Humanitarian Trade Unionist Jhabvala’s Pioneering Efforts for Workers’ Rights

Renana Jhabvala

havaksha Hormasji Jhabvala his early years. However, I could not to be the bulwark of trade unionism was a prolific writer. He wrote find much about his role as an early and the launching pads for many Sin newspapers, journals and trade unionist. In books on trade prominent trade unionists. It was only pamphlets. He published over 30 unionism, his name appears, but after 1920 that trade unionism in books on a variety of topics. Most of usually merits a few lines. Nowhere Bombay became a rapidly growing these articles and books were on could I find out much about the ‘ vital movement. It could take off only topics he felt strongly about— father of many trade unions’, nor because there were already a number prohibition, leprosy, trade unionism, could I understand why he could not of these trade union organisations in the Gita, a History of the Parsees, remain the ‘master’ of any. the city, and the concept of ‘organise and the poems of Sant Kabir. He did Finally, I read closely his defence and unite’ had already taken root in not, however, write about himself, his before the Additional Sessions Judge the workers’ consciousness. own thoughts, his development, and at Meerut in 1931. There, in his own However, the newer trade most important, his own actions. He words, he attempts to analyse his unionism turned from a humanitarian saw himself as a karmayogi and yet actions and the actions of those he cause into a political movement; the he rarely wrote about his own deeds. worked with. I have used this as my trade unions formed by him were So, even though he is my grandfather, primary source and have quoted him ‘captured’ by new people and, more when I began to write this article I had liberally. In fact, this article is nothing important, new ideas. At the same time very little about him that I could use. I but an attempt to write his story in his the Government began to become was interested in his days as a trade own words. I have, in particular, suspicious about trade union activity unionist, in his experiences as the concentrated on the period of his most and the new ideas behind it. In 1929, founder of many trade unions in the active trade unionism, i.e. 1914 to 1929, they arrested a large number of days when trade unionism was little in an attempt to understand both his Bombay trade unionists on the charge known in this country. own contribution to trade unionism of (among others) a ‘conspiracy to A veteran trade union leader once and the foundations of trade unions deprive the King of his Sovereignty.’ said to me, “Your grandfather was the in India. To my surprise I found that Jhabvala was finally cleared of all father of many trade unions and the until 1920, that is, until the charges, and released several years master of none.” In our family we were international implications of the later, but by then the trade union often told about the hardships that Russian Revolution made themselves movement had changed, as had the the family had to face during his time felt in India, he worked almost single mood in the country. And as he says: in custody during the famous Meerut handed and formed a wide variety of “Imperialism has conspired with Conspiracy Case, which was a result trade unions, many of which went on communism, and between the two a of his trade union activities. After his poor humanitarian like me has been release from jail his life seems to have “Imperialism has crushed.” changed. Most people remember him conspired with communism In this article I have tried to reveal as an old man wandering in the streets events through Jhabvala’s eyes. In of Bombay, in typical Parsi costume, and between the two, a addition I am grateful to Mr. Ravindra with newspapers under his arm and a poor humanitarian like me Pinge who had recorded many bag hanging from his shoulder. I have has been crushed.” incidents of his life in a newspaper drawn on his obituaries for details of article in 1971. Perhaps there may be

22 MANUSHI inaccuracies, and I invite the reader He started his life as part of the “I am only a seeker after truth to point these out as well as provide editorial team of a monthly magazine and in the search thereof, I am me with any material that she may devoted to the ideas of swaraj. simply passing through various have, in order to throw further light However after some time he decided experiences of life. I undertook the on the events of those important that he could better serve the country work of organising the masses years. by educating youth and he became a simply from a human-itarian and Vows of Early Years school teacher in Devlali, near philanthropic point of view. I had Bombay. As a teacher he advocated been dragged into the vortex of Jhabvala was born in Surat in 1884; the Gurukul approach, as he felt that trade unionism simply because I his father was a school teacher. He this would bring the young closer to felt largely for the poor toiling studied in primary school in the ideas of swaraj and away from masses of the motherland. 