CHAPTER – 20
BIRTH OF NFPTE
Since 1953 onwards events took a turn. The U.P.T.W under the leadership of Com.K.Ramamurti was already relentlessly trying for realignment and Shri.Dalvi, leader of the Postmen Union was also ever in favour of realignment and establishment of one organization of P&T workers. The All India Conference of the U.P.T.W which met at Nagpur from the 25th to 30th October, 1953, was attended by Shri.Dalvi and Shri. W.B.Kulkarni, a representative from Bombay branch of the Telegraph Traffic Staff Association (Ministerial). In the open session of the Conference there was thread-bare discussion on realignment and a decision was taken to begin with effecting realignment with renewed vigour. The All India Telegraph Union which was all through giving stubborn opposition to any unity move ceased to do so since the headquarters was transferred to Delhi and Shri. P.S.R.Anjaneyulu became the General Secretary, who in right earnest began working for unity move. Shri.Birendra Nath Ghosh .M.A.B.L., General Secretary of the All India Postal and R.M.S.Union in consultation with a section of its members who were in favour of some sort of realignment, came out for negotiation . Com. Ramamurti was already ever ready for negotiation with all. Com.Ramamurti and Shri. Birendranath Ghosh with a view to laying down the background for realignment, entered into a bilateral agreement which is as follow:
“The Union of Post and Telegraph Workers and the All India Postal and R.M.S. Union are of the opinion that a united front of the P&T Workers can best be formed by mutual agreement between the Unions themselves, and that the pattern of such unity should be of the nature of establishment of autonomous sectional Unions and a Federation of such sectional Unions. The end in view can be achieved by transforming the Union of Post and Telegraph Workers as a Federation to which the Sectional Unions shall be compulsorily federated.
“The All India Postal and R.M.S.Union and the Union of Post and Telegraph Workers are, further, of the opinion that, with a view to enable practical realization of the objective, and expedite the building up of such unity, it will be advisable to initiate the transformation of the UPTW as a federation in stages it not forthwith, achieve unity in each and thus ultimately convert the UPTW as a full-fledged federation.
“In pursuance of the above programme of establishing a united front of the P&T workers, the All India Postal and R.M.S Union and the Union of Post and Telegraph Workers agree that, with effect from in schedules I,II and III by the appropriate bodies of the two unions (1) the UPTW shall function as a Federation in respect of the All India Postal and RMS Union and as a Union in respect of other Sections and (2) the All India Postal & R.M.S Union shall function as a Union federated with the U.P.T.W.
“On conclusion of settlement with other Unions, the U.P.T.W shall function progressively as a Federation and ultimately convert itself as a full-fledged Federation.
“In token of the above terms of agreement arrived at subject to rectification by appropriate bodies we affix our signature below on the 9th April 1954 at New Delhi.”
Sd/- (K.RAMAMURTHI) SD/- (BIRENDRA NATH GHOSH)
Secretary General General Secretary,
Union of Posts and Telegraph Workers All India Postal & R.M.S Union
(Central headquarters) Camp- Delhi 9/4/54
The main defect of the above agreement was that it was signed by signatories in their personal capacity. None of them had even consulted their Working Committee before negotiating, drafting and signing the agreement. Members of those Unions expressed their surprise at reading the contents of the agreement. According to many, had this agreement been implemented , it would have resulted in fully rebuilding the All India Postal and R.M.S.Union and liquidation of U.P.T.W at the same time, it was doubtful if the very name U.P.T.W would have survived as the name of the Federation while another Federation duly recognized by the Government was already in existence.
The Working Committee of the U.P.T.W met in Kali Bari, New Delhi from the 15th April, 1954 under the Presidentship of Com. B.N.Ghosh to discuss the Ramamurthi-Biren Ghosh agreement on realignment. The Working Committee however adopted a resolution recommending ratification of the agreement to the Supreme Council, but it was the Government’s schemes on realignment are out which were in the offing.
During the pendency of the Working Committee meeting, I as President of the U.P.T.W had the occasion to lead two deputations of the Working Committee members to the Hon’ble Minister, Shri. Jagjiwan Ram and to the Director General, Shri. H.L.Jerath. The deputation had general discussion on realignment and there was general agreement almost on all points. It was declared by the Hon’ble Minister that those of the Unions which will not join the realignment scheme of the Government will not be allowed to enroll new members and they would die their natural death. Shri. H.L.Jarath also repeated the same thing.
During April, May and June 1954, the different Unions had series of discussions amongst themselves and also with Government and on the basis of those discussions ultimately the Government’s proposal on realignment of Unions were released vide D.G.P&T letter No.SPA-351-20/47 dated 2-7-1954.
The Director General of Posts and Telegraphs realignment proposals as contained in his letter No. SPA.351-20/47 dated the 2nd July 1954 were as follows;
“With a view to enable the representatives of the staff to associate themselves with the administration and with a view to provide a suitable machinery for discussions of subjects concerning general policy and the welfare of the staff, the question of realignment of all the existing Unions was mooted in 1948 and discussed in a conference. Not much head way could, however, be made then. Fresh attempt were made in 1951, when the matter was again discussed but had to be given up as a complete agreement could not be reached. A renewed attempt was made early this year and a scheme of realignment was circulated to the Unions to elicit their opinion. Replies received have been very encouraging and show that a majority of them have expressed in favour of the scheme outlined by Government. Government have, therefore, felt that the time has now come to realign the Unions on these lines:-
(a) There shall be:
(1) One All India Union of Class III employees (excluding postmen etc.) of the Postal arm of service. This will be called “The All India Postal Employees Union –Class III.”
(2) One All India Union of Postmen (employees of allied cadres ) and Class IV employees of the Postal arm of service. This will be called “The All India Postal Employees Union Postmen and Class IV”.
(3) The All India Union of Class III employees (excluding Mail Guards etc.) of the R.M.S arm of service. This will be called “The All India R.M.S Employees Union –Class III”.
(4) One All India Union of the Mail guards etc. and the Class IV employees of the R.M.S service. This will be called “The All India R.M.S Employees Union Mail Guards and Class IV.”
(5) One All India Union of Class III Employees of the Telegraph Traffic arm of Service. This will be called “The All India telegraph Traffic Employees Union-Class III.”
(6) One All India Union of Class IV employees of the telegraph Traffic arm of service. This will be called “The All India Telegraph Traffic employees Union –Class IV.”
(7) One All India Union of Line Staff and Class III employees (excluding Line staff) of the Telegraph Engineering arm of service. This will be called “The All India Telegraph Engineering Employees Union Class III.”
(8) One All India Union of Line staff and Class IV employees of the Telegraph Engineering arm of service. This will be called “The All India Telegraph Engineering Employees Union –Line staff and Class IV.”
(9) On All India Association of the employees of all administrative offices (including T.R.A.Os.) This will be called “The All India administrative Offices Employees Association –Class III&IV.”
(B) There will be corresponding Branches at the circle and Divisional levels except in the case of the All India Administrative Offices Association which will function as on All India Association only. The All India bodies alone will form into a Federation. The Federation will be called the National Federation of Posts and Telegraphs Employees.
(1) The Question of formation of Unions for Industrial Workers and a federation for such Unions will be dealt with separately.
(2) The new Unions except those referred to above will not be recognized by Government hereafter. There will be only one Federation. The Unions which accepted the realignment scheme will be deemed to have surrendered their recognition automatically. Affiliation shall not be denied to any legally constituted local Union.
(3) The constitution of the realigned All India Unions and the Federation will follow the lines of democratic organizations, broad details of which are given in the annexures. The Constitution of the Unions at the circle and Division levels will be formed by the Federation.
(4) The Federation shall not have the powers to disaffiliate or expel any Union. The Federating Units shall not have the right to secede from the Federation.
(5) The questions of disposal of assets and liabilities etc. of the existing Unions would be left to the Unions to decide between themselves in consultation with the members by a majority of vote after re-elections take place.
(C) No Union should take up individual cases.
(D) All the Unions will have almost an identical Constitution. An outline of the Constitution for the Federation and each of the All India Unions referred to in para (A) above is appended.
(E) The Unions will function under democratic principles as broadly indicated in the annexures. The Federation shall have no power of interference in the internal management of the Unions except in so far as may be specified in the Constitution and /or invited to do so by the affiliated Unions.
2. Channel of communications: All the nine All India Unions and the Federation shall have the right of representation to the Director General. In case of disagreement with the D.G, the Federation will have the right to represent the matter to the Minister of Communications through Director General. At the Circle level all the Circle branches of the Unions will correspond with the Head of the circle. At the Divisional level only the Divisional Branch of the Union will correspond with the Divisional Heads. Other local branches in a Divisional unit, if any, will correspond with the Divisional Head only through the main Divisional branch of the Union.
3. In order that this scheme may be implemented without loss of time it has been agreed that the Realignment scheme should start from the Divisional levels. The Branch Secretaries of all the present unions may form an ad-hoc body to conduct the elections to form the realigned Unions in a Divisional Unit. If the Unions so desire the service of the Director, Postal Services concerned would be made available to them to act as a Chairman to this body for the first election purpose only. These elections will be held within two months of the announcement of the Scheme by Government. With in the third month all the newly formed branch Unions may elect their representatives to the Provincial bodies. The Circle Secretaries of the Circle Bodies of all the present Unions may form an ad-hoc body at the Circle level and will supervise the elections of the branches. If desired the head of the Circle would be made available to act as Chairman of this body for election purpose only.
4. An ad-hoc body will also be formed at the All India level consisting of the General Secretaries of all the existing Unions and they may draft and give such directions on the majority of votes as may be suitable to the Circle ad-hoc bodies in regard to the conduct of the elections under the Scheme. The Senior Deputy Director General will be made available if desired to act as Chairman to this ad-hoc body.
4(a). The ad-hoc bodies at the different levels would decide on the disposal of the assets and liabilities of existing Unions.
5. The election for the All India bodies under the Realignment Scheme should be finalized within three months of the formation of the new Provincial Bodies under the Scheme. For preparing the electoral rolls of all the members of the existing Unions in a Division/CTO/DTO, each union will be asked to intimate in writing the names of its members belonging to each arm of service to the Director, Postal services who will then draw up an amalgamated list of officials of each arm. They will then elect their office bearers. Those who were not members of any union on 1-7-54 will not take apart in the elections.
6. Simultaneously with the formation of the All India bodies, the Federation will also be formed on the lines the Constitution indicated in the annexure to this Circular.
7. During the interval and until the realigned Unions are formed at the Circle and Central levels, the ad-hoc bodies will manage the affairs as the duly constituted managing body of the realigned Unions. At the branch levels amalgamation of membership will take place immediately after the elections.
8. After the realignment is implemented, officials of one arm of the service will be eligible to join the recognized realigned Union of that arm only.
9. The process of implementation of the Realignment Scheme, referred to in para 1 above will commence from 1st August 1954. Election to the Divisional bodies, Circle bodies, the All India Bodies and the Federation may if possible be completed by 1st October 1954 at the latest to synchronize with the All India Postage Stamps Centenary celebrations and the inauguration of the International Stamp cum Postal Exhibition.
10. I may mention that it has been my cherished desire to associate the workers in the administration of this great public utility department. This whole-hearted co-operation of the majority of the Unions has offered me an opportunity to fulfill the mission of my service in the Department. I do hope that the P&T Unions and the staff will now enthusiastically implement these instructions in the larger interest of the staff so that the next step of establishing Whitley Councils may be taken up.”
Sd/- H.L.Jerath DIRECTOR GENERAL

