POLITICS IN INDIAN TRADE UNION MOVEMENT 11 owners. The Ahmedabad Mazoor Mahajan itself had to pass through a period of struggles before the millowners there agreed to negotiate. GandhVs Attitude GandhFs attitude to the growth of trade unionism was also reflected in his opposition to the formation of the AITUC. Probably he intuitively felt that such a step would have far-reaching consequences and would draw the working class away from the path chalked out by him. (That is why he advised the Ahmedabad Labour Association not to affiliate itself with the AITUG). He also did not share the views of the founder-leaders of the Trade Union Congress. He was, however, absolutely confident that his views would ultimately triumph. His statement in this connection is worth noting: ^A time will come when it will be possible for the Trade Union Congress to accept the Ahmedabad method. But I am in no hurry. It will come in its own time.557 Gandhi's views were, however, not apparently shared by other Congress leaders; otherwise they could not have participated in the work of founding the Trade Union Congress. In the face of Gandhi's sharp views, it is difficult to explain how other Congress leaders agreed to participate in the activities of the newly formed AITUC. For the older type of labour leaders also (philanthropists or social workers as well as the right liberals) who were still active and whose contributions towards the formation of the AITUG cannot be historically minimised— two such leaders were FJ Ginwala (a solicitor) and S H Jhabvala—the objectives of a trade union should be ''to promote friendly feelings and to foster a spirit of brotherhod and cooperation among workmen; to consider the question of their various disabilities with regard to their work and wages and to try to bring about their removal by all lawful and constitutional means; to promote friendly and harmonious relations between the workmen and their superior authorities; to maintain funds for the relief of members when sick or in distress, and for the relief of dependents of the deceased members; to improve the conditions of the workmen by initiating schemes of benefit insurance, provident fund, cooperative credit society, medical relief and such other kindred benefits; generally to ameliorate the social, educational and economic condition of the workmen and their dependents."9 These objectives show that they had no quarrel with the prevailing socio-economic order and hence did not wish to take