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AHMEDABAD MILL STRIKE (1918) OF GANDHIJI


 * FIRST HUNGER STRIKE

In march 1918 Gandhi intervened in a dispute between cotton mill owners of Ahmedabad and workers over the issue of discontinuity of plague bonus. The mill owners wanted to withdraw the bonus. The workers were demanding a rise of 50% in there wages so that they could manage in times of wartimes inflation (which doubled the price of foodgrains, cloth, and other necessities) caused by britain involvement in World War one I. The mill owners were ready to give only 20% wage hike. The workers went on strike.

The relation between workers and mill owners worsened with the striking workers being arbitrarily dismissed and the mill owners deciding to bring weavers from bombay. The workers of mill turned to Anusuya Sarabhai for help in fighting for justice. Anusuya sarabhai was a social worker who was also sister of Ambalal sarabhai, one of the mill owner and president of Ahmedabad Mill Owner Association (founded in 1891 to develope textile industry in ahmedabad) for help in fighting for justice.Anusuya Behn went to gandhiji, who was respected by the mill owners and workers, and asked him to interven , and help to resolve the impasse between the workers and employers. Though Gandhi was a friend of Ambalal he took up the workers cause. Anusuya behn too supported the workers and was one of the chief lieutenants of Gandhiji. It was Anusuya behn who went on formation of Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association in 1920. Gandhi asked the workers to go on strike and demand 35% increase in wages instead of 50%.

Gandhi advised workers to remain non violent while on strike. When negotiation with the mill owners did not progress he himself wend on fast unto death (his first) to strengthen the worker`s resolve. But the fast also had the effect of putting pressure on mill owners who finally agreed to submit the issue to a tribunal. The strike was withdrawn. In the end, the tribunal awarded the workers 35% wage hike