakening Among the Workers 49 The Labour Association 54 Chapter II - MORE OF TRADE UNIONS „ 60 - 98 Consolidation of Coir Workers 60 Organisation of Boatmen •• 71 Quilon Factory Workers Union 73 All Travancore Cashewnut Workers Union 76 Travancore Agricultural Labourers Union .. 79 All Travancore Estate Workers Union,. 85 Punalur Mill Workers Union 89 Reaction Against Labour Unions 91 Page No. Chapter III - CONGRESS SOCIALISTS AND WORKING CLASS .. 99 - 124 Emergence of Congress Socialists .. 99 Political Overtones •• 102 Formation of the Congress Socialist Party .. 109 New Leadership •. 113 Politicisation of the Working Class.. 119 Chapter IV - TRAVANCORE TRADE UNIONS ACT,1937.. 125 - 150 Failure of Factory Acts .. 125 Demand for Labour Legislation .. 133 Provisions of the Act .. 142 Trade Unionism in Travancore .. 146 Chapter V - THE GENERAL STRIKE OF 1938 151 - 180 Labour Unrest 151 Workers and Civil Disobedience Campaign 157 Work of Malabar Socitlists 160 Orientation and Labour Power •• 164 The Strike Days 169 The Strike Settlement 177 Chapter VI - LABOUR WELFARE MEASURES 181 - 208 Board of Conciliation .. 181 Labour Welfare Measures .. 192 Attempts at Isolation of Labour •• 203 Chapter VII - ALL TRAVANCORE TRADE UNION CONGRESS 209 - 234 All Travancore Trade Union Federation (1939) • • 209 Integration of Unions .• 214 Page No, Reaction of the Manufacturers • 216 Industrial Relations Board • 223 From Federation to Congress 228 Chapter VIII - COMMUNIST LEADERSHIP .. 235 - 262 Influence of Radicalism o do 235 Work of the Communist Party 041 239 Impact of the World War II ' O . 243 Demand for Democratic Government 00 248 Communist Ascendancy • • 253 Chapter IX - CLASS STRUGGLE AND STATE REPRESSION .. 263 - 282 Labour against Capital 263 Preparations for a WorkerS , Revolt ., 270 Repressive Measures .• 276 Chapter X - IN PURSUIT OF A WORKERS' GOVERNMENT ,. 283 - 311 Organised Strikes • • 283 Militancy of the Labour Class • 40 289 Tripartite Labour Conference • • 299 A Violent Confrontation •• 303 Chapter XI - RESTRICTION AND RECONCILIATION .. 312 - 332 Repression and Ban .. 312 Revival of Trade Unionism .. 316 Attempts at Conciliation •• 323 CONCLUSION .. 333) - 339 GLOSSARY BIBLIOGRAPHY - xv 000 0 000 INTRODUCTION The State: Its Land and People The name Travancore is the anglicised form of Thiruvithamcode of Srivalumkode, the abode of prosperity. The fact was that Thiruvithamcode, now a village situated thirty miles south-east of Trivandrum, was the royal residence. The State of Travancore was known by several other names each of which emphasised a particular fact of history. The name Venad, is a corruption of Vanavanad, the land of celestials. 1 The other names such as Vanchidesom, Dharmarajyam and Tiruadidesam, indicated one or other aspect of its great antiquity. Situated between 8° 4' and 10° 21' north latitude and between 76° 13' and 77° 38' east longtitude, Travancore was the most southern of the Indian States. Washed by the waters of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean in the West and South, Travancore State was bounded on the North by the state of Cochin and the district of Coimbatore and on the 1. Velupillai, T.K., The Travancore State Manual, Vol.I, Travancore, 1940, /T.""T,-- •2• East by Western Ghats and the districts of Madurai, Ramnad and Tinnevelly. The State had a long coastline of 180 miles and was the largest maritime State in British India. 2 There are some good ports like Alleppy, Quilon, Trivandrum and Colachel.Parallel to the sea runs a bewitching continuity of lakes, backwaters and canals. The area of the state was 7625 square miles, of which more than 2500 were covered with forest and backwater. The extreme length of the State from north to south was 174 miles and the greatest breadth from east to west, seventy five miles.3 Thus, in area, Travancore occupied the nineteenth place among the Indian States. The mountains which separate Travancore on the east from the adjoining British districts and which at some points rise to an elevation of 8000'feet above the sea are clothed with forests. The westcoast has the dampest and the most uniform climate, in India. The seasons in Travancore are controlled by two periods of rainfall, the South-West Monsoon between June and August and the North- West Monsoon between October and. December. The rainfall was generally heavy, the average being eighty nine inches per annum.