1300 Government school in Surat and later materialism. years ago my community landed joined the Irish Presbyterian Mission He spent the rest of his working upon the School for matriculation. In order to life either as a journalist or as a school soil of India. Since then my finance his education he used to sing teacher, advocating and living the predecessors and myself have during Parsi marriages. After ideas he believed in. He had a restless been eating the grateful salt of this matriculation in 1901 he came to nature and could not stay for long in country, and the little rippling voice Bombay and joined Elphinstone one place, or with one school, one from within has always asked me College. He completed his BA, but magazine, one newspaper. He went the question why if I could live studied Law only half-way, until he from Bombay to Nasik, to Agra, and happily I should not help others got inspired by Dadabhai Naoroji’s back to Bombay. He worked on well who are fallen, who are miserable ideas about swaraj, and decided to known newspapers and even brought and who are naked. The dictates of work for society and the poor. out his own. However, both his my religion are that we should try Although the new ideas of swaraj journalism and his teaching were to serve others... I have always were the catalyst for him to enter public secondary to his true mission in life— thought charitably of the poor, the life, in fact he had been waiting for serving the workers. weak and the ignorant, whose such a chance. As he says: seething masses swell “Long ago when I was a around us all over the young boy, that is in 1897, I world. It was this feeling had seen much human that led me to organisation suffering in my native place of the working class.” for those were the dire times (pp.716-717). of the great famine, and my Start of Social Work silent soul wept within me ... I took vows that when Jhabvala’s first introduction I grow old and capable to social work came with his of running my life meeting in 1911 with independently I would pay Gopalkrishna Devdhar, a back my debt to God and disciple of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, who taught him how offer service to the poor to use his incomplete legal people of my country, training in a systematic way to sacrificing a part of my own serve society. Devdhar also energy and time to their introduced him to Hindu cause. So when I was able philosophy, and he became so to gain the independence, absorbed that he went to I thought the vows must Benaras to study further. There be fulfilled and twenty years he came in contact with Mrs. thence entered into the Besant and Babu region of fulfilling the Bhagwandas. Later he wrote a vows.” (p. 787). Jhabvala with his family treatise on the Gita.

No. 127 23 On his return to Bombay, he joined “It was not only “The town of Bombay especially the swaraj-inclined Bombay a time of rapid opened out a vast field for an active Chronicle. At the same time he met a industrialisation and kind of organizing effort wherein group of lawyers who were part of the urbanisation, it was I could best exercise the sympathy Home Rule movement and members of also a time of turmoil which throbbed within me... the Servants of India Society and of the in ideas and strate- I would stand at the end of the Theosophical Society. These were gies for social justice, street when the factories were Barristers Baptista and Pawar, Solicitor both in India and world-wide.” whistled off and would cry ‘Ye Ginwalla, Diwan Chaman Lal and many Around 1914, when Jhabvala first who are fallen and miserable, others. He was a young man in this older started his humanitarian work, the come ye here and I shall help you group and became the most active. As ideas of trade unionism had been tried out of the slough of distress.’A he explained: out and had succeeded in Britain, few letters were scribbled on “In the early days... a group of Germany and other countries of behalf of the distressed workers like Messrs Ginwalla, Joshi, Europe. Trade unionism had individuals, posted by me to Baptista, Umar and Usman Subhani, developed as a practical philosophy, their employers, and God helps myself and such others, most trying to deal with the excesses of those who helps themselves, of whom were members of capitalism. The early trade unionists strange enough a couple of them the Theosophical Society, was saw that while workers were over- were solved and the poor working in diverse directions worked, underpaid and made to live illiterate flocks thought that I was wherever humanity called for some a good instrument for the redress sort of service. Thus we were in the “Both his journalism of their evil lot. Moreover my Cow Protection Movement, we and his teaching were habits of life suited their were in the labour organizations, secondary to his true temperaments, for I squatted we were in the settlements of some among them and talked on strikes... In fact this group of mission in life— serving those invariable points which philanthropists worked during the the workers.” pertained to (their) unhappiness. Home Rule days... I belonged to this “Often I ventured to take a group and while others spent and toil in intolerable conditions, yellow robed saint with me who money still others exercised the they were also for the first time ready attracted a larger crowd. value of their effective influence... I to organise. The factories created Mr. Ginwalla, who rolled in worked as one of the actual workers conditions where large numbers of wealth and had no issue, used who had to shoulder the more rough workers worked in close proximity to pay him eight annas per day. and tumble of the more physical for over 12 hours at a time, thus He sang Marhatta songs and hardships of the movement.” (p. creating bonds which did not exist afterwards I gave them a dose of 797). before. Furthermore, unlike artisans Unionism. The result was that or farmers, these workers had no the