My reaction on the D.G’s circular found its way in the form of the stirring appeal appearing in “The Telepost” of July, 1954, which runs as follows:
“The long expected scheme of Government on realignment of P&T Unions is now before us. There is no denying the fact that much to our satisfaction, the scheme has envisaged a democratic procedure for affecting unification of numerous unions into a single Federation of nine Unions without the right of secession by the constituent units. But there are many loop-holes which are likely to defeat the very object of the prospects which has reached this present stage after hard endeavour of six long years by all the Unions in existence, under constant pressure and urge from their mass of general membership. The task before us today is not to reject the scheme straightaway, but to make further effort for improvement of the scheme through joint effort of all Unions and their general members who, and not the Government, hold the key for achieving unity by minimizing the number of unions and for compelling all to come under the banner of the Federation.
”On behalf of the Union of Posts and Telegraph Workers, I earnestly appeal to the leaders of all P&T Unions to take stock of the present situation , rise to the occasion and make every possible endeavor to bring unification of the Unions on a permanent basis through this scientific process of realignment under a rigid Federation. I earnestly appeal to the P&T workers in general and members of all the Unions in particular, to rise the occasion and exert themselves so that the unity move materializes and the legitimate demands for security of service, establishment of full trade union rights and other rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India are fully realized through the common single machinery to be established.
“I appeal to all unions to take immediate steps to call forthwith at a common place the meeting of Central executives of all Unions for the purpose , take a collective decision and approach the Government.”
The All India Telegraph Union at its meeting held at Bombay on the 16th July 1954 accepted the Government’s realignment scheme with certain reservations.
The Supreme Council of the U.P.T.W which was held in the Free Masons Hall, Janpath, New Delhi, from the 5th to 8th September 1954 was presided over by me. There was a proposal moved by Shri. B.P.Chatterjee for having one Union of Postal and R.M.S.Workers and another proposal was moved for continuance of the U.P.T.W. Both the proposals were rejected by the House. From the Chair I read the resolution regarding acceptance of Government’s proposals for realignment which was approved by all amidst cheers.
September 1954 was loaded with history. Union after union was marching along a straight road to broader form of unity by accepting the proposal for realignment. Shortly after the All India Postmen & Lower Grade Staff Union at a meeting held at Delhi accepted the realignment scheme. And during September almost all the major unions accepted the scheme and surrendered their recognition.
Consequently, the Government vide their Memo No. SPA.351-20/47 dated 18-10-1954 withdrew recognition of the following unions:-
1. Union of Posts and Telegraph Workers.
2. All India Postal and R.M.S union.
3. All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union.
4. All India Telegraph Union.
5. All India Telephone & Telegraph Engineering Union.
6. All India Telegraph Workmen’s Union.
7. All India Telegraph Line staff Union.
8. Federation of P&T Unions.
In view of the agreement concluded by the Telegraph Traffic Staff association (Ministerial) with the Unions which had accepted Government realignment scheme on the Telegraph Traffic side, the right of entertaining references and other privileges appertaining there to granted to them was also withdrawn vide the same memo of Government.
Just with the withdrawal of recognition of the Unions, ad hoc committees were formed at the Central, Circle and local levels to function during the interim period. It was originally decided that realignment would take place on the 1st October, the Postage Stamp Centenary date but as some of the Unions were still thinking as to whether to accept the realignment or not, matters were delayed. The All India Telephone Revenue Offices Union came later on to join the realignment scheme, and the Central body of the All India Administrative Offices Employees Association did not join although the branch unions in most of the places expressed their desire to join the realignment scheme.
It must be admitted in this connection without any hesitation that Com.K.Ramamurthi, Secretary General of the U.P.T.W acted as the high-priest in working for bringing the realignment scheme into reality and most of the credit goes to him. Other Union’s leaders joining the realignment scheme had also contributed largely towards its implementation. Shri.V.G.dalvi since 1948 onwards had always worked for bringing the realignment scheme into reality and thereby set a new era in the field of P&T trade union movement.
According to the schedule time prescribed the All India Ad Hoc Committee held all the All the India Conference of all realigned Unions at Vinaynagar, New Delhi from the 21st to 24th November 1954 to complete formation of the nine Unions and the National Federation of P&T Employees.
The Joint session of the nine All India Conferences of the realigned P&T Unions was held at Vinaynagar, New Delhi at 5 pm on Sunday the 21st November 1954 to mark the fulfillment of the long cherished desire for establishing one organization for the entire P&T Employees in India. One thousand delegates representing three lakhs of P&T workers mustered strong in the Conference to give their verdict in favour of establishing nine All India Unions compulsorily federated in the “National Federation of P&T Employees “which was also unheard in the into existence during the pendency of the Conference. The deliberations of this great assemblage were conducted by a presidium consisting of Sarbasree Dewan Chamenlal , Rohini Roy , Harin Shah, Bhupendra Nath Ghosh and Mrs. Nayama Haider.
This grand assembly was inaugurated by Shri.Jagjivan Ram, Minister for Communications , who in his inaugural address, expressed heartfelt satisfaction to see the long cherished dream for P&T Unity coming into reality.
The members of the presidium one after the other addressed the conference. Shri.B.N.Ghosh in the course of his address thanked the authorities and the workers for working together in bringing the realignment scheme into a reality.
Shri.Ramamurti in the course of his speech offered his warmest tributes to the martyrs and warriors of the P&T trade union movement and thanked the authorities for helping the unions in bringing about the realignment.
Shri.V.G.Dalvi, Shri.G.C.Khanna Shri.Dholoo Ram , Shri.Harminder Singh Shri.P.S.R.Anjaneyulu Shri.P.S.Mukherjee and Shri. Basant Singh, the General Secretaries of the realigning unions also spoke. The session terminated amidst loud cheers of “Long Live P&T Workers Unity.”
Thereafter the nine All India conferences were held separately from the 22nd to 24th November 1954 under the Presidentship of Sarbasree G.P.Gopal, B.N.Ghosh, Ambika Prasad, M.A.Jabbar, Baldev Prasad Srivastava, Rohini Roy, K.G.Bose, C.P.Venkataraman, and Mrs. Nayama Haider. Lively scenes were noticed in all the nine Conferences.
The nine Conferences adopted constitutions of the respective nine Unions, elected office bearers and one hundred Federal Councillors. Thus nine autonomous Unions came into existence.
On 24th November 1954 at 4.30 P.M one hundred Federal Councillors representing the nine federating Unions met at Vinayanagar, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Veteran P&T Union Leader, Shri.K.S.Pitkar.
Shri.K.Ramamurti moved the following resolution:
“This meeting of the Federal Councillors representing realigned P&T Unions resolves that the National Federation of P&T Employees be hereby established on this day, the 24th November, 1954.”
The resolution was seconded by Shri. G.P.Gopal and carried unanimously.
Thus the National Federation of P&T Employees came into being.
The Council adopted a constitution and elected the following office bearers:-
Shri.V.G.Dalvi, Bar-at-Law President
Mrs.Nayama Haider, M.L.C Vice President
Shri.K.S.Pitkar Vice President
Shri.B.N.Ghosh Secretary General
Shri.D.G.Nanotkar Secretary
Shri. Makhan singh Treasurer
From the 25th November, 1954 onwards the Federation and the nine federating Unions simultaneously began functioning. The Nine Unions already stood recognized and the recognition of the Federation was yet to be got from the Government. The Federation on the 14th of December applied to the D.G.P&T for grant of recognition.
After a hard struggle of long 30 years the P&T workers of India were able to set up a single organization in the shape of the National Federation of P&T Employees which sprang up through the will and determination of nine All India Unions to federate—never to secede nor ever to be expelled but to work for the benefit of the workers as a perpetual monument.
On assuming the charge, I issued the following statement under the caption “Tasks Ahead”:-
“The immediate task before the National Federation of P&T Employees which represent two lakhs and fifty thousand workers of the great public utility department is to educate each and every one of the workers as to how to increase efficiency of the Department-motto being “service Before Self”- and to consolidate and co-ordinate the activities of the federating Unions in a way as would bring about complete solidarity amongst the rank and file of the workers so that this organization may grow rapidly into a fighting force- to fight against all injustices, to counteract all retrograde steps which are believed to be in contemplation and to protect the rights and privileges hitherto enjoyed including absolute security of service. As soon as the Federal Executive meets and outlines its policy and programme, it should be the task ahead of each and every member of the Federation to implement them within the scheduled time.
“Introduction of assistant Inspectors’ post, direct recruitment of Class II Officers in Telegraph Traffic, New Recruitment Order , R.M.S. Reorganisation, Post -51candidates case, counting of entire dearness allowance as special pay, I.P.O Examination of 1952, Reinstatement of victimized workers of P&T Unions and last but not the least the Revision of scales of pay of all categories of staff including the E.D.As vis-à-vis demand for a Second Pay Commission are matters of moment and need be given top priority. The separation of P&T Budget, rationalisation of rates policy are already on the agenda and yet this list is in no way exhaustive. Let us, therefore, consolidate all our energy and devise ways and means as to how and in what way success can be achieved on all issues and problems awaiting solution.
“P&T Federation- Zindabad”
(Concluded)
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s

