1^8 SOCIAL SCIENTIST Labour The morning session on 27 January was chaired by Prof. C.P. Bhambri (Jawaharlal Nehru University). Three papers were presented, two dealing with specific movements and one rather more general. Prof. Sanat Bose' These two aspects of the movement were, thus, emphasised in his analysis of the Assam Tea Garden Labour Movement. The main point made by him was that apart from the economic grievances which had been a "regular feature" of the workers^ lives for years, the decisive factor in creating an unprecedented mass movement in 1920-21 was the "heightened class consciousness" of the workers. This manifested itself in the questioning of all hither to accepted forms of oppression, specifically related to the capital—labour relationship. Apart from a raise in wages, the demands now included the right to passage of their cattle to the grazing ground in some gardens, and also a share in profit. The dignity and honour of women labour was staunchly defended, and protest launched against other oppressive practices of both the garden staff and the licensed traders, particularly as regards the illegal deduction of wages, short weight, and the bad quality of ration supplied in the gardens. They also refused to give evidence against their leaders. In making a more detailed assessment he said that although the movement was motivated by "more than trade union demands", it was not solely created by the local Congressmen either. "The Congress did not initiate the labour movement. It was the other way round". To that extent it was a spontaneous movement. But the "heightened class consciousness" manifested by the movement was "greatly strengthened by the activities of a large section of non-co-operators". The linkages between the labour and national movements were through ex-garden labour, Indian garden staff of lower ranks favourably disposed to the national movement, 'lowgrade' Mussalman volunteers of the Khilafat, a fakir and ordinary villagers. He also emphasised the decisive role played by the "outsiders" in this movement, mainly the non-co-operators. He referred also to another "outside" element which played a crucial role i.e., the Dibru Sadia railway strike, which h^d a tremendous impact on garden labour, inspite of the authorities' best efforts to keep them socially isolated. A large number of the railwaymen were ex-tea garden workers. The second paper was by Prof. Ranajit Das Gupta on tl^e Corn-