flock used to hang about and Beginning of Trade Unions possessions of their own, no land whenever I entered the area of The turn of the century saw to fall back on, no trade to protect, their quarters, all sorts of people, Bombay becoming the major they only had their labour to sell. men, women and children industrial city in the country. The rural For the first time there was a true anxiously waited for me to hear poor from the countryside poured into proletariat class, which could some of their grievances and get the city and became the first industrial bargain with the employers if they them solved. But I emphasised: workers. The First World War saw a could only speak and act together. ‘You people should organise into spurt in industry, especially textiles, This required that they be organised unions, as the employers do not and by the end of the War there were and united. recognise me, and you must large numbers of industrial workers Jhabvala’s greatest skill and joy know the spirit of unity, come living and working in miserable was going to the workers, winning therefore ... and form your union’ conditions. At the same time, the class their confidence, serving their needs and so forth, and the number of of wealthy industrialists and officers and teaching them to unite and members began to ascend from of the Government grew more organise. He describes this process 5 to 50 and from 50 to 500 and powerful. in his own words: onwards. Several offices were

24 MANUSHI opened and the Bombay public largeness of human sympathy Their method was to get the began to have a vision of a new demanded that men of education, workers together, and begin to act as and happy movement among men of enlightened culture, and men a bridge between the workers and the them. I do not know if the who could afford to devote their employers register a union and let masters were annoyed. The time and service to the Motherland the union grow as a voice of the offices were run on should attempt to go among the workers of that industry. Jhabvala, in constitutional lines and the crowd and give them an assurance particular, was a believer in the small accounts properly managed. It that redemption was possible in the unions: was thus that the bony form of trade unionism. Thus I was “My work was the little Unions, framework of trade unionism was principally able to turn myself into the starving individuals, the brought into being in Bombay.” an agent of early trade unionism illiterate man, the unclad woman, (p. 787). here.” (pp. 804-805). the foodless child.” (p.735). Between 1914 and 1920 more than Framework of Unions In fact even within one large 27 unions were formed. Jhabvala was in industry, they advocated the Jhabvala was an active part of a one way or the other the office bearer in promotion of many unions: group of humanitarian workers. all the unions he was currently active “I believed (in one industry) in They began to see trade unionism with. the initial stages there might be as their main mission. This resulted “Mr. Veer Wamanrao Joshi, with different Unions, and when they in a flowering of trade unions, and it whom I was working with in were sufficiently able to stand on soon became a movement. These one capacity or the other… their own legs and when their humanitarians saw it as a movement appointed me as an office bearer in ideals and practices were properly his unions and I appointed him as towards harmony and ‘spiritual’ shaped they could be federated one in mine— therefore tradition development. To quote him again: into one central organisation as descended from him to me.” “My aim of industrial is done in the more advanced (p.731). organisation was not to foster countries of the West... in fact in bitterness (between employers “My work was the Textile and Railway Field I and workers) but to raise a had put this into common platform of the little Unions, practice...”(p.766) understanding where both could the starving individuals, These early pioneers were meet at a healthy centre of the illiterate man, very particular about rule-based mutual peace and brotherly love. the unclad woman, management of the union— each Certainly as the working classes the foodless child.” union was to have its own were in a fallen condition, constitution, and each union’s illiterate and needed some The many unions included the accounts were to be managed and instrument of expression by Girni Kamgar Union, the G.I.P. accounts written and passed by which to voice their grievances... Railway Union, the Postal Workers office bearers. I make bold to say from my Union, the Dock Workers Union, the During these first five years, experiences that the workers Victoria Hacks Union, and later the these trade unions grew and were treated no better than Taxi Driver Union. slaves with all sorts of ancient “[Each] union had an office of its savagery and cruelty of heart. As own and a typewriter and some these days are days of civilised files... Several grievances were tyranny, there were civilised redressed... but the institutions modes of oppression... as for could not make much headway. I example agreement to sign bond was not a full time man and the prior to service, unusually long workers demanded services all periods of work accompanied by the time. I always believed that unusually low payments so that the workers own men must the body and soul could hardly themselves run the institution for be kept together etc.; and often I could not grasp the inner naturally the liberal minded technicalities...” (p.739).