CHAPTER- 17
AGAIN IN BATTLE DRESS
The Department did not relish the merger of the unions and from the very beginning began to look upon the U.P.T.W with suspicion. The Department in fact became afraid of the strength of the U.P.T.W. That is why in spite of best efforts made by the Negotiating Committee, the Government did not accept the merger. As late as on the 16thof January, 1948, they accorded recognition to the U.P.T.W as a new Union. The bureaucracy wanted division in the camp and by using underhand methods could influence a small section of the members of the All India Postal and R.M.S Union to hold a conference, revived the All India Postal and R.M.S Union which got the recognition of the Government and began functioning in limited areas.
Amongst those who took leading part in reviving the All India Postal & R.M.S Union prominent were Shri. Raj Bahaur, Shri. Raghubans Sahai Srivastava and Shri Jathindra Nath Banerjee. In spite of all these facts, the Union of Posts and Telegraph Workers, which functioned for a period of 7 years was able to keep on records an account of its valuable services to the cause of the P&T workers. It was able to advance the movement and create enough potentiality amongst the members of the Union. The Indian Telegraph association and the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Union which were the only paying members of the Federation could foresee the danger of the Federation, which had not joined the merger, functioning as a rival to the U.P.T.W. It is therefore most wisely that Dr. G.Noronha and Com.M.A .Jabbar, two veteran trade unionist of India called a meeting of the Federation and dissolved it and informed the Government accordingly.
The Union of Post and Telegraph Workers began functioning with confidence. It attached a large number of non-members. It cannot be gainsaid that the great awakening that took place amongst the P&T workers in general as a result of July, 1946 strike helped a great deal in bringing the U.P.T.W into existence.
In-spite of the fact that the Postmen Union did not join the merger, the Union under the able leadership of Shri.V.G.Dalvi began to work in close co-operation with the U.P.T.W, both the Unions being affiliated during this period to the ALL India Trade Union Congress.
On the 14th November,1947, the Negotiating Committee appointed by the Merger Conference, under the leadership of Dr. G.Noronha, met Shri. Krishna Prasada, the Director General Posts and Telegraphs. The negotiating Committee made unsuccessful attempts to secure recognition of the U.P.T.W and get favourable reply on all the points embodied in the short-Term Demands including acceptance of Joshi- Sardar Mangal Singh recommendations on revision of scales of pay. 1947 ended in this way.
The Writers of the history of P&T trade union movement will however have to acknowledge that 1946 and 1947 were not only eventful years but also a turning period in the history of the P&T trade union movement.
1. The formation of the P&T Federation in January, 1946.
2. Serving of Strike Notice by the Federation in February, 1946;
3. Appointment of an Adjudicator;
4. An announcement by the Government in the Assembly on the 7-2-46 of appointment of a Pay Commission;
5. Hungry-Badge Campaign by the Postal and R.M.S workers on the 16th February,1946;
6. The historic July P&T strike (1946);
7. Evidence before the Pay Commission by different Unions and the Federation;
8. Independence of India (15th August, 1947);
9. Affiliation of All India Postal and R.M.S Union and Postmen & Lower Grade Staff Union with the All India Trade Union Congress(February 1947)
10. Merger of three P&T Unions resulting in formation of the Union of Posts and Telegraph Workers (13th August 1947)
are some of the very significant landmarks.
Let me put on record here that earlier on the 20th July, 1947, three weeks before partition of Bengal and Assam Provincial Branch at Dacca. In this meeting, we discussed all the problems which would arise as a result of partition of Bengal on the 15th August. In this meeting also I tendered my resignation from the post of General Secretary of the union which I was holding for full 15 years. In my resignation letter I made it clear that I was elected by the entire Bengal and Assam, so after partition and constitution of Assam as a separate Circle, I might not hold the confidence of truncated West Bengal. I however made it very clear that if the Unions in West Bengal would re-elect me, I would be glad to serve the Union. The Council accepted my resignation. Later on the Working Committee of the West Bengal Union unanimously re-elected me as General Secretary.
After the Merger conference was over, as per directive of the Co-ordinating Committee, Assam was separated from the rest of Bengal. Mr. Shamsul Hussain was appointed to organize a Provincial Union of the U.P.T.W. Mr. Hussain instead of forming a branch of the U.P.T.W organized a branch of the All India Postal and R.M.S Union. So in the November meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee held at Delhi, Shri. N.N.Bhattarcharjee of Gauhati was appointed with full power to hold a conference of the P&T workers of Assam with a view to forming a Provincial Branch of the U.P.T.W. In the first week of December, a conference was held and U.P.T.W came into being in Assam. The R.M.S. workers of Assam however preferred to remain aloof and later on joined the revived All India Postal & R.M.S Union.
Most of my energy during this period had to be spent in securing early posting of hundreds of P&T employees from East Bengal who had opted for India and were coming to West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other places. It was a puzzle for me as to how to look to their interests, as I found that every one of them was wanting to be posted in Calcutta only.
The Postmen and Packer optees from North Bengal such as Rangpur and Dinajpur etc., were posted in Tanjore and Madurai whereas a large section of Postmen and Packers of Narayangaunja and Barisal were ordered to proceed to Kathiawar and so on. It was with great difficulties that those men could be accommodated in West Bengal.
My personal difficulties at that time were also enough. My own hearth and home which was in Barisal fell in East Pakistan. The motherless children of mine were there. I was in a fix as to how to bring them to Calcutta and under whose care they were to be kept.
In-spite of all these troubles, I could manage to have all the Branch Unions in West Bengal excepting the R.M.S ‘C’, ‘N’ , and ‘H’ Divisions changed over to U.P.T.W by April, 1948.
Since the day of merger till the first U.P.T.W. Conference which was held from the 23rd to 27th May, 1948 in Madras, I had to function as General secretary of both the All India Postal and R.M.S Union, and the U.P.T.W of Bengal. All India Postal and R.M.S Union, Calcutta Branch of which I was the primary member, changed over to U.P.T.W on the 18th of March 1948. As the R.M.S Union took decision not to change over to U.P.T.W., a large section of its’ members belonging to all the three divisions seceded from the parent Union and formed a branch of the U.P.T.W. But the things did not rest here. The All India Postal and R.M.S Union was already revived by the first week of January, 1948 at Allahabad. Therefore Shri. Jatindra Nath Banarjee, in May, 1948 started a new Branch of the All India Postal & R.M.S Union in Calcutta with a very few members within its fold.
The All India Postal and R.M.S Union which was merged with the U.P.T.W in a duly convened All India Conference, before the eyes of law ceased to exist. The Union of Post and Telegraph Workers raised objection to the revived Union being given recognition. On the 20th January, 1948, the Negotiating Committee of the U.P.T.W which waited in a deputation on the Hon’ble Minister, Shri.Rafi Ahamed Kidwai , pressed that recognition should not be granted to the revived union. Shri.Kidwai agreed to refer the matter to the Chief Labour Commissioner. Shri. H.L.Jerath, Sr. Dy.Director General , Posts and Telegraphs, was found from the very beginning to be sympathetic to this revived union and helped it in securing recognition. It is still a puzzle to many as to why Shri.Raj Bahadur and Shri.Raghuban Sahai Srivastava who were practically the sponsors of the unity move and took active part in bringing the U.P.T.W in to existence, backed out later on and revived the All India Postal and R.M.S.Union. This disruption from within perplexed many. In short, the revived All India Postal and R.M.S Union became, though not a menace, yet a head-ache to all of us.
The deputation with the Hon’ble Minister on the 29th January did not bear any fruit. Most of the demands embodied in the Short-Term Demands were not accepted. The Government was also found not to be in a mood to revise the dearness allowance according to the recommendation of the Pay Commission. Shri.Kidwai had already expressed inability to revise the dearness allowance to the representatives of the Federation and the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union.
The then Hon’ble Finance Minister, Shri.Shanmukham Chetty, rejected the demand for revision of dearness allowance in view of the fact that according to him there has not been enough of agitation to justify a change.
The P&T workers in general and the four major P&T Unions (including the Federation) once more felt the necessity of having joint front to have the dearness allowance increased and began thinking of organizing joint mass rallies at every station.
It is worth recording here that although the Federation of Posts and Telegraphs Unions was constitutionally dissolved, the Government pleaded ignorance of receipt of any intimation to that effect. The Federation continued to function, enjoying Government’s recognition. The unity which the Merger Conference planned to bring about in fact did not come to reality. It began functioning as one of the four major P&T trade unions. The main obstruction for achieving complete unity did not come from the workers but from a section of leaders. The National Government took advantage of our disunity and began to reject most of our demands like in the by-gone days.
By the end of March 1948 the Central Government employees in Calcutta took a decision to go on strike with effect from the 3rd April, 1948, the main demand being absorption of the temporary staff. At that time in the P&T Department in Calcutta there were nearly 7,000 temporary officials. Nobody knew when they would be absorbed. The entire temporary staff became restive at the news that all the Central Government employees in Calcutta were preparing for strike on the demand of their permanent absorption in the Department and utmost pressure was put on me to secure Government orders for absorption of all the temporary P&T employees of Calcutta as well as of the rest of West Bengal.
On the 27th of March, along with Shri.Rai Krishna Banerjee, I met Mr. Sherard Smith, the Post Master General W.Bengal Circle and told him:
“The Central Government employees would go on strike with effect from the 3rd April unless they were permanently absorbed in the service on or before that date. The P&T workers who are temporary have become restless; they are also likely to leave their desks on and from the 3rd April and if they would adopt such a course, the others with a view to show sympathy to them all also follow suit. I would request you to bring a favourable reply within three days from Delhi if you want that there should be no dislocation in the P&T service in Calcutta and Bengal.”
Mr.Smith who was to start for Darjeeling on the very date, cancelled his tour. He called a camera meeting with some of the P&T Union leaders on the 1st of April and sought their help. It is needless to say that none from the U.P.T.W was called in this meeting. On the 1st April, a veteran leader of the All India Telegraph Union issued a press statement describing my threats held out to be a mischievous one and appealed to all P&T workers of Calcutta not to be misguided by the threats held out by the U.P.T.W leaders and in the same breath assured all help to the Government. Dewan Chaman Lal and Shri. H.L.Jerath, Dy.D.G.P&T came down to Calcutta on the 3rd of April. Two big meeting were arranged, one in the Indian Association Hall and the other in the St.Pauls School where all Officers and Union Leaders and members were present and played the part of mutual admiration society. None belonging to the U.P.T.W was invited in these meetings. There was a rumour afoot on the 3rd April that I would be arrested. Nothing like that happened. We organized a mass meeting on the 2nd April under the president-ship of Shri. Mrinal Kanti Bose demanding absorption of all temporaries. Shri.Jarath invited me on the 4th April and assured me that all the temporaries of Bengal would be absorbed. As they were in the Defence of India Corps, they would get the benefit of war service. There the matter ended.
As the Government in spite of the best efforts made by the U.P.T.W. and the other P&T Unions could not be forced either to increase the dearness allowance or to concede the Short-Term Demands, the first All India Conference of the U.P.T.W which was held in Madras from the 24th to 27th May, 1948, adopted the following resolution:
“ If in spite of the incalculable self sacrifice that the P&T staff have voluntarily taken upon themselves as per above, the Govt. fail to accede to the Short-Term Demands within three months, this conference directs the Supreme Council of the Union to initiate all possible measures for realizing these demands by obtaining the view of the mass of members through a referendum or through the issue of a strike-ballot.
“The Conference request all other Unions in the P&T Department to pass similar resolutions on the Short-Term Demands to put pressure upon the Government and directs the General Secretary of the U.P.T.W to negotiate immediately with them for the formation of a Joint Council of Action and call upon all Provincial and District Branches and the General membership to fully prepare themselves for all eventualities to achieve cent per cent membership of the Union and raise necessary funds for a life and death struggle.”
The All India Postal & R.M.S Union was affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress. So I was continuing to serve as a member of the Central Council of the T.U.C and also a member of the B.P.T.U.C Working Committee as well as Council.
The first session of the U.P.T.W. took a decision not to affiliate itself to any of the trade union centres but to function independently. The Indian National Trade Union Congress and the All India Trade Union Congress were the two trade union centres in the country at that time. Thus my connection with the A.I.T.U.C and B.P.T.U.C come to an end.
The Madras session of the Conference of the U.P.T.W adopted a comprehensive programme for
1. Raising membership to 50,000;
2. Collection of Emergency Fund of Rs. 25000/-;
3. Formation of Joint council of Action at all levels with the sister unions.
All present in the Conference took a pledge to fulfil the above task by the 13th of August which was the anniversary date of the U.P.T.W. It was also accepted by all that the coming struggle would be one for achieving acceptance of the Short-Term Demands and revision of rates of dearness allowance in accordance with the Central Pay Commission’s recommendations. The resolution adopted by the Madras Conference was practically an ultimatum to the Government to the effect that in case the demands were not fulfilled within three months, strike ballot would be taken.
The Government’s reply on the Short-Term Demands was considered by all to be most unsatisfactory. Therefore the Working Committee and the Supreme Council of the Union of Posts and Telegraphs Workers met at Delhi from the 5th to 8th September to decide further programme of action. The Supreme Council after full four days deliberations took a decision for taking strike ballot to be completed by the 25th of December, 1948. On the question of taking ballot, the House was found to equally divided. The decision for ballot was taken by a majority of one vote. I had recorded my vote against ballot. If I remember a right, I had expressed a definite opinion to take every possible step to prepare a common Charter of Demands by all the Unions together and to form joint council of action before the Council could think of any direct action.
This important session of the Supreme Council which concluded with the decision for taking strike ballot was attended by all the Councillors. Prominent among those who took part in the deliberations were Coms. K .Ramamurthy, K.S.Pitkar, M.A.Jabbar, A.P.Thulasiram, G.P.Gopal, Om Prakash Gupta, B.S.Kamble, Rai Krishna Banarjee and A.S.Rajan. The most important part of the session was that after the ballot was accepted by a majority of vote, the entire house accepted it and all without exception gave a pledge to work sincerely for making the strike ballot a success and to implement the entire programme chalked out by the Madras Conference.
After the Supreme Council of the U.P.T.W. took the decision for strike ballot, the pressure from the rank and file of the P&T workers who were members of different P&T unions became all the more greater for joint action as a result of which the leaders of the Federation, the Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union and the U.P.T.W. after a heart to heart discussion, came to the following agreement for such an action:-
1. The Federation and the Postmen Union agree that a Joint Council should be formed with representatives of all three organizations namely, the Federation, The Postmen Union and the U.P.T.W. for the purpose of joint action. Formation of such a joint council assumes that the demands on the basis of which action is contemplated will be common and previously agreed upon.
2. The U.P.T.W. agrees that its representatives will join the other two organizations in a deputation to the Prime Minister sometime early in the second week of December, 1948. It is agreed that if the interview proves to be unsatisfactory, all the three organizations will proceed to take strike ballot to be completed by the 15th January, 1949. It is further agreed that the ballot should be taken by all the organizations at the same time.
3. The actual composition of the Joint Council will be decided later.
The agreement was signed by Messrs. V.G.Dalvi, J.N.Banerjee, J.C.Shyam, S.S.Kavalekar, Om Praksh Gupta, M.A.Jabbar and R.S.Sreevastava.
It was further decided that a joint deputation of those three organizations will wait on the Prime Minister on the following demands:
1. Revision of rates of dearness Allowance
2. Confirmation of temporaries;
3. Appointment of Anomalies Committee;
4. Publication of Expert Committee report;
5. Sanction of strike period pay;
And the deputation be led by Shri. Jayaprakash Narayan.
Shortly after the agreement was signed, most encouraging was the fact that the All India Council of Postmen & Lower Grade Staff Union which also met during the first week of October at Delhi under the able leadership of shri.V.G.Dalvi, the General Secretary and Shri.Jayaprakash Narayan, The President of the Union, took a decision for taking strike ballot side by side and along with the U.P.T.W., and also gave full authority to the Provincial Unions to form joint councils of action with the U.P.T.W. and ratified the agreement. It is a historic fact that the Postmen had never hesitated to come forward to join the struggle.
