Modern History Prelims Question

A dispute was brewing between the workers of the textile mills and the mill owners, over the question of a ‘plague bonus’ the employers wanted to withdraw once the epidemic had passed but the workers insisted it stay, since the enhancement hardly compensated for the rise in the cost of living during the First World War. The British Collector, who feared a showdown, asked Gandhiji to bring pressure on the mill owners and work out a compromise. Gandhiji persuaded the mill owners and the workers to agree to arbitration by a tribunal, but the mill owners, taking advantage of a stray strike, withdrew from the agreement. They offered a twenty percent bonus and threatened to dismiss those who did not accept it.
The breach of agreement was treated by Gandhiji as a very serious affair and he advised the workers to go on a strike. He further suggested, on the basis of a thorough study of the production costs and profits of the industry, as well as the cost of living, that they would be justified in demanding a 35% increase in wages.
The strike began and Gandhiji addressed the workers every day on the banks of the Sabarmati River. He brought out a daily new bulletin and insisted that no violence be used against the employers or backlegs. Anasuya Behn, sister of Ambalal Sarabhai was one of the main lieutinants of Gandhiji in this struggle, in which her brother and Gandhiji’s friend, was one of the main adversaries. Ambalal Sarabhai was a leading mill owner of Ahmedabad and a friend of Gandhi.
After some days, the workers began to exhibit signs of weariness. The attendance at the daily meetings began to decline and the attitude towards backlegs began to harden. In this situation, Gandhiji decided to go on a fast to rally the workers and strengthen their resolve to continue. Also, he had promised that if the strike led to starvation, he would be the first to starve and the fast was a fulfilment of that promise. The fast, however, also had the effect of putting pressure on the mill owners and they agreed to submit the whole issue to a tribunal. The strike was withdrawn and the tribunal later awarded the 35% increase the workers had demanded.

A dispute was brewing between the workers of the textile mills and the mill owners, over the question of a ‘plague bonus’ the employers wanted to withdraw once the epidemic had passed but the workers insisted it stay, since the enhancement hardly compensated for the rise in the cost of living during the First World War. The British Collector, who feared a showdown, asked Gandhiji to bring pressure on the mill owners and work out a compromise. Gandhiji persuaded the mill owners and the workers to agree to arbitration by a tribunal, but the mill owners, taking advantage of a stray strike, withdrew from the agreement. They offered a twenty percent bonus and threatened to dismiss those who did not accept it.
The breach of agreement was treated by Gandhiji as a very serious affair and he advised the workers to go on a strike. He further suggested, on the basis of a thorough study of the production costs and profits of the industry, as well as the cost of living, that they would be justified in demanding a 35% increase in wages.
The strike began and Gandhiji addressed the workers every day on the banks of the Sabarmati River. He brought out a daily new bulletin and insisted that no violence be used against the employers or backlegs. Anasuya Behn, sister of Ambalal Sarabhai was one of the main lieutinants of Gandhiji in this struggle, in which her brother and Gandhiji’s friend, was one of the main adversaries. Ambalal Sarabhai was a leading mill owner of Ahmedabad and a friend of Gandhi.
After some days, the workers began to exhibit signs of weariness. The attendance at the daily meetings began to decline and the attitude towards backlegs began to harden. In this situation, Gandhiji decided to go on a fast to rally the workers and strengthen their resolve to continue. Also, he had promised that if the strike led to starvation, he would be the first to starve and the fast was a fulfilment of that promise. The fast, however, also had the effect of putting pressure on the mill owners and they agreed to submit the whole issue to a tribunal. The strike was withdrawn and the tribunal later awarded the 35% increase the workers had demanded.

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