No. 127 25 prospered as workers became more be that of spiritualism, “The old race of workers like Mr. conscious of the benefits of of non-violence and Baptista, Mr. Joshi, Mr. Dalwi and organising: of progressive Mr. Ginwalla had been gradually “It was in the year 1920, that in change. He believed crumbling down due to one or the Bombay, there was a great in the method of other reason. No one of us upheaval of Labour activity satyagraha based on expected anything by way of manifested in a number of “our own national material benefits from this organisations that Messrs character, national genius and our own movement and when I was left Baptista, Ginwalla and myself principles of civilisation.” (pp.760-765, alone in the field I could not for brought into being... We were in p. 805). the life of me manage the whole the midst of the throbbing and The New Trade Unionists organisation and so had to pulsating tide of agitation of requisition the help of other Railway workers, Postmen, Dock The success of the Trade Unions gentlemen that offered a ready and workers, Tramway men, Gas in India began to attract a new type willing hand.” (p. 725). workers and whatnot.” (p.783). of activist. These were the Although many unions had ‘Internationalists’ influenced either by indeed been formed, these unions The Bolshevik Revolution the Bolshevik revolution in the Soviet had to be run, grievances attended Union or by the Internationalism The end of the First World War to, negotiations and bargaining which led to the formation of the saw the growth of ideas of undertaken. The success of the International Labour Organisation communism within the country. The agitations in 1920 led to a new (ILO) and the international labour Russian Revolution both inspired and realization of the power of strikes movement. The older trade repelled Jhabvala. He was inspired by among the working class. Frequent unionists, who came from the earlier the possibility of establishing a wild-cat strikes were called which humanitarian school, mainly from society where workers’ needs were required the attention of the union the Servants of India Society, began given priority, where the toiling people office bearers. Jhabvala, during these fading away. Jhabvala, who was still had fair returns for their labour, where years, was the most active of them— in his vigorous thirties, was left as one the economy was for the benefit of all but he was totally unable to handle of the few ‘old-timers.’ and not used to exploit the poor for the growing demands. “I was somewhere in the position the benefit of the rich. But at the same “... during patient years of labour of buffer between the old and the time he was repelled by the violence and toil within the 12 or 15 new in the rising activity of the and materialistic ideas of the years the whole movement had Labour Movement. Older Bolshevists. developed considerably and the generations were dropping down His position is well described in movement called for workers, like withering leaves and the newer his speech on the anniversary of workers, workers, that is those men brandished their cudgels with Russian Revolution in 1927, whereby who in a spirit of self sacrifice all sorts of new-fangled notions. I he extols the Bolshevik Revolution for could help in the advancement of did not attempt to study in any bringing about an awakening of the the cause... the Labour Move- way the philosophical and masses, a better redistribution of ment was not my own property... scientific theories of these old and wealth, better living conditions and and I could not carry the unions new stages, but let me be working conditions for the toiling unpretentious when I say I wielded in my pocket... I could not manage people, and an overthrow of a system considerable power among the all the unions with their numbers where the natural wealth of Russia working masses here.” (p.731). of members single-handed with was used to make a small section of the help of paid clerks and exploiters rich, while the masses “....but let me be secretaries.” (pp. 724-725). remained in misery. But he goes on to Where there was no one to pay say that that the methods of unpretentious when I say attention to a union it disintegrated, Bolshevism were violent and their I wielded considerable as he so vividly describes in the case philosophy was materialistic, and that power among the working of the Dockworkers Union. in Russia one tyranny was replaced masses here.” “A Dockworkers Union having by another. The Indian method had to being started of which I was

