Class Colonialism and Nationalism: Madras Presidency, 1928-1939

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The book explains critically the process of formation of the industrial workers into a class and mobilisation of this class in support of the nationalist movement in the Madras Presidency during the period, 1928-1939. It highlights the role of the social and economic milieus, the Indian National Congress, the working class organisations, the radical literature, the radical press and the repressive measures of the Colonial State in influencing the class consciousness and promoting the nationalist spirit among the workers. The rising consciousness of the working class expressed itself in the form of a series of prolonged strikes in Textiles, Jute, Sugar, Tobacco Railways and the other unorganised industries.

The book also analyses the relationship between the working class movement and the struggle for freedom. It focuses on the different forms of working class participation in the national struggle. It probes into the question of why and how the working class most actively participated in the ongoing national movement. It delineates the labour policy of the first Congress Ministry and its attempts to bring forward some labour welfare measures in the presidency. The book is mostly based on unpublished documents, contemporary news papers, oral evidences and official publications. It will be quite useful to all those interested in the history of working class movements and the nationalist movement in India.

DR. K. VENUGOPAL REDDY (b. 1962) was educated at Jawahar Bharathi College, Kavali. He had obtained M.A. and M.Phil degree from University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad and Ph.D. degree in (1992) from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has worked as Research Associate of UGC at the Department of History, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam (A.P.) from 1995-1999. He is at present teaching history at Dr. L.B. Degree College, Visakhapatnam.

The book is a modified version of my Ph.D. thesis The Industrial Working Class and the Indian National Movement in the Madras Presidency, 1928-1939' (Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1990). The book primarily focuses on the contradictory and antagonistic relationship between the working class and the British imperialism. In a colonial country like India, there was an inherent contradiction between the working class and the foreign ruler. This contradiction was perhaps sharper because the formidable colonial state supported the capitalist class much more forcefully. The antagonism of the working class was therefore directed toward two enemies: against the capitalist class and against British Imperialism. The book explains how far this antagonism was mobilised in the struggle for independence of India during 1928-1939. Thus the main concern of the book is to focus on the contribution made by the working class to the national movement and vice-versa. Further the book also presents an analysis of the labour policy of the Congress Ministry during 1937-1939 to the problems of the working class and its struggles.

I am deeply indebted to Prof. Bipan Chandra, for inspiration, encouragement, and sustained support in times of my difficulties, constructive and critical ideas and above all for his continuous affection shown during the course of the study. The work would not have been finished without his co-operation and encouragement. The arguments and emphasis as also errors that remain in the work are, of course, mine.

My thanks are due to Prof. V. Ramakrishna, and Prof. K.N. Panikkar for their encouragement and useful suggestions in the course of the study. I am also thankful to A. Murali, Bhagwan Josh and Aditya and Mridula Mukherjee for sharing their ideas with me.

I sincerely thank the University Grants Commission for awarding me a fellowship which enabled me to finish this study. My thanks are due to the authorities and staff of National Archives of India, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Central Secretariat Library. New Delhi, Andhra Pradesh State Archives. Hyderabad. Tamilnadu State Archives, Madras, the JNU Library and Joshi Archives, JNU, who provided me access to the material required for the study.

I remain indebted to several industrial workers, trade union leaders and National Congress leaders for agreeing to grant me interviews and for their patience in spending several hours with me. I benefited immensely from their ideas and their perceptions of the working class and the national movement in India.

I thank several friends of mine who helped me at various levels of this study. I particularly thank Srinivas, Shankar Reddy, Ashok, Rajagopal and Lenin Babu who helped me in various ways.

I am immensely indebted to all my family members whose constant support and encouragement helped me finish this **Contents and Sample Pages**