40 years of 1st All India General Strike on January 19, 1982

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) [All India Farmers' Association] and the All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) had observed ‘Kisan-Mazdoor Ekta Diwas' [Farmer-Worker Unity Day] on January 19. In 1982, an all-India general strike took place. The Confederation Of Central Government Employees & Workers with NFPE observing the 40th year of the strike jointly with NPFE 

On January 19, arguably for the first time in independent India, the peasantry and rural-urban workforce joined forces to protest the Central government's economic policies.

A scene from the general strike of 1982

The January 19, 1982 strike

A huge mobilisation of workers, peasants, agricultural workers, and students took place on January 19, 1982, at Babur Bazar on the Banaras-Mirzapur road (then in Banaras district, now in Chandauli district), as part of an All India Strike called by the Central Trade Unions and Federations.

Protesters set up a peaceful roadblock, halting all traffic. The police attacked the peaceful protest without warning. The police opened fire on the protestors. Comrade Bhola Paswan was killed by police, but the protest went on. His brave younger brother, Lal Chand Paswan, a student at Ashok Inter College, assumed the leadership role. The cops also shot him. 32 more mass class comrades were hurt.

The UP Congress government and police took two martyrs' bodies to Ramsanchi, 75 km away, and burned them without informing their families.

On the same day, agricultural workers in Tamil Nadu organised successful strikes in rural areas with trade unions. The AIADMK government ordered police to fire on protesters, killing three. All India Agricultural Workers Union activists Anjan and Nagooran were killed in police firing in Thirumagnanam (Nagapattinam) and Gnanasekharan (Bhartiya Khet Mazdoor Mazdoor Union) was killed in Thiru Thurai Poondy.

This was a successful strike that sowed the seeds of future joint worker-peasant struggles. This was a significant step in India's journey toward a systemic change in favour of the working class and the establishment of an egalitarian society through popular democracy. On this day, ten martyrs (workers, peasants, and agricultural labourers) gave the ultimate sacrifice of life in various parts of the country as a result of the governments' brutal repression.

The majority of those killed were poor agricultural workers who had demonstrated in support of the working class on the streets. In the first countrywide general strike and band in independent India, there was such broad unity and leadership. In a day's strike across the country, urban and rural workers came together to lead one of the most glorious episodes in the history of militant struggles in independent India.

This strike was the result of a year-long campaign. On March 23, 1981, in Delhi, a meeting of Central Trade Unions decided to hold a National Convention of the Working Class on June 4, 1981, in Bombay (now Mumbai). This was an effort to bring all unions together on common issues.

Delegates from major trade unions like CITU, AITUC, INTUC, HMS, BMS, All India Federations of Government Employees, Public Sector Employees and others from all over India attended the convention. The convention adopted a 13-point demand charter that reflects the union leadership's vision.

The charter of demands included minimum wages for agricultural workers, comprehensive legislation for agricultural workers, fair prices for peasants' produce, and the sale of all essential commodities at subsidised prices through a network of shops. There will be strict measures against black-marketeers, hoarders, smugglers, speculators and the officers protecting them. The charter's demands mobilised the peasantry, agricultural workers, and other social groups.

The convention decided to hold an All India General Strike on January 19, 1982, as well as regional conventions, rallies, and a Parliament March. Only trade unions called for the strike, but peasants, agricultural workers, and other sections of the masses joined on the basis of the demand charter.

On November 23, the same year, lakhs of workers from all over the country marched to Parliament. Workers from all over the country, including agricultural workers, filled the Boat Club to capacity.

The strike was a huge success due to an environment of resistance built on conscious effort. The Central Government and state governments used all means to thwart the strike preparations. There were threats, fake cases, and police firing on the day of the strike, but nothing could stop history from recording the working class's valiant effort.

After the strike, trade unions decided to stand with the martyrs' families. We decided to collect 1 from each member every year and give it to our comrades' families. They raised $40,000 in the first year. Since then, many all-India trade union strikes have occurred. All India strikes, joined by the rural masses (peasants and agricultural workers) through rural bands, have been quite effective recently.

The unity of the peasantry, rural and urban proletariat is vital now that the working class is under attack. Peasants are fighting and agricultural workers are absent from all policy decisions.

Increased unemployment (both urban and rural) and stagnant wages have exacerbated the situation. The legacy of the January 19, 1982 struggle unites the working class against a common enemy.

Upcoming general strike

There is another reason why January 19 holds more importance this year. Ten central trade unions have given a call for a two-day general strike on February 23 -24 to press for the withdrawal of the reform-oriented four Labor Codes and the rollback of the policy decisions that involve privatization of the national assets.