26 MANUSHI appointed President by the organisation... that some amount wide federations, began to take on an men. The common method of of healthy legisltion was also All-India shape. For example, the appointments was that a general suggested to the Government of Railwaymen’s Union as gradually built meeting of the workmen was held India... A happy consequence of up from a local union to an industry- and the men themselves proposed this kind of activity was the wide union to an all-India one. certain names... Therefore this passage of the Trade Unions “It was the year 1917 when the Presidentship was an appointment Registration Act as well as great General Strike took place on made purely by the meeting of the nomination by the Government of the whole of the G.I.P line... that Dock Workers themselves. This labour representatives to the Mr. Baptista and Mr. Dalvi and Mr. union afterwards failed to receive Legislature and the Municipal Ginwalla were the prime mooters my due attention, due to want of Corporation. It had its own of the faint idea of the Railway time and energy, and at last constitution and its Board of Workers Union in Bombay. But became a mud heap of dirt Management consisted purely of somebody had to be found who scattered by hungry fowls.” representatives of the unions could devote a considerable part (p.795). of his time and energy to the At the same time there was a “Mahatma Gandhi running of the institution... they growing need somehow to bring the perhaps best understood found in me a ready hand and... trade unions together, so as to be able the economic poverty the derelict ship which had no to act unitedly. It was necessary to prevailing in our country... mast, no helm, no sail was ‘organise, unite and federate.’ There gradually put into shape and we were basically three ways that Although Congress’ began to have by 1919 something Jhabvala participated in the federation philosophy was close to his like a union worth the name of the or uniting of these many small trade line of thinking, it had no G.I.P Workshop Men. Gradually unions. First, the formation of the inclination to organise the men (of the running line) also Trade Union Congress in 1920: “ We labour in Bombay.” began to come to me by 1925-26, brought into being a body called the when I was able to have another Trade Union Congress in the office of affiliated under its auspices. I also railway organisation called the Mr. Ginwalla with Mr. Chaman Lal and used to carry on some of my pet General Employees Union wherein myself as Secretaries. Mr. Lajpat Rai... propaganda... namely Purity all sorts of employees from the became the first president.” (p. 784). Mission and temperance among lowest sweeper down to the Secondly, the formation of the the masses... This organisation highest Station Master were Central Labour Board: was largely controlled by me in allowed to become members.” (p. “In the year 1921 when the my capacity as Secretary and 739). philanthropic group about which sometimes it appeared that the Later the various unions were I made mention above had got a Central Labour Board and I were federated into one large federation: sufficient number of trade union both one and the same.” (p. 802). “Later we had a big conference organisations we thought it The third, formation of industry sometime in 1928 at Bhusaval desirable to amalgamate all of them under my presidency... and the two into one large organisation under diverse unions were federated the name of Central Labour Board, into one and all the separatist the plan being... a Central Council tendencies were kneaded all of Management presiding over all together and leavened into one the affiliated unions permitting mass of federation under the new each individual union to manage name of the G.I.P. Railwaymen’s its own affairs... I was from the Union.” (p.740). very beginning associated with Politicisation of Trade Unions this body as its Secretary, while Mr. Ginwalla was its President. The growth of the labour This body was recognised by the movement in Bombay, the many Government of Bombay and it was growing, demanding unions, the through the agency of this formation of new federations, meant

No. 127 27 that there was a desperate need for best understood the economic to target the trade union movement and new people to run these organisations. poverty prevailing in our country, bring it into the communist fold. However, as Jhabvala remarked, the (2) Mahatma Gandhi was perhaps Jhabvala, at the time looking for old breed of philanthropists were the first man who that definitely dedicated workers and political allies, gone and the new, younger people laid down the organisation of the found both in these new communists. came with ideologies of their own. masses to be the principal plank “In a great movement like Labour These were people whose ideas were in the Congress platform, (3) Organisation various kinds of political and for whom the trade unions Organising the masses on the line people come in and various kinds were part of a larger change guided of Trade Unionism will not only of activities were possible for by political ideologies. solve the question of communal them to conduct. So long as those At the same time the labour but also definitely lay down the who associated me with trade movement itself was getting more foundation of economic and unionist professions worked only narrowly political, in the sense that for trade unionism and advanced the office bearers of the unions “...the Dictatorship the causes I had laid at my heart realised that in order to gain of the Proletariat, any namely the organisation of the benefits for their members they too dictatorship, is in its masses, I had nothing to speak needed to have a voice in the very essence a kind of against them. Mr. Spratt, a Legislatures. Universal suffrage, and foreigner coming in our