The Joint deputation under the leadership of Shri. Jaya Prakash Narayan met the Prime Minister on the 10th December 1948. A joint meeting of representatives of all the Unions and the Federation was held at the Y.M.C.A hall on the very date. Shri.Narayan made a report on the result of the deputation. The result was considered by all to be unsatisfactory.
While in every corner of the country the workers had been advancing the cause by collecting funds, enrolling members and forming joint Councils of Action, just to divert the attention there came a proposal from Shri. Rafi Ahammed Kidwai, the Minister for Communications, for realignment of unions. He invited all the unions at Delhi on the 22nd October, 1948. A section of the representatives of the U.P.T.W was found in favour of realignment scheme while the others were opposed to it. The Government move for realignment was only to divert the attention of the P&T workers from strike ballot to realignment.
All the representatives of 14 All India Unions after full two days discussion agreed to the following scheme for realignment of unions and put their signatures on the draft scheme and also agreed to surrender voluntarily their recognition. It was also decided on the spot that the representatives of all unions will communicate their ratification by the 31st April 1949. The meeting also formed a Realignment Committee with Shri.V.G.Dalvi as convener. According to this scheme, there should be only nine unions on the following basis:
1. All India Post Office Union of Class III Employees;
2. All India Post Office Union of Class IV Employees;
3. All India R.M.S Union of Class III Employees;
4. All India R.M.S. Union of Class IV Employees;
5. All India Telegraph Traffic Union of Class III Employees;
6. All India Telegraph Traffic Union of Class IV Employees;
7. All India Telegraph Engineering Union of Class III employees;
8. All India Telegraph Engineering Union of Class IV Employees;
9. All India Administrative Offices Association.
The scheme provided that the nine unions shall form themselves into a Federation both at the Central and Provincial levels.
Most of the unions however on going back to their respective headquarters backed out of the agreement which they had signed before the Hon’ble Minister. Some of the unions submitted to the Government revised schemes and some rejected the scheme for realignment altogether.
How the scheme was received by the U.P.T.W leadership can be well imagined from some of the statements quoted below:
Com. A.P.Thulasiram; “We should work out the scheme.”
Com.B.S.Kamble; “It will create perpetual scheme.”
Com. A.S.Rajan, Asst.General Secretary, U.P.T.W Postal Wing: “ You have not explained fully, as I presume, the problem of realignment vis-à-vis the strike ballot resolution. Does it go by default? Or put in cold storage for the time being with provision to revoke the same at a future date? Or will this problem be another wild goose chase? Why the Government have taken this question at this juncture specially when the U.P.T.W and the Postmen Union have passed a resolution for a strike ballot?”
Shri.R.E.Dunsten , Asst.General Secretary, U.P.T.W, R.M.S. Wing: “ Scheme can be worked out”
The statement which issued as published in THE TELEPOST, was with the following headline; IT WILL BRING STAGNANCY TO ALL OUR MOVEMENTS and the statement runs as follows:
“If the proposed scheme takes a definite shape and comes into a reality, it will separate a porter from a sorter, a postmen from a post office clerk… and ultimately all Post and Telegraph employees from one another …..P & T staff ….should rise to the occasion and counteract the move and the scheme which if given effect to, would instead of bringing solidarity amongst the employees, create dissension and disruption amongst the rank and file of the employees.
THE ONE UNION move of ours through U.P.T.W. in spite of sharp opposition from all quarters has gained much in strength during one year of its existence and we expect to do much more in the coming year. It would be suicidal to accept realignment by the U.P.T.W.
“It will bring stagnancy to our movement concerning staff welfare. I, therefore, appeal to all, be the a members of the U.P.T.W or any other Union to reject this scheme for realignment and accept the principle of One Union for one Service or else our future is doomed.”
It is not yet all clear to me if Com. Om Prakash Gupta, The General Secretary of the U.P.T.W was in favour of realignment scheme or against it. It is amazing that Com. M.A.Jabbar and Com. K.S Pitkar attended the realignment meeting called by the Hon,ble Minister as representatives of the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Union and the All India Postal and R.M.S Union which was revived and was being run by a different set of leadership.
The Supreme Council of the U.P.T.W. was to take a definite decision to go either with the Government scheme of realignment or the strike Ballot in a meeting to be held in Calcutta from the 7th to 9th November, 1948. The venue was however changed to Delhi. The Council met from the 9th to 12th December 1948.
The realignment conference which met on the 22nd October, 1948 at the instance of Shri. Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, had elected Shri. V.G.Dalvi as convener of the Realignment Committee. The Committee met at Bombay on the 22nd November, 1948. As they could not come to any unanimous understanding about realignment, the question was practically thrown to the cold storage. Some had suggested that there should be 5 Central Unions while others suggested 9 unions under the scheme. The representatives of the Union of P&T Workers, the Federation and the Postmen Union had however, utilized this occasion for discussing the question relating to formation of Joint Council and for signing the agreement which has already been mentioned previously.
The very news of the signing of the agreement by the leaders of the Union of P&T Workers, the Federation and the Postmen Union jointly fighting for the realization of the demands created a sensation amongst the P&T workers throughout India.
The Supreme Council of the Union of P&T Workers which met at Delhi from the 9th to 12th December, 1948, unanimously passed the following two resolutions, one on strike Ballot and the other on the Realignment Scheme.
“This meeting of the Supreme Council of the Union of P&T Workers regrets that as a consequence of the failure on the part of the Postmen and Lower Grade staff Union to ratify the decision for the formation of the Joint Council of Action, a situation has arisen which compels the UPTW, to implement the Strike Ballot resolution adopted at the September session of the supreme Council and therefore resolves that the said resolution be implemented with the proviso that the strike ballot be completed by the 15th January, 1949. “This Supreme council further desires to convey to Sister Unions the readiness of the Union of P&T Workers to form Joint Council of Action.
“This meeting of the Supreme Council directs the Working Committee to chalk out a programme and issue suitable instructions immediately”.
The second resolution reads as follows:
“In view of the Strike Ballot decision adopted by the Supreme Council of the Union of P&T Workers and in view of the fact that the unsatisfactory procedure adopted and the manner in which the whole of the realignment scheme is being worked out, this meeting of the Supreme Council of the U.P.T.W opines that the consideration of the realignment scheme be postponed till the next Annual General Conference of the U.P.T.W, and directs that the representatives of this Union, Comrades Om Prakash Gupta and M.A.Jabbar, on the constitution Committee be withdrawn from the said committee immediately”
Com. A.P.Thulasiram who was presiding over the Session closed the meeting with the following concluding remarks:
“I really feel proud for having presided over this session where the honour and prestige of the Union has been maintained. I have always been a worker and never called myself a leader. I am prepared even to lay my life at the altar of the Union. My only appeal is organize, close up the ranks and stand as one. Workers of the world unite.”
With great jubilation, the Strike Ballot was conducted by the Union of P&T Workers and the Postmen Union separately and it was completed by the 15th January, 1949. 90% of the members had voted in favour of strike.
In spite of the fact that the Prime Minister had said a definite ‘No’ to the joint deputation with regard to increase in dearness allowance, the result of the strike ballot frightened the Government. On the 18th of January the Government of India declared for increase of Rs.10/- in dearness allowance for all the employees.
The Working Committee of the Union of P&T Workers met at New Delhi from the 22nd to 28th January,1949. This continuous session of the Working Committee from every point of view was a fateful one. It had been convened to consider the result of the strike ballot and to chalk out further programme. The following members of the Working Committee were present:
1. Com. Janak
2. “ Sham Niwas
3. “ V.S.Menon
4. “ Soman Varma
5. “ Om Prakash Kapur
6. “ D.K.Guha
7. “ A.P.Singh
8. “ V.P.Menon
9. “ S.L.Tiwari
10. “ R.E.Dunstan
11. “ K.Ramamurthy
12. “ A.S.Rajan
13. “ Guranditta Mal
14. “ C.D.Mahadevan
15. “ Hem Chandra
16. “ K.M.Pol
17. “ K.S.Pitkar
18. “ G.P.Gopal
19. “ Om P.Gupta
Besides these members, the following were also present:
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1. Com. A.P.Thulasiram
2. “ C.M.Paripurnam
3. “ M.A.Jabbar
4. “ Kailash Nath Sharma
5. “ P.K.Bhujanga Rao
6. “ B.S.Kamble
7. “ Vaidya
8. “ G.K.Joshi
The Working Committee after obtaining reports of the representatives of the different Circles took a decision for serving the Government with a strike notice. The members of the Working Committee were sharply divided on this issue. The Committee by a casting vote of the Chairman of the meeting, G.P.Gopal, adopted the following resolution on the 26th January 1949;
“Whereas the Government of India have callously turned down even the minimum short term demands of the Union of Posts and Telegraph Workers, arising mainly out of the implementation of the pay commissions recommendations e.g, modification of the unjust and irrational method of re-fixation of pay in the prescribed scales, removal of all anomalies arising as a consequence of re-fixation of pay, restoration of special, local and compensatory allowances, adequate compensation for performance of duties involving technical skill , arduousness etc. grant of house rent and compensatory allowance according to the present population levels, payment of tuition fees, establishment of service tribunals etc., and such other legitimate demands like revision of unsatisfactory scales of pay confirmation of all temporary employees, immediate publication of the Expert Committee’s report, acceptance of the Unions’ recommendation in regard to duty hours, weekly offs, overtime outstation and extra duty allowances etc., removal of anomalies arising out of departmentalization of Telephone Districts, revision of allowances of Extra Departmental Agents, departmentalization of casual and daily rated labour etc.
“Whereas the Government ‘s measures to combat inflation have helped only the vested interest and have inflicted untold hardships on the employees,
“Where as the Government have failed to honour even their own commitments to revise the dearness allowance according to the recommendation of the Central pay Commission in spite of the abnormal increase in the cost of living and have only aggravated the situation by denying full relief in the name of disinflation;
“Whereas the Government instead of affording the much needed relief to the Employees have indulged in un-remunerative scheme and needless creation of many highly paid posts and upgrading of posts resulting in a top-heavy administration;
“Whereas the P&T Administration represented by the officers have at every stage tried to retard the development of the trade union movement in the P&T Department, interfered with and denied the fundamental right of the association and meetings, and embarked upon a policy of victimization of active union workers by such indirect methods as transfers, punishments etc.
“Whereas the P&T Administration have remained indifferent even in the redressal of minor grievances of the employees and provision of such essential amenities as ventilated sanitary and adequate accommodation for P&T Offices including mail vans, dormitory and rest houses, tiffin rooms, heating arrangements in cold weather, supply of drinking water, uniforms etc.,
“Whereas the Government have failed to solve the problems of providing residential accommodation for the employees;
“Whereas the Government have not adopted expeditious measures for the rehabilitation of refugee staff;
“Whereas the P&T Administration have spurned the offer of co-operation of the Union in regard to improvement of efficiency of the service and removal of the root causes for inefficiency wherever it may exist, and have refused to democratize the service and protect the employees from ill-treatment and harassment;
“Whereas repeated negotiations with the Government culminating in the interview with the Prime Minister have utterly failed and have not in the least bettered the lot of the employees;
And, in as much as, through the result of the strike ballot held by the Union during the period 9th to 15th January, 1949 in pursuance of the resolution adopted at the All India Conference, 1948 sessions of the Supreme Council, an overwhelming majority of the members of the Union have given a verdict in favour of strike action as the only means to secure fulfillment of the Union’s demands,
“This meeting of the Working Committee, after a mature consideration of all the issues involved, resolves that the General Secretary be directed to serve a notice of strike on the Director General, Posts and Telegraphs on the 1st February 1949 in accordance with the provisions of the law of the land, intimating the Director General, that in the event of the failure of the Government to fulfil the Union’s demands, the strike shall commence on the 9th March, 1949.”
The Executive Council of the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union which met in Delhi on the 26th and 27th January, 1949, however adopted the following resolution:
“While giving its careful consideration to the declaration of the Government of India, for an increase of Rs.10/- in the Dearness Allowance to all its employees, this session of the Executive Council of the All India Postmen and Lower Grade(including R.M.S) Staff Union, regrets that the announcement of Rs.10/- fails short of the demands of the Postmen and Lower Grade staff to implement the recommendations of the Central Pay Commission Report by linking up dearness allowance with the existing price level.
“This session reiterating Bombay Conference decision and more so taking into stock volume of opinion of provincial Unions in favor of a strike, having not arrived at an amicable settlement with the Government of India, resolves to hold another sitting of the Council on February 13 at New Delhi to hold a scrutiny of the strike ballot.
“This session further resolves that if the results of the strike ballot go in favour of a strike, the Council would accordingly fix up the date for giving the strike notice enabling the members to launch a country-wide strike in the 3rd week of March, 1949.
“Resolved that the 34 demands charter passed at the last Bombay Conference of the Union form the basis of the notice of strike to be served on Government of India.”
The Federation of P&T Unions headed by Shri. Raghubans Sahai Srivastava , Shri.P.C.Chatterjee and Shri. J.N.Banerjee could not give any definite opinion whether their respective Unions would fall in link with the Union of P&T Workers. Shri.J.C.Shyam one of the signatories to the agreement, was absent from the scene. Therefore the Federation backed out of the agreement.
As per decision of the Working Committee of the Union of P&T Workers, Com.Om Prakash Gupta, the General Secretary of the Union served the Director General, Posts and Telegraphs with the following strike notice:
UNION OF THE POSTS AND TELEGRAPH WORKERS.
NO.AIG/ST New Delhi
1st February 1949
To
Mr.KrishnaPrasada,C.I.E,I.C.S,J.P., DirectorGeneral,Posts and Telegraphs New Delhi.
Sir,
In pursuance of the resolution adopted by the Working Committee of the Union of P&T Workers, a copy of which is enclosed, I hereby give you notice on behalf of the UNION OF P&T WORKERS that my Union proposes to call a strike of the P&T Department employees from the 9th March, 1949 for the satisfaction of the demands enumerated in annexure ‘A’ to this notice. My Union regrets that the Department and the Government have failed to do anything to satisfy the pressing demands of the workers in spite of repeated requests. The patience of the employees has been put to a severe test, but they have done everything for an amicable settlement. The Government having thwarted all the attempts for a settlement the Union was compelled to organize a strike ballot in which workers gave their verdict in favour of a strike.
My Union deems it necessary to state that it is the inaction, indifference and obduracy of the Government which are forcing the strike on the workers and no threats can deflect the strike unless their demands set forth in the accompanying annexure are met before the date fixed for the strike.
Yours faithfully,
Sd/Om.P.Gupta
General Secretary
Copy forwarded to;
1. The Chief Labour Commissioner, Government of India, New Delhi.
2. The Chief Conciliation officer, Government of India, New Delhi.
The following demands were embodied in the annexure to the strike notice:
1. A suitable machinery to formulate a wage structure based on the principle of social security;
2. Acceptance of Expert Committee’s recommendations;
3. Immediate issue of orders on Part II of the Pay Commission’s Report;
4. Establishment of Service Tribunals;
5. Efficiency board should be set up;
6. Acceptance of Joshi Mangal Singh scales of pay
7. Higher scales of pay to skilled artisans;
8. Wireless staff be paid on par with those in the C.A.D;
9. Industrial workers be paid same scales as their counter –parts in the Railways;
10. Pay Commission’s recommendations in regard to grant of remuneration to E.D. staff should be implemented. E.D.S.P.Ms and E.D.B.P.Ms be granted a house rent allowance and contingent allowance;
11. Good Conduct Pay;
12. Fixation formula whichever is beneficial to the pre-31 officials to be evolved; the pay of the post- 31 officials should be re-fixed on a point to point basis;
13. Setting up of an Anomalies Committee;
14. Revision of Dearness Allowance;
15. House Rent Allowance should be based on present population basis;
16. Special Allowance at certain stations for special reasons;
17. T.A and D.A to Linemen;
18. Suitable measures for rehabilitation of refugee staff;
19. Confirmation of all temporaries etc.;
20. Abolition of the system of casual labour;
21. Ban on marriage imposed on women workers be removed;
22. Period of training be treated as duty;
23. Unification of Telegraph Services;
24. Status quo ante to be restored in the matter of promotion to L.S.G;
25. Upgrading of posts of T.S Supervisors etc.
26. Reduction in jurisdiction of the Sub-Division of I.P.Os and I.R.M.S;
27. Revision of Time Test;
28. Appointment of a committee to resolve anomalies arising from the departmentalization of Telephone District. (to be continued)

