Oral History of the Indian Labour Movement

This valuable collection of 165 oral history interviews spans the twentieth century, and especially covers the decades: 1930s to 1980s, which have also been referred to as the 'age of labour' in the Indian subcontinent. It is an attempt by the experienced activists of the labour movement and of scholars of labour studies as part of All Indian Labour History Association (AILH), to document the past, so as to be able to make an assessment of the achievements, limitations and possibilities of social transformation in India. The interviews were conducted in the early 2000s and span the major industries and the various regions of the country. Railways were a primary focus, along with textiles, jute, iron, steel, mining etc. Interviews also include the 'unorganized sector': rikshaw pullers, bidi industry, cinema workers, and salt workers. It is a record of the experiences of labour activists from across the political spectrum, combining personal and institutional histories, the role of individuals and the role and development of trade unions and political parties. Some of the themes covered in the interviews include: interconnections and the spread of labour movements, connections between labour and social movements, phases and problems of labour mobilization, a reflection on the past from a contemporary perspective

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