midst and representation of labour in Moghul tyranny. I working as he professed to do in the Legislature and Municipal stood against such the Trade Union field, was as Corporation, had always in any case tyranny and oppression much welcomed by me as Mr. been one of their major demands. in any form.” Horniman or Mrs. Besant with It was natural therefore, that the whom I had the pleasure of union leaders would begin to take part political liberty of the country. But working in those ancient days of in the larger political parties. Of the the Congress leaders have so far Home Rule activity.” (p.723) existing parties, ideologically and set out of their consideration the ...when the young Bombay philosophically, Jhabvala felt closest organisation of the workers.” (p. gentlemen under their able to the Indian National Congress. He 775). director and guide Mr. Bradley agreed with their philosophy of The Communist Party too was offered their assistance to me I satyagraha, non-violence and active in India at this time. Indians, cheerfully accepted it... Call it folly, reformism. In fact, in 1928, when some of whom had been abroad, had call it innocence or call it anything labour was to be represented for the been infected with the exciting new you like, I looked upon all these first time in the Bombay Municipal ideas of communism and the young Bombay Partymen with the Corporation, he stood and won on a dictatorship of the proletariat, and the two European gentlemen as Congress ticket although Congress’ new experiments in the Soviet Union. willing participators in the cause philosophy was close to his line of At the same time the international I had espoused and naturally so thinking, it had no inclination to communist movement targeted India. far as the trade union platform was organise labour in Bombay. To quote The working class would lead the concerned I freely associated with him again: revolution and so for them it was them for a short time and with my “The Congress... in the past was important to organise the workers. friend Mr. Bradley.” not actively working in the Philip Spratt and Bradley were sent by Jhabvala was ideologically very far direction of mass organisation the British Communist Party to India from communism. As he says: even after the Gauhati Congress “I have the fortunate honour of not (where a resolution on mass Jhabvala had always belonging to the Communist Party” organisation was passed), so that felt uncomfortable about (p.723). “I have no connection I have taken the liberty of whatsoever with any kind of ‘ism’ administering a slight rebuke to politics and politicians. He whatsoever. I reckon not your that organisation in this article... had felt that unions should Chartism, and your Labourism and while the whole article is soaked be kept away from your Socialism and your Fabianism in pure Indian Nationalism. politics. and your Communism... (p. 717) ...I (1) Mahatma Gandhi has perhaps have eschewed all Bolshevism... It

28 MANUSHI pains me to say that Bolshevism is However, Jhabvala had always felt The demands of the Party were but a necessary result of modern uncomfortable about politics and acceptable to Jhabvala as they materialistic civilization in the politicians. He had felt that unions included universal adult suffrage, West... it has its own sensate should be kept away from politics. abolition of communalism, freedom of worship of matter as against “I am not a politician... I have an speech and of association, spirit...Years ago I happily learnt that abhorrence of politics and nationalisation of the means of evil could be conquered by non- politicians. (p. 716). Politics in the production, distribution and exchange, resistance to it and the great prophet stages of trade unionism was kept establishment of State-aided co- that taught it stood for freedom a thing away from the circle. In fact operative banks, minimum living wage, with peace which is the only in the constitution of almost all my sickness and unemployment righteous and enjoyable freedom Unions there was a specific clause insurance, old age pensions, maternity for humanity. The wrenching of introduced that the unions would benefits, introduction of an eight hour power by a class of people... by be a non-political institution.” work day, improvement of laws violent means and measures of However, there came a certain regarding workers’ compensation, blood.... would lead to unending stage when trade unionists believed installation of safety appliances in war and fight.... from one kind of that there should be a Labour Party of factories and mines and removal of tyranny the country passes to some type which would stand for the illiteracy. The party proposed to work another kind of tyranny... the interests of the working class. as part of the Indian National Dictatorship of the Proletariat, any Congress. Jhabvala was elected a dictatorship, is in its very essence a member of the executive committee of kind of Moghul tyranny. I stood this party. against such tyranny and Jhabvala saw the Party as a oppression in any form. I am and I solution to his problems of running have worked simply with a spiritual the many Unions he had formed. He end of Dharma in view.” (p. 