Ahmedabad Mill Strike 1918: Gandhi’s First Hunger Strike & Economic Justice

Ahmedabad Mill Strike 1918: Gandhi’s First Hunger Strike

After the mill owners stopped awarding plague bonuses, the textile mill workers in Ahmedabad went on strike in 1918 to seek economic justice. The Ahmedabad Mill Strike 1918 was the first hunger strike that Mahatma Gandhi staged. In Ahmedabad, Gandhi intervened to resolve this dispute between the mill owners and the workers. In order to compel a compromise, he started a fast. 

Ahmedabad Mill Strike 1918: Workers’ Fight for Fair Wages

• In the conflict between the workers and the management of the Ahmedabad mill, the mill owners sought to take the bonus.
• Workers sought a 50% wage raise in response to the wartime inflation brought on by Britain’s involvement in World War I, which doubled the cost of food, clothing, and other needs.
• Because the mill owners would only agree to a 20% pay increase, the workers went on strike.
• The relationship between the mill owners and the workers worsened as a result of the strikers’ unfair dismissal and the decision to hire Bombay weavers.
• The mill workers resorted to Anusuya Sarabhai for assistance in their fight for justice.
• Gandhi intervened in a conflict between cotton mill owners and workers in Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad Mill Strike 1918: Gandhi’s Fight for Workers’ Justice

• Textile mill workers in Ahmedabad went on strike to demand economic justice when the plant owners stopped awarding plague bonuses. 
• In the struggle for rights, Anusuya Sarabhai was requested for assistance. She was a social worker and the elder sister of Ambalal Sarabhai, a mill owner and president of the Ahmedabad Mill Owners Association. This group was founded in 1891 to strengthen Ahmedabad’s textile industry.
• Gandhi was respected by the mill owners and employees, so Anusuya went to him and asked him to step in and help break the standoff between the employees and the employers.
• Despite being Ambalal’s friend, Gandhi championed the cause of the workers.
• Gandhi advised workers to go on strike and demand a 35% pay increase instead of 50% raise.
• Gandhi advised the protesters to keep up their nonviolent attitude. After negotiations with the mill owners broke down, he started his first fast till death to strengthen the employees’ determination.
• The mill owners eventually agreed to refer the case to a tribunal as a result of pressure from the fast, though.
• Ultimately, the tribunal decided to call an end to the strike and award the workers a 35% wage boost.

Conclusion

Through these interactions, Gandhi gained the public’s attention, and throughout the remainder of his life, he aggressively promoted their interests. He was actually the first Indian nationalist leader to relate his existence and way of life to those of the average person. Over time, he earned a reputation as the poor, nationalist face of India.

Ahmedabad Mill Strike 1918 FAQs

Q1. Who led the Ahmedabad Mill Strike 1918?

Ans. Ahmedabad Mill Strike 1918 was led by Mahatma Gandhi and also this was his first hunger strike in India.

Q2. When was the Ahmedabad Mill Strike 1918 started?

Ans. The strike was started with Gandhi Ji’s fast until death on March 15, 1918.

Q3. What was the root cause of the Ahmedabad Mill Strike 1918?

Ans. Textile mill workers in Ahmedabad went on strike to demand economic justice when the plant owners stopped awarding plague bonuses.

Q4. What was the final outcome of the Ahmedabad Mill Strike 1918?

Ans. Due to a prolonged strike,  the mill owners eventually agreed to refer the case to a tribunal. In the end, the tribunal decided to call an end to the strike and award the workers a 35% wage boost.

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