Capital, labour and the state - Eastern and western India,1918-1939

This article narrates the competitive politics of trade union organisation in the inter-war years among the workers of jute industry and coal mines in eastern India, and of textile mills in western India. In both regions, sim ultaneous attempts were made by the mill and mine owners' associations to b reak workers' solidarity by communally polarising the working class or spon soring their own trade unions or by openly resorting to coercive measures s uch as seeking police and military aid in crushing the strikes.