764). began to distribute the running of his His own idea was of “Labour Raj” Unions among the different members which he defines as follows: of the Party who showed an interest “There should be a Labour Raj in unions, assigning the Municipal which would remove the ills of the Workers Union to Mr. Nimbkar, the working masses. By Labour Raj... I Tramway Men’s Union to Mr. Dange, mean the Government of those “When the Trade Unions Act of and the Dockworkers Union to Mr. persons that work and among these 1926 was passed in agreement Mirajkar. (p. 752) However, he still saw workers. I include the intellectuals with Mr. N.M. Joshi we did not himself as a member of the Congress, and men of superior professions... think it desirable that the clause and when the time came to stand for In India the 98 per cent of (against politics) should the elections for the Bombay agricultural and working classes continue, but we were fumbling Municipal Corporation, he resigned must get their due representation for light, because it was from the Workers and Peasants Party in the superior councils of the suggested by Mr. Joshi that and contested and won on the ticket State.... through the ballot box Labour had its own politics.” (p. of the Indian National Congress. by gradual yet persistent and 745). firm endeavours the workers Jhabvala remained unclear about Losing Control themselves, be they farmers in their what he should do with regard to By 1928, all the unions that had fields, spinners in the factories, joining a party. He felt that he should been formed by Jhabvala from 1915 forgers in the iron mongers shops, look to the guidance of the Indian onwards now involved members of school masters teaching the young National Congress. At that time the the Communist Party who were people of the country, lawyers... Bombay Provincial Congress helping him, as he thought, in one should have their rightful places in Committee formed the Congress way or another to run the unions and the administration so long as they Labour Party. It then changed its federations. In the Trade Union worked and toiled in the interest of name to the Labour Swaraj party and Congress, “Mr. Chaman Lal was a all the factors that formed the later on to the Workers and Peasants fresh man emerged from the State.” (p. 729). Party. International contexture of labour

No. 127 29 ideas of the West.” unions... Just then the ‘Kranti’ voice ultimately emerged that if In[Communist newsletter] in it’s I resigned the union would the Railwaymen’s sundry issues which I happened collapse and I soliloquised Union, and the to read had begun to make out within, that if the Union Textile Unions, Mr. that I belonged to the older collapsed my weeping soul Bradley and his school of thought, the reformist would certainly retire into the disciples were section, the reactionary group, nook to cry my life away. I was active. And then began a period the Khaddar Association. It also between the devil and the deep when Mr. Jhabvala began to be spread all kinds of malignant sea. Under such circumstances displaced from the unions he had rubbish... and I began to find my actions as the men would not formed and a struggle started in all myself on uncertain sands and let me go, appeared to be in the unions. This struggle was a everywhere the cry was that I conflict with those of Mr. power struggle for control of the was to be ousted... In October Bradley... in that laughable unions, but more importantly, an [1928] Mr. Bradley’s wrath situation he thought me to be a ideological struggle. against me was open and defiant. mischief mongerer. It is in the The first wresting of control I was too unstrategic even then creed of Communism, Party began with Mr. Chaman Lal. As to do him an ungenerous service above all, country and its described by Jhabvala: of getting him out. But when my considerations secondary, “If I suffered first from anybody conscience at a later stage still nation to the dogs...”(pp. 740- that began the art of capturing realized him to be a positive my creations it was this poison spreader I offered to the “ I never invited the gentleman who introduced Managing Committee to let me men to give up their work himself into diverse labour go if they chose to work with as I knew that would be organisations and begin to spin him... he was welcome to hold a throwing them on the about the balloonish balls of constitutional opposition to me various airy colours before the but he should have certainly streets in helplessness.” eyes of the gaping masses.” (p. shown me the courteous 783). gentlemanliness of consulting 741). It then spread to other unions me before he wrote to his The Textile Strike where Jhabvala was made the victim friends... He should have While trouble was building up of tactics to discredit him in various certainly known that he was but within the unions that he had ways. six months old in the labour field nurtured for so long, even worse “It was through Mr. Bradley’s while I had been 15 years old and trouble awaited him from the State. proffered guidance that a great was a father of thirty children In the last few years he had become, deal of work of different unions [meaning trade unions] and in the eyes of the