s

CHAPTER – 16
FORMATION OF U.P.T.W

It is an admitted fact that the strike brought more relief to the P&T workers and it also served an eye- opener to the P&T leaders who conducted the strike. All of them felt the necessity of having one organization of the P&T workers. It is not worthy that within 24 hours of the calling of the strike the government had withdrawn recognition of the All India Telegraph Union, All India Postal and RMS Union, Bengal and Assam Provincial Branch, the Indian Posts and Telegraph Union, Calcutta Branch and the All India Telegraph Workmen’s Union, Bengal Branch and also of the All India Postal and RMS Union, Calcutta Branch. The recognition was withdrawn on the ground of all these unions having gone on an illegal strike. The Central Council of the All India Postal and RMS Union which met at Delhi from 14th to 16th September 1946 unanimously adopted a resolution congratulating the Bengal and Assam Branch for launching the heroic struggle and adopted a strong resolution protesting against the withdrawal of the recognition of the Bengal and Assam Provincial Branch which the council thought so long as the central union had not withdrawn recognition, the Government had no business to interfere and demanded restoration of the recognition.
The council strongly resented the attitude of the Federation of P&T Unions during the strike and adopted the following resolution:
“The council resolves that the interest of the members constituting the All India Postal and RMS Union would best be served by seceding from the Federation and therefore this union does hereby secede from the Federation of P&T Unions”.

The resolution was moved by the veteran leader, Shri. Raj Bahadur and seconded by Shri. J.H.Rizvi.
Thus the General Council gave a death blow to the Federation of P&T Unions headed by Diwan Chaman Lal.

Shri.B.S.Kamble who was the General Secretary of the All India Postal and RMS Union had abruptly left the headquarters and gone to Nagpur on the 24th June, 1946 and Shri. Manmohan Lal Topa had to assume charge since then. The post of General Secretary was declared vacant by the council and Shri. Raj Bahadur of U.P was unanimously elected as General Secretary to be assisted by Coms. Hari Ram and Raghubans Sahal Srivastava till the next election. The council further resolved that Shri.B.N.Ghosh be authorized to select an outsider to work as probationary Secretary on a remuneration of Rs. 150/- per month. The council also passed a strong resolution demanding sanction of strike period pay.
The recognition of the Provincial Branch was however restored on the 3rd October, 1946.

Com.V.G.Dalvi at Bombay and Shri. P.C.Chatterjee, Shri. Birendra Nath Ghosh , Shri.K.D.Roy Choudhry and myself seriously began thinking of having one organization of the P&T workers. Com.Dalvi who had gone to Europe after the strike was over, on his return to India issued a statement in favour of having one Union for the entire P&T workers. This gave an impetus to the movement and all the unions more or less began thinking on these lines.
All the P&T unions however, since August, onwards, had to direct all their attention to the Pay Commission. According to the announcement made by the Government in the Central Legislative Assembly on the 7th February, 1946, the Government of India, Finance Department, vide its resolution No.F.11(11)-E-II/46 dated 105-46 appointed a Pay Commission to institute an enquiry into the range of Government servant salaries.

The following gentlemen were elected as members of the Commission:-
1. Hon’ble Mr.Hussain Imam, member, Council for State
2. Mr.M.V.gadgil, BALLB. MLA
3. Mr.Frank Anthony, MLA
4. Lt.Col Dr. J.C.Chatterjee, MLA
5. Mr.N.M.Joshi
6. Mr. C.V.Sreenivasa Rao, CIA
The hon’ble Mr.Justice Sreenivasa R Varadachari Kt., Judge of the Federal Court, was appointed as Chairman of the Commission. On the 20th July, the Commission sent a list of questionnaire to all the recognized P&T Unions. Most of the Unions numbering 14 at that time submitted replies to the questionnaire separately. Memoranda were also submitted to the Commission by most of them and the Federation. Com.K.Ramamurti who was then connected with the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Union, took the initiative in calling a meeting at the United Coffee House, New Delhi of all the P&T leaders who had assembled at Delhi to discuss the possibility of presenting a common front before the commission. His attempt unfortunately did not bear any fruit. The Commission recorded the oral evidence of various P&T Unions from the 9th to 16th December. Shri. K.D.Roy Choudhry who was selected as the spokesman of the All India Postal and RMS union, placed the view points of that union before the Commission. The demands put forth by different P&T Unions were contradictory in nature. Some members of the Pay Commission noticed this and remarked that while All India Railway Employees Federation is capable of representing the case of the Railway employees, the P&T Federation is not at all representing the case of P&T Employees. The Unions affiliated to the Federation however, worked jointly through the Federation. The P&T Unions could not impress the commission by their evidence. The following were the principal Unions which had given oral evidence before the Commission:-

1. The Federation of P&T Unions
2. The All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union
3. The All India Postal and RMS Union
4. The All India Telegraph Union
5. The Indian Telegraph Association

The needs of Telegraphists were being looked into by three separate unions: that is why they could not place a common demand on scale of pay. The Federation asked for a scale of pay of Rs. 125/- to 225/- for the Telegraphists whereas the All India Telegraph Union demanded Rs. 100/- to 300/-. In the same way the All India Postal and RMS Union differed from the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union on various issues. The scale of pay demanded for the Postal and RMS employees Union were not the same as demanded by the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Union through the Federation.

The above served as an eye opener to the rank and file of the P&T workers and the urge came from them for having one union for the entire P&T workers.
The All India Postal RMS union Conference which was held at Akola during X’mas of 1946 under the president- ship of Shri.Mrinal Kanti Bose, who was then President of the All India Trade Union Congress, was memorable session.

The conference took the momentous decision for affiliating the union with the All India Trade Union Congress and adopted the resolution for merger of all the P&T Unions and establishment of one union for the P&T workers.

This session elected Com. Om Prakash Gupta who had been working as Secretary (on probation) since September, as the General Secretary of the Union. Com Gupta Just on assuming charge of the union began in right earnest to propagate the cause for establishment of one union. Com.V.G.Dalvi, the General secretary of the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union who had already expressed his views in favour of merger, with a view to having a joint front with the All India Postal and Lower Grade Staff Union, persuaded the General Council of the Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union to adopt a resolution in favour of affiliating the Postmen Union to the All India Trade Union Congress. (to be continued).

CHAPTER – 13
PUBLIC SUPPORT

The student’s movement in Calcutta was very strong. Inspite of there being different student’s organizations, all of them such as Students Federation, All Bengal Students Association, Students Congress, Forward Block Students Bureau , Muslim Students League, and the Women Students Congress, stood by the strikers. The entire student committee not only of Calcutta but also of the entire Bengal and Assam made common cause with the P&T workers strike. Shri. Kanti Bose the Chairman of the Joint Council of Action Calcutta was also at that time the President of the All India Trade Union Congress, the only trade union centre in India. Its affiliated branch B.P.T.U.C. gave splendid support to the cause. The Congress leadership , Maulana Abdul kalam Azad, shri’ Sarat Chandra Bose, Shri. Surendra Mohan Ghosh, President of the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee kept close touch with the strike committee and helped the council from time to time with valuable advice.

Different leftist political parties excepting the Congress were found all the days the strike was on, arranging meetings in different perks and maidans in support of the struggle which it will not be too much to say took the shape of the national strike for liberation of the country. The historic strike was able practically to give the last kick to alien Rule in India. In fact, the negotiation between the Congress and the Muslim League on the issue of formation of interim Government on the one side and the Viceroy of India representing the British Cabinet on the other , which had broken only a week before the strike, became fruitful just after the successful termination of the strike. The P&T Strike was succeeded by the strike by the workers of Imperial Bank of India and so on. The care taker Govt. which due to post war political situation and labour unrest was naturally a weak Government, was practically preparing for departure with bag and baggage, and had to invite once again the Congress and the League to form the interim Government.
The Joint Council of Action was being arranging public meetings in the wellington Square. The rally was being attended every day by more than lakh of people. Besides the different political parties were arranging meetings in different parks. Just after the strike began I felt much relieved. During those days I had no other business but to address the meetings organized by the Joint Council of Action as well as by the different political parties. It is significant that excepting myself no other P&T worker had over addressed my public meeting organized by the different political parties. It is also noteworthy that the Congress Committee in Calcutta or elsewhere in Bengal and Assam did not organize any meeting either in Calcutta or in any part of the Bengal and Assam in support of the strikers but individual Congress workers and even leaders had taken part in addressing meetings and helping the strikers cause.
That the demands of the workers were legitimate and that the Congress also was taking some interest in their case is evident from the following statement issued to the press by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru , President of the Indian National Congress.

“Many people had heard of the coming postal strike, but this, but this morning all India suddenly became conscience of it, and if no specific stop is taken it is likely to be actually conscious of it for a considerable time. A Postal strike is always a calamity to the public and is to be avoided as far as possible. In labour disputes generally and more particularly in regard to essential services, a civilized Government and society provide other methods of settlement than that of the strike.
Unfortunately, our Government and social structure function differently. I am not in a position to express an opinion about the detailed demands of the postal employees although during the last five or six months the matter has come up before me on several occasions. “Prima facie the Postal employees are badly paid and live a hard life. Their service is known for its hones of integrity and hard work and inevitably one’s sympathy goes to them. One fact which is significant is that the Postal Enquiry Committee which functioned a year and a half ago under the Chairmanship of Mr. Krishnan Prasada, the present Director General, Posts and Telegraphs, presented a report in April 1945 which was suppressed. Why was it suppressed by Govt. although from all accounts it was a unanimous report? This suppression does not bring credit to Government nor does it incline one to its present argument in this dispute.
“As I have said, I am unable to express any specific opinion about the demands, but I am quite convinced that this matter as a whole ought to have been referred to adjudication or arbitration. One very small aspect of the question relating to interim relief to men on the scales of pay was referred to adjudication and the award is expected soon. But this does not cover the main points at issue. I would strongly urge both the Government and the All India Postal Union to accept a full adjudication of arbitration of the entire dispute. There can be a time limit fixed for this and any recommendations or decision made be made subject to the future findings of the Pay Commission which had begun considering the whole subject of official salaries etc. If this step is taken it will be fair and honourable to all concerned and will bring relief to the public also who are suffering from this strike.