Government, was assorted to different more.” (pp. 737-738). closely identified with the members of the Bombay Party. Jhabvala describes the communists and their creed. So far as each of the Unions was happenings in the Railwaymen’s Perhaps the last straw was the textile conducted satisfactorily and so Union. strike. far as each member looked to the “By the time the hot loaf (i.e. the For Jhabvala, a strike was the proper management of the office new Federation) came out of the way that the workers expressed their I had rested myself satisfied... oven I felt myself mystically needs, made themselves heard. Later on I began to find out that scuttled and unwarily stranded “The masters never understood the different members of the on the lonely coast for the that the beasts of the working Managing Committees of managing committee suddenly class had their own rights. They different unions began to ally began to adopt other measures could very well remember that themselves closely with the of thinking. I folded my hands to their dog was hungry when he white skin of Mr. Bradley and them and repeatedly, asked them barked, they could very well ultimately I found that there was to kindly relieve me of the post recollect that their horse was a gradual feeling of antipathy of General Secretaryship... but thirsty when he neighed, but sown against me in different in the midst of the tentacles the they had totally forgotten that

30 MANUSHI when their own workers met continued bad in most of the mills. himself, and in 1934 he was together to protest against certain “These little eruptions in the acquitted of all charges. He entered violation of principles of industrial Etna of the Textile Industry politics and became an MLA from life or for certain legitimate happened in 1923 over the the Congress party in the Bombay necessity of theirs they had as well bonus question, in 1925 over Legislature. He also continued to to pay attention... Strikes are the the wage cut question, in 1926 found new unions and work with results which come by themselves over the three loom question... older ones. However, he could not during the progress of industrial Mr. Joshi, myself and others work within a party and after activity.” (p. 809). working in the Bombay Textile Independence refused the position However, he did not encourage Labour Union were shaking our of Labour Minister. Shortly the workers to strike. heads among ourselves that for thereafter he gave up politics and “I never invited the men to give once a big general strike founded his own newspaper, Dawn. up their work as I knew that He continued to write until his would be throwing them on death, and to go to the colonies the streets in helplessness. and chawls of the poor, to help Whenever a strike was people. declared it was declared by “Temperamentally I have led a the men themselves not in an life aloof from all humanity and organised manner but have my own sphere by themselves downing of existence even in matters of tools in their rude, blunt, public life wherein like obstreperous impetuosity a humble planet I go on often accompanied with revolving, offering to work in lightning speed. No power my own humble way in the on earth, as my experience direction that I chose, namely revealed could ever alleviation of the misery of persuade the working men to properly conducted might clean the masses.” (p.794). give up their work, and the Augean Stables... Therefore Renana Jhabvala was the General therefore it was after the men when in the Sassoon group Secretary of the Self Employed had given up their work disaffection that had long since Women’s Association (SEWA) of themselves as guided by Ahmedabad. At present she is the been reigning burst into a wilder National Coordinator of SEWA. their own conscience that conflagration... and thus we they used to come often- were in the middle of a general times to me explaining their strike... do not think, Sir, for a Write for Manushi grievances and seeing if it moment that such a proposal was possible that I could emerged from me, but it arose Our readers often write and help them in the solution of practically from the workers ask if they can write for their difficulty.” (p. 792). themselves.” (pp. 793-794). MANUSHI In 1928 there was a general The Lonely Humanist We are happy to consider strike in the textile industry which the writing of even those went on for months. As described 1n 1929, along with other trade by Jhabvala, this strike was in unionists, Jhabvala was arrested who have never written the making since the formation of and was taken to Meerut to be tried before. the Union. The miserable plight in what has come to be known as You can also submit your of the textile workers had been the Meerut Conspiracy Case. The often documented by different defendants were heard by the articles, stories, poems commissions and committees. Many Magistrate of the lower court in through email at : Meerut and committed to trial by of the mills had experienced smaller [email protected] strikes that lasted for a short time over the Additional Sessions Judge. In particular issues. However, conditions both courts Jhabvala defended

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