“These same considerations also apply to the Telegraph Employees who have given notice of a strike. I could urge that their case also should be referred to adjudication or arbitration”
Inspite of the above sympathetic press statement issued by the Congress President, the official congress which was aiming at forming the Interim Government, was not wholly in favour of the strike, which is apparent from the following statement issued on the 19th July 1946 by Shri. Sathya Narayan Sinha, the Chief Whip of the Congress party in the Central Assembly, condemning the strike notice.
“I consider this move of the All India Telegraph Union is ill-advised, I advise, therefore, employees of the Posts and Telegraphs Department to be guided by the Federation of the Posts and Telegraph Unions.”

Referring to the strike of the Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Mr. Sinha said: “ My investigation on the spot has forced me to the conclusion that Mr.Dalvi has called his men out of thought by any means exhausting the possibility of an amicable settlement”. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, however rebuked Shri. Sinha for his statement. The genuine feeling in the country was that the Congress opinion and views in strike were divided. The majority of the Congress leadership wanted peaceful atmosphere might go on unhampered and smoothly.
The All India Trade Union Congress, however, played their part splendidly. It stood by the workers and rendered every help to the P&T worker’s struggle. Madras observed one day general strike of all workers in the city on July 23 in sympathy with the Posts and Telegraphs workers strike, at the call of the Madras Provincial Trade Union Congress. There was complete stoppage of all trams, buses and other transport service including tongas and taxies and thousands of workers participated in the token strike. The Postmaster General had ordered the closure of all post offices in the city and mofussils. On the 22nd July, at the call of the Bombay Provincial Trade Union Congress and also on an appeal issued by 70 labour unions, there was complete one day token strike in Bombay to show sympathy to the Postmen on strike. In short, Bombay witnessed an unprecedented situation. The city was cut off from rest of India as the entire communication system had virtually been paralysed. One thousand Telegraphists and Telegraph Office Clerks and Telephone Operators who were already on strike in obedience to the strike notice of All India Telegraph Union felt encouraged by this public sympathy.

The enthusiasm of the P&T workers in Calcutta and the rest of Bengal and Assam reached its climax on the 29th July, 1946. Shri.Mrinal Kanti Bose, the President of the All India Trade Union Congress and also the President of the Joint Council of Action had issued the following statement to the press:
“The General Council calls upon all its affiliated Unions throughout the province to observe a one day strike on Monday the 29th July.”
“The council confidently looks to the industrial and transport workers, Govt and commercial Employees to come forward in response to this call and to conduct this strike in a peaceful and disciplined manner.”
“This council further appeals to all sections of public students, merchants, traders and shopkeepers to help in making the days strike success by observance of general “Hartal” and by participating alongside the workers in rallies, meetings, and demonstrations, thus itself sympathetic to the sorrows of Indian millions.
“The council of the opinion that the water works of the city should not be stopped on the day of general strike.
“The railway service is exempted from the operation of general strike.”
On the 29th July, Calcutta during 200 years of British Rule had the Biggest Strike involving nearly 15,00,000 workers. All vehicular traffic, transport, buses, motor cars, taxies, rikshaws etc had suspended work for the day. All the schools, colleges, the secretariat, mercantile firms, police courts, high courts and civil courts remained closed. Hundreds of labour organizations including the Dock and Jute Mill workers joined the demonstrations. The entire student community were in the maidan to join this unique demonstration. The twenty thousand P&T workers of Calcutta joined in a single procession and reached the Maidan meeting at the foot of the Oothorlony Monument. Various political organizations and public of all shades of opinions had joined the demonstration. The army men under south East Asia Command mostly from U.S.A stationed in Calcutta were found attending demonstration.
Shri.Mrinal Kanti Bose presided. The leaders of different political parties and news papers representatives addressed the meeting. I was the only P&T worker who was called upon by the president to address the meeting. It was the most glorious moment in my life that I got an opportunity to address a mammoth gathering of one and a half million people drawn from the student community, middle class wage earners and the working class. At the very outset of my speech I had congratulated the class III employees for their giving up false vanity and joining the struggle launched by the Postmen and Lower Grade Staff. I remember to have said “Mahatma Gandhi observes silence once a week to gain in strength. The P&T workers who have been observing silence for years together, must have acquired immense strength which is exhibited today in this Maidan and also through this historic struggle”. I closed by saying that a postal runner possessed the energy which is comparable to atomic energy.
Dr. A.M.Mallick, M.L.A moved the following resolution:
“This public rally expressing the will of all section of the Indian people throughout Bengal on this historic day of 29th July, congratulates the workers and employees of the Postal, Telegraph, Telephone and RMS workers on the exemplary spirit of solidarity and courage with which they have conducted their great India –wide strike.
“This rally whole heartedly supports the just demands of the Post and Telegraph, Telephone and RMS Staff, who are only asking for such wages and service conditions as every worker in India is determined to secure himself, in order to enjoy a human standard of living.”
“This rally therefore considers that the Postal and Telegraph strikers are fighting the battle of all workers and employees, and expresses its determination to render all out assistance to their struggle against the Govt, which is the largest and most powerful employer in the country.
“This rally strongly condemns the callous and bureaucratic attitude of the Govt., its obstinate refusal to concede the strikers’ demands and its malicious attempts to disrupt the strike. The rally warns the Govt that public opinion will no longer tolerate this treatment of its hardworking and ill paid employees, and demands immediate concessions for an early settlement of the strike.
“This rally greets the countless strikers who have responded to the call of the Bengal Provincial Trade Union Congress and have given a mighty demonstration of public feeling against the alien govt whose rules has brought poverty and starvation of our millions. This rally is confident that this historic general strike will open a new chapter of unity and militancy for the working class movement of the country,” which was adopted unanimously amidst thunderous cheers by a million and a half people gathered in the rally on the occasion.
A large number of American army men who were present in the rally later called at the post office of the Provincial Union and paid some dollars as contribution to the strike fund.
The Bengal Legislative Council at its meeting on the 26-7-46 adopted the following resolution urging upon the Govt. of Bengal to represent to the Govt. of India the urgent necessity of an immediate settlement of the strike of the province.
“In view of the grave inconvenience and hardships caused to the public of this province by the strike of the Postal, Telegraph and Telephone employees in the Province thereby causing serious dislocation in the communications, this council urges upon the Govt. of Bengal to represent to the Govt. of India the necessity of an immediate settlement of the strike and the restoration of the normal services.”.
The sponsor of the resolution, Mr. Hamidul Haq Choudary (Muslim League) addressed the council fully supporting the workers cause. Shri. K.K.Dutta(Congress), Mr.G Morgan (European) supported the motion.
Prof: Humayun Kabir said that the people had been suffering and not the Govt. The employees of the P&T department were poorly paid and any civilized Government should sympathies with the just demands of the labours and employees, he said.
Shri.Gopinath Bardolai, Chief Minister of Assam had sent wire to Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and the Govt. of India urging them to take immediate steps for solution of the postal disputes.
It is therefore an historical truth that the P&T strike in Bengal and Assam which got the support from one and all assumed the shape of a national struggle which practically gave the last blow to the British imperialism in India which was already shaken by the Naval uprising in Bombay, and earlier by liberation of Andaman Island and Manipur and Kohima by the Indian National Army.
It is not that the 29th July was observed in Calcutta alone. Complete hartal was observed throughout Bengal and Assam in all the district headquarters and all the sub-divisional towns in all business centres to show sympathy with the strikers. Everywhere, there was mass rallies in which all the people of the locality belonging to all caste creeds and of all political parties took part. It was a unique occasion. The P&T strike in Bengal and Assam at least will go down in history as one of the events having bearing with the national uprising for liberation of the country by paralysing the communication system though the P&T workers themselves had launched their struggle at the first instance mainly on economic grounds.
It will not be too much to say that the general strike of July, 1946 in Bengal will come to be recorded by the future historians along with the Naval uprising of Bombay as the greatest event of the year. Really, the unprecedented demonstrations of the 29th July had shaken the Britishers in Calcutta from where they had been ruling this vast sub-continent for 150 years, and created high hopes and enthusiasm in the middle end working classes who had been struggling heard to be free from socio-economic bandage. (To be continued)
……….

CHAPTER- XII
SOLIDARITY STRIKE
The members of the All India Postal and RMS Union Calcutta Branch which had already served 14 days notice on the 14th July were vigorously preparing for the strike. The decision of the Calcutta Branch had its repercussion on the other P&T Unions in Calcutta. The All India Telegraph Union under the chairmanship of Sri. Mrinal Kanti Bose also took decision for serving strike notice mainly on the grievances of the Telephone workers of India and in support of the demand and also in sympathy towards the Postmen on strike.
On the twelfth July there was mass meeting of the P&T workers of Calcutta in the Calcutta University Institute in which three thousand workers participated and adopted resolution showing sympathy to Postmen and Lower Grade staff who were in the midst of struggle. Every P&T worker forgot the existence of separate union. All were found ready to come forward for the common cause. On the 16th evening there was another mass meeting of the P&T workers. More than five thousand workers attended the rally. It was held in Calcutta University Institute. I was the first to address the meeting and spoke for five minutes only. I issued a clarion call to all to join the struggle which was struggle for our very existence and stressed on the need of joining hands with the Postmen of India, who had already gone on direct action and explained to them that if the Postmen strike would fizzle out, it could bring disaster not only to the cause of entire P&T workers, but also to the cause of entire General Govt. Employees. The entire audience without a single dissenting voice responded to the call, and agreed to join the direct action. When I put the question to the house, “Comrades, are you ready for the struggle?” the entire house with thunderous cheers replied “Yes”. As the verdict was there the Provincial Council which met again the evening on the 17th, took unanimous decision in favour of launching a strike from zero hour of the 21st July and that a notice of 72 hours be served to the Circle heads. On the 17th evening I had addressed the council for 20 minutes and it gave unanimous verdict in favour of strike and elected as the” first dictator” for conducting the entire strike with power to appoint six of my successors to lead the struggle in my absence and in case I would be arrested.
The Council also elected a Provincial council of action to conduct the strike in Bengal and Assam. Coms. B.N.Ghosh (myself), R.K.Banerjee, Santi Mukherjee, Nato Narayan Bhattacharjee formed the personnel of the council which used to meet every day in close door at the provincial union office at 249-D, Bowbazaar Street, Calcutta-12.
The following notice of strike was accordingly served on the Post Master General Bengal, Bihar and Orissa and The Director Posts and Telegraphs Assam;
N O T I C E

From: The Honorary General Secretary
All India Postal and Railway Mail Service Union
Bengal and Assam Provincial Branch,
249-D, Bow Bazar Street, Calcutta.
To
The Post Master General
Bengal Circle , Calcutta.

The Director,
Posts and Telegraphs,
Assam Circle Shillong.

The Post Master General,
Bihar and Orissa Circle, Patna.
Sir,
In view of the fact that the Govt. of India had repeatedly rejected our demands either for giving adequate monetary relief according to rise in cost of living or for revision of scales of pay of all non gazetted employees of this department including the Extra Departmental staff in accordance with proposals contained in the Resolution No.2 passed at the All India Postal and RMS Conference held at Bombay in December 1944 and reiterated at Mymen Singh conference in December 1945 and that the Govt. have appointed a Pay Commission only with a view to delay in revising scales of pay and in view of the fact that the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union, on reasonable and just demands have already gone on strike to achieve their objects and also as a mark of protest against repressive measures taken against the strikers, I Bhubendra Nath Ghosh in my capacity as Honorary General Secretary of the Bengal and Assam Provincial Branch of All India Postal and RMS Union according to the direction of the Executive Council hereby given notice of the determination of the members of the above mentioned union with all its branches including the RMS Union, Calcutta constituted of ‘C’, ‘E’ and ‘N’ Divisions to go on strike on the expiry of 72 hrs. from service of this notice viz. at 12 hours of 18th July, 1946 i.e. from 0.0. hours of Sunday the 21st July, 1946 unless in the meantime the demands as set forth below are fully met.
This supersedes the notice of strike served by the Hony. Secretary of the Calcutta Branch of the Union on the Presidency Postmaster, Calcutta and Postmaster, Howrah on the 14-7-46.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant
Sd/- B.N.Ghosh
Honorary General Secretary

DEMANDS
1. Fulfillment of demands of the Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union
2. Revision of Scales of pay of all non gazetted employees of Post Office and RMS (including D.L.O) working in Bengal and Assam.
3. Introduction of scale of pay for extra Departmental Agents, Extra Departmental Delivery Agents, etc.
4. Grant of dearness allowance at the rate of Rs.5/- for every 10 points in cost of living.
5. Acceptance of 36 hours duty a week in the Executive branch of the Posts and Telegraphs department and 27 hours in case of RMS.
6. Immediate relief by a lump payment of six months pay subject to minimum of 300/- to all the non- gazetted P&T employees in Bengal and Assam to enable them to liquidate at least a part of their indebtedness which they had to incur due to special conditions prevailing during the days of war.
7. Revision of appeal rules
8. Provision of suitable house accommodation or grant of house rent allowance in lieu thereof.
9. Restoration of old leave rules to new entrants.
10. Revision of pension rules.

11. Cancellation of suspension orders on the Postmen of Calcutta and Sylhet and certain other places.
12. Confirmation of all temporary staff.
13. Reinforcement of Dimapur staff and I.N.A (P&T) personnel.
14. Increase of out station and extra duty allowance.
Copy forwarded to the Presidency Postmaster, Calcutta, Postmaster Howrah and Superintendent , ‘C’ & ‘D’ Division for information.
Sd/- B.N.Ghosh
Honorary General Secretary and first Dictator.
Shortly after the notice was served Shri.Niazatullah special envoy of Mr.Shoobert, Hon’ Member in charge for Communication had come down to Calcutta to discuss the strike notice. He called at Tarapada Memorial Hall to meet Shri. Jatin Banerjee and myself. He had three hours discussion with us but as he could not give any assurance regarding meeting the demands the negotiation broke.
The circumstances under which the session of the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union conference at Poona had to take the momentous decision for going on strike will be clear from the strike notice served by Shri. V.G.Dalvi on the 24th June, 1946 which runs as follows:-
The All India Postmen and Lower Grade (including RMS) staff Union, Bombay.
No. A.S.81/46 dated the 24th June, 1946.
To
The Director General,
Posts and Telegraphs, New Delhi.
Sir,
With reference to correspondence ending with your No. A-27-3/46 dated 15/17 the June 1946 I am directed in pursuance of a Resolution unanimously passed at a Special session of the All India Postmen and Lower Grade (including RMS) Staff conference held at Poona on the 23rd June, 46 to address you as follows:-
In the opinion of conference, your said letter dated 15/17th June 1946 is unsatisfactory, unconvincing and totally unacceptable. The conference has therefore resolved to resort to direct action and has directed me as the Honorary General Secretary to give you this 14 days clear notice, which I here by do, that unless the demands a list of which is annexed hereto , are conceded before the date of expiry of this notice, all the members of the Provincial , Divisional, District and Branch Unions, affiliated to this All india Union, will go strike from 11th July 1946.
I have etc.
Sd/- V.G.Dalvi
Hon. General Secretary
Annexure
List of Demands
1) The scales of pay all the officials in the P&T Department below the clerical cadre should be revised as shown below:-
i) Clerks promoted from Postmen Rs. 100-5-200
ii) Overseers, Readers, Sorting Postmen and Mailguards Rs. 90-5-130
iii) Postmen and Line men Rs. 40-2-80
iv) RMS and Hall Jamadars Rs. 45-2-55
v) Packers Porters and Van peons and telegraph
Messengers and Runners Rs. 30-1-45
vi) Boy peons Rs. 20-1-25
vii) Mail Drivers Rs.100-10-150
viii) Telegraph sun Inspectors Rs. 85-5-140
ix) Telegraph Line Inspectors Rs. 150-10-200
2. The existing leave rules for the Postmen and Lower Grade Staff should be abolished and substituted by those in existence prior to 1931.
3. All distinction in the matter of leave and pension rules between the superior and inferior servants of the P&T Department should be abolished and the term (inferior) servants should be abolished.
4. Officials of the P&T Department who have acted in higher grades satisfactorily for a year or more should be confirmed in those higher grade without any examination.
5. The percentage of posts in the clerical cadre reserved for candidates from the Postmen obtaining qualifying marks in the test should be raised from 20% to 50% as before the and posts be reserved for the departmental candidates in the same way as for the minority candidates.
6. There should be no retrenchment of any employee and who already been retrenched should be reinstated on the same terms.
7. The number of holidays in the Posts and Telegraphs Department should be the same as in the other Departments of the Central Government.
8. All work done on Sundays and Postal holidays should be compensated by the grant of overtime allowance.
9. A gratuity calculated at the rate of one month’s pay for one year of service, should be granted to the family of an employee who dies before earning pension.
10. All the distinction in the matter of pay, leave, dearness and other allowances, and privileges between A,B and C areas should be abolished and all areas should be treated A areas.
11. The practice recently introduced of compelling employees in permanent service of many years standing to undergo medical examination at the time of their confirmation in the higher grades in which they have been officiating be immediately stopped and all those who have suffered on account of this requirement should be confirmed without this examination.
12. Adequate leave reserve should be provided so as to ensure that departmental candidates who have served satisfactorily for one year or more should be confirmed and their temporary service should be counted towards pension.
The most of the demands, though legitimate, had been rejected by the Director General, Posts and Telegraphs and the Government times without number. Endless correspondence was carried on not only by the Postmen Union but also by other P&T unions with the authorities but to no effect. The Director General, Posts and Telegraphs vide his letter No. A-27-3/46 dated 17th June, 1946 for the last time rejected those demands and sent an evasive reply. It will appear from the list of demands annexed with the strike notice that most of them were of common interest. Therefore, the initiative taken by the Postmen Union in launching the struggle not only deserved appreciation but also active sympathy and co-operation, from all P&T Unions in existence.
The verdict given by the mass rally of P&T workers of the 16th July, 1946 held at the University Institute reacted quickly on the leadership of the All India Telegraphs Union. Shri P.C.Chatterjee served the following strike notice on the Director General Posts and Telegraphs.

N O T I C E
To
The Director General
Posts and Telegraphs, New Delhi.
Sir,
Having failed to secure adequate monetary assistance for the employees who are living on starvation level in spite of representations, deputations etc., during the last several years and also having regard to the fact that repressive measures are being taken by you and or your subordinate officers against the officials already on strike, I, Pares Chandra Chatterjee , in my capacity as the General Secretary of the All India Telegraphs Union and on behalf of all members including employees of the Calcutta Telephone District demand of you immediate acceptance of the following demands:-
First, acceptance of all demands of Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union and withdrawal of all repressive measures against the strikers within seventy two hours. Second, immediate departmentalisation of ex-employees of Bengal Telephone Corporation serving Calcutta Telephone District, to stop summary dismissals and other acts of high handedness . Rupees three hundred which -ever is greater to all non gazatted employees including those of Calcutta Telephone District to enable them to tide over their difficulties. Fourth, payment of gratuity of one month’s pay for each year of service in addition to pension to all retiring employees or to heirs in case of earlier death. Fifth, monetary compensation equivalent to annual increments for each of stagnation to officials provisionally designated Old Lower Division Clerk for branch of service conditions.
In case of your failure to accept these demands you are hereby informed that the members of my union shall go on strike on and from date and time to be announced by Sreejut Mrinal kanti Bose, President of this Union.
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-P.C.Chatterjee
General Secretary
The above notice did not mention any specific date and time for going on strike but it was left to be decided by the President of the Union, Sri.Mrinal Kanti Bose. On the 18th July, Shri. Bose sent the following telegram to the Director General, Posts and Telegraphs:-
“ I give you notice that the strike of the members of the All India Telegraph Union including the Calcutta Telephone District will commence on Sunday, 21st July, 1946, at midnight”.
As the All Postal and RMS Union, Bengal and Assam Provincial Union had taken decision for strike quite independent of its central Union, it encouraged other circle and branch unions in Bihar and Assam to take similar decision. Shri.D.R.Mukherjee, General Secretary of Bengal and Assam Branch of the All India Telegraph Workmen’s Union also served a similar strike notice to the circle heads. Shri. M.N.Talapada, Vice President of the All India Postal and RMS Union directed me to withdraw strike notice. I replied regretting my inability to withdraw. Shri. Gyan Chand Khanna, General Secretary, All India Telegraph Workmen’s Union directed from Delhi Shri.Mukherjee to with draw the notice, Shri. Mukherjee expressed his regret.
Shri. M.A Jabbar, General Secretary of the Indian Posts and Telegraph Union had already issued a directive urging numbers of his union in Calcutta not to be stamped or intimidated into joining the strike which he considered to be most ill-advised.
All though in pursuance of above directive the Calcutta Branch of the Indian Postal and Telegraphs Union had not served any strike notice earlier, it held a mass meeting of its members at the Islamia College Hall on the 20th July under the Presidentship of Dr.Ghulam Imam. Mr.S. M Osman Mayor of Calcutta, who addressed the rally emphasized that whatever decision they took, should be adhered to with firmness and strength.
The meeting commenced in a tense atmosphere.
The Zero hour of the announced postal strike was fast approaching. The unity of the Posts and Telegraphs employees, irrespective of the union they belonged to, was in evidence. The rally which was mainly of Muslim employees unanimously adopted the strike resolution and served the Government with 24 hour notice.
On the 20th July I got a telegram from Shri. Lahiri Choudhry, M.L.A who was President of All India Postal and RMS Union, to the following effect:
The telegram contained a veiled threat to me. However, the telegram had no effect on me. I sent the following telegram to Shri. Lahiri Choudry:
“Regret inability withdraw notice. Every ready face all consequences”.
At two pm on the 20th I got a trunk call from Shri. Lahiri Choudhry who again and again insisted that I should withdraw the notice’. He requested me also to talk to Dewan Chaman Lal, President of the Federation who was at that time by his side.
I declined to talk to him with following words:
“I refused to talk to Argentine Food Commissioner designate”.
Shri Lahiri Choudhry talked to me for full 43 minutes and on enquiry I came to know that the conversation was going on from the office room of the Director General, Posts and Telegraphs and on his phone free of cost.
The preparations for a Posts and Telegraph strike were complete by the evening of July 21st when a mammoth gathering of fifty thousand people including the P&T workers and members of the public assembled at the Willington square under the Presidentship of Shri. Mrinal Kanti Bose.
Twenty thousand leaflets under my signature containing the directives asking the Postal and RMS workers to join the struggle and to be prepared for “Korbani”. And to follow the directive of my successors to be appointed by me in case I would be arrested and sent behind the bars, were dispatched to every nook and corner of Bengal and Assam.
The majority of the Postmen and Lower Grade Staff of India were already on strike with effect from the 11th July and to give impetus to the struggle, nearly forty thousand Postal, Telegraph, Telephone, Railway Mail Service workers of all categories of Bengal and Assam struck work from the 21st midnight which completely cut off Bengal and Assam from the rest of India.
Later on, to fill the cup to the brink, the Calcutta Branch of the P&T Administrative Offices Association comprising of the staff of the Postmaster General’s office served 24 hour notice to the Postmaster General, Bengal and joined the strike with effect from the 23rd July and the strike assumed gigantic proportions on the 27th July when 800 men of Telegraph Store Yard, Workshops and Chief Accounts Office, deserted the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Union and joined the strike. Close upon the heels of these incidents several hundred members of the Indian Telegraph Association Ltd., whose head quarters was in Calcutta and had prepared to remain aloof from the struggle deserted the organization and joined the strike. The complete deadlock continued up to the 6th August, 1946.
The Council of Action which was formed with Shri. Mrinal Kanti Bose as Chairman assumed the charge of conducting the entire strike in Calcutta. The charge of conducting the strike at stations outside Calcutta however remained with the respective unions.
The workers of RMS ‘C” and ’ N’ Division which was under the control of the Postmaster General, Bihar and Orissa, but within the fold of the All India Postal and RMS Union, Bengal and Assam Provincial Union had already joined the strike on and from the 21st July midnight. The mail vans from Bombay, Madras Punjab and Delhi, Darjeeling and Shillong were running empty.
The strike later on spread amongst the P&T workers of Patna, Allahabad, Banaras Lucknow , Agra, Simla and also amongst the Telegraph workers of Bombay.
Shri. Guruswamy, General Secretary of the All India Railwaymen’s Federation in a press statement to the U.P.I DECLARED the P&T strike as the first National strike.
Shri. Krishna Prasad, I.C.S, Director General, Posts and Telegraphs, at a Press Conference on the 1st July, 1946 had already declared the strike, for which notice had been given by Shri. Dalvi, would be illegal. Since some of the demands embodied in the strike notice had already been referred to the Adjudication and in an open letter addressed to the Postmen, he further declared that the Postmen and Lower Grade Staff therefore cannot go on strike without making themselves liable for penal action. He further held a threat that if strike would take place, their action would definitely render them to the consequences of their action. In the same breath he did not forgot to make a passionate appeal to all not to create inconvenience to the public by going on strike.

Com. V G Dalvi General Secretary of the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union, on the 3rd July in a Press statement referring to Shri.Krishna Prasad’s statement that the strike would be illegal, said “The Union has been advised and holds the view that the strike will be perfectly legal. If by reference to adjudication of only one or a few of the several demands of the employees, the latter are prevented from going on strike with regard to the remaining demands, the law would operate very hardly upon the employees. It would mean that by forcing an adjudication in respect of one demand at a time, Government be a just imposition of law”.
Dewan Chaman Lal, President of the Federation of Posts and Telegraphs Union in an interview to the association press at Simla on 3-7-46 held the views that “until the adjudication verdict and Posts and Telegraphs department’s reaction to it are known, no member of a powerful Federation can possibly join in any strike of which notice may have been given by the unions not affiliated to the Federation.”
Evidently, Dewan Chaman Lal Sahib by his statement meant the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union which was a body not affiliated to the Federation. He wanted all General Secretaries and local secretaries of the Federation’s Branches of India to understand clearly the position and to wait for the call from the Federation.
None of us however, took Dewan Sahib seriously that he would give a call. The call actually never came.
The Govt. and Federation miscalculated that the strike would be restricted amongst the Postmen of Bombay only but the serving of strike notice by the All India Telegraph Union, All India Postal and RMS Union Bengal and Assam Branch, Indian P&T Union, Calcutta Branch, Postmaster General’s office Association Calcutta etc., disillusioned the authorities. Although the strike notice was served by Shri. Dalvi from his headquarters at Bombay, Calcutta became the storm centre from the 21st midnight.
It is noteworthy that the central leadership of the Indian Telegraph Association, the All India Postal and RMS Union, the All India Telegraph Workmen’s Union, The Indian Posts and Telegraph Union and the Federation had played the most inglorious part in this historic struggle by openly identifying themselves with the Department. Inspite of joint efforts of the Department and the Federation leadership to combat the move, the strike spread. In Bengal and Assam the members of the Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union were on strike from the 11th July to 6th August and of the other unions from the 21st July to 6th August. The special feature of the struggle was that from the beginning to the end, the strike was conducted in a peaceful way and the workers remained firm till their unions had asked them to resume duty. The Director General’s ultimatum dated the 11th July which runs as follows, was without any effect:
“I have today sent out instructions to all Heads of Posts and Telegraphs Circles that if those who have absented from duty rejoin within 72 hours, the orders of suspension against them will be cancelled and their absence condoned. Others who did not join will have to reap the consequences of their action.”
Inspite of this ultimatum, none of the men on strike returned to work on the expiry of 72hours.The workers rather preferred to be guided by the directive coming from the mightier force within, which was the hungry stomach, and continued to be on strike. The Joint Council of Action appointed Shri. Birendra Nath Ghosh , M.A.B.L., Hony secretary, All India Postal and RMS Union , Calcutta Branch as the convener of the council of action. In spite of unanimous request, I preferred to remain outside the joint council of action. Utmost courtesy was, however, shown to me by the Joint Council of Action to the extent that in all the meeting I was specially invited to take part and was allowed to participate like a full-fledged member of the council. I was, however daily taking proper council from the Provincial Council of Action of which was the proper body to guide me.
The Joint Council of Action was formed with the following persons representing various Unions: Coms. Birendra Nath Ghosh, Jitindra Nath Banerjee, representing All India Postal and RMs Union Calcutta Branch Coms. Rai Krishna Banerjee, Natanarayan Bhattacharyya, representing All India Postal and RMs Union Bengal and Assam Provincial Branch, Coms. P.C.Chatterjee, Shivani Basu , J.C.Shyam representing All India Telegraph Union , Shri.Sowjogi Ojha and Shri. Narasing Upadya, representing the Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union, Shri. Tokhan Singh resenting Telegraph Workmen’s Union, Bengal and Assam Circle Branch, Shri.K.D.Roy Choudhry and Shri. Basanto K.Chakravarthy, representing RMS Union Calcutta, Shri. Dwijen Ganguli, Postmaster General’s Office Association and Shri. Raza Hussain, Indian Post and Telegraph Union.
The Joint Council of Action from the very beginning ably conducted the strike. The strike which was considered as a National Movement, got the support from the public of all shades of opinion and of all ideologies. All the leftist political parties such as the Socialist Party, the Communist Party, the Revolutionary Communist Party, the Forward Block, the Revolutionary Socialist Party etc. stood by the strikers and rendered them active support and help. The Indian National Congress which was still then a leftist organization, however, did not come forward with a helping hand. The Congress leadership was negotiating with the British Cabinet through the Government of India for partition of the country and for formation of Interim Government at the centre. So they naturally did not want any disturbances in the country. Both the Britishers and the Congress as it appears were eager to have smooth sailing. (To be continued)

CHAPTER – 11
BENGAL STIRRED

In the meantime, the All India Postal and RMS Union, Calcutta Branch, called a meeting at the Tarapada Memorial Hall to discuss and take a decision as to what steps should be taken to show sympathy to the Postmen and Lower Grade Staff of Calcutta who were on strike. The meeting was attended by all. As I was the primary member of this branch, I attended the meeting and moved a resolution to the effect that unless the demands of the Postmen Union were met within 72 hours, the members of that branch would go on strike. The resolution was passed by a narrow margin. As there were sharp differences I sought permission of the Chair to revoke the resolution authorizing the Hon’y Secretary of the Branch to serve the Govt. with 14 days’ notice in case the demands of the workers were not met. The resolution was passed almost unanimously. Nearly one dozen police officers in plain dress were present there and some of them were taking notes. Shri. Birendra Nath Ghosh , M.A.B.L Hon’y Secretary of the Branch, as per resolution , served a 14 days strike notice. This news created a stir amongst the Postal and RMS workers Calcutta. Lt.Col. Byrne, the Presidency Post Master began recruiting one hundred men per day. On the 3rd day, I felt that I should immediately call for an emergent meeting of the Provincial council. The notice and the entire agenda of the Council meeting were sent to all 40 branches of Bengal and Assam by telegram which cost the union Rs.88/10/-.
The Post Master General of Bengal and Assam became a bit shaky at this news and moreover the notice served by the Calcutta Branch was also there. He invited shri. Jitindera Nath Banerjee and my -self and wanted an assurance that in case clerks are asked to do a bit of Packer’s work such as opening of bags and closing and sealing them, they should not refuse. Both of us refused such co-operation. I recalled the days of 1919 when the Postmen of Calcutta were on strike, and the clerks were engaged in doing delivery work on payment of Rs.5/- as extra daily allowance with the result that they became distrustful of the clerks and formed a separate Union which got easy recognition from the Govt. I replied that as the Postmen and Lower Grade Staff were on strike, we would no longer commit the mistake of the past and that none of us will work as strike breakers. The Post Master General Mr. Thoulas became reserved and we left his room quietly.
The 22nd June 1946 Conference of the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union took the decision for serving the strike notice and accordingly Sri.V.G.Dalvi, General Secretary of the Union served the notice on the 24th on fulfillment of twelve point demands. It is a strange co-incidence the Provincial Council of All India Postal and RMS Union, Bengal and Assam Provincial Branch was also in session on the very date i.e., on the 22nd June, 1946. My proposal for discussing the situation which would arise in case the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union would take a decision for serving strike notice was turned down by the Provincial Council by a majority of votes. The Council rather took a decision for diverting all its energy towards pay commission which would shortly begin functioning and formed a committee for preparation of memorandum to the commission and not to have anything with the would be postmen strike. The decision was not to my liking. I resigned General Secretaryship and left the meeting in disgust. The council passed a resolution requesting me to withdraw my resignation and in case I would not do so within three days Shri.K.D Roy Choudhry M.A.B.L, Hon’y secretary, RMS Union would succeed me. On the 23rd June at 9 A.M., I got extremely perplexed when Coms. Basant Mukherjee, Durga Mazumdar and Santhi Mukherjee, three active workers of the union came to my residence and declared that they were on hunger-strike and would continue to be so unless I would resume duty as General Secretary in the Provincial Union and they lay down in front of the main door of my residence so that I might not be in a position to cross them and go to office. After an hour tussle with them I had to give an under taking to them that I would go to the union in the evening and resume duty. So the matter ended there. My resumption of duty in the union encouraged the Executive of the reorganization party of the Calcutta Postal and RMS Union and they increased their activities so much that under their guidance the entire younger sections who had enrolled themselves in large number as members of the party began preparing for the struggle.
As one of the member of the reorganization party though advanced in age, I found pleasure to be in their company and to be guided by the 8 men Supreme Executive Committee of the party. It is difficult to say today if I was working under the influence of the party Executive or the executive was also to some extent under my influence. The party had no political leaning. The sole intention of the party was to revitalize the organization which was not running on Trade Union Principles due to various reasons. Any how we were in a happy company.
The strike decision of the All India Postal and RMS Union Calcutta Branch and serving of 14 days strike notice by the Honorary Secretary, Shri. Birendra nath Ghosh was the outcome of the joint effort of the reorganization party executive and my associates in the groups of moffussils. Col.Byrne’s activities and the news of suspension of Postmen at Gauhati, Dhubri, Sylhet and Silchar are factors which had compelled me to call the provincial council meeting. The Council met at the Tarapada Memorial Hall on the 16th and 17th July to consider the situation created by the Postmen strike and also the situation created by suspension of a large number of postmen of different centres of Assam, all of whom were our members. It is not worthy that the Provincial Council which on the 22nd June, 1946 had shown utmost reluctant to discuss even the postmen union’s move for direct action in an hour’s time took decision in favour of launching strike. Representatives of all the 40 district and divisional unions in Bengal and Assam including Assam RMS Union, Calcutta constituted of RMS E. Division, C. Division (Bihar) and N. Division (Orissa) attended the sitting. The decision taken, however, was not considered as final. Twenty four hours time was given by the chairman of the meeting to all councillors to think over the decision. (To be continued)

CHAPTER – IX
ADJUDICATOR’S AWARD

After I had made an exit from the Federation’s meeting, I got perplexed and could not fix up my mind as to my future programme of action. At the day’s end I tendered my resignation to the General Secretary, All India Postal and RMS Union which body had elected me as its representative to the P&T Federation. As I want to disassociate myself from the activities of Federation which was practically in the pocket of Dewan Chaman Lal whose bonafide of intention was considered doubtful by many , I had tendered my resignation . There were occasions to doubt whether Dewan Sahib and his associates were working for the benefit of the workers or their employers, but inspite he could manage everything in his own way and none could cope with him. The effects which I could detect in him in 1946, came to the notice of others after 8 years. The council of the All India Postal and RMS Union which met at night, refused to accept my resignation. There was only one vote recorded in favour of acceptance of resignation and that was my own vote. So I had no other way but to continue to serve in the Executive of the Federation.

Shortly after this, Shri.Raj Bahdur on his return to Mathura, his headquarters, issued a circular to all the Branch Unions in Uttar Pradesh, calling upon them to boycott the Adjudication, and copies thereof were circulated to other circle unions in India. This was encouraging. On behalf of Bengal and Assam Postal and RMS Union I also followed suit and issued such circular. All the Branch Unions endorsed my views but in spite Shri. Jathin Banerjee, the then Vice President of the All India Postal and RMS Union, Calcutta Branch, wanted to have his own way, proceeded to Delhi and appeared before the Adjudicator on the 26th of March, 1946 the day on which the Adjudicator commenced sitting. The Central Union called meeting of the executive for selection of three representatives to plead the case on behalf of the union before the adjudicator, and elected Sarbasree B.S.Kamble, Hari Narain and Raj Bahadur for the purpose and excluded Sri. Jathin Banerjee. It is interesting to note that Shri. Raj Bahadur who had advocated boycott of Adjudication, attended the Central Union meeting and got himself elected as one of the three representatives who would plead the case on behalf of the union. His playing of double game created discontentment amongst his members in Uttar Pradesh and some of them as well as Branch Unions in Bengal and Assam pressed that in view of the fact that the centre had taken a decision to take full advantage of the adjudication and in view of the fact that men like Shri.Raj Bahadur also changed his way, myself should also be present in the Adjudicator’s room during the days the Adjudication continue to examine the memorandum of the union and takes oral evidence of the post-31 employees who submitted their family budget pleading increase in their emoluments. Shri.Talpade, M.A.B.L , the then General Secretary of Bombay Provincial Union who was an eminent lawyer was elected to advocate the cause of the union.

The Adjudicator who held one day’s sitting at Delhi on the 26th March, 1946 again commenced sitting at Simla from the 24th April,1946, continued for more than a month and examined a large number of post -31 employees who had separately submitted memorandum together with family budget in support of their claim for interim relief and took their oral evidence. The budget submitted by Shri. K Ramamurti was perhaps the lowest.

Amongst those who took prominent part in preparing family budget and educating the employees to give oral evidence and pleading the cause of the workers, were Sarbasree V.G.Dalvi, Dewan Chaman Lal, Dr.G.Noronah, P.C Chatterjee, B.S.Kamble, Raj Bahadur, K.S Pitkar, M.A.Jabbar, K.Ramamurti, S.Banerjee, Jatin Banerjee, Basant Singh and others. I too had my share in the matter.

It was previously stated that the Govt. had appointed the adjudication to examine and report as to what extent interim relief could be given to the new entrants pending the proposed Pay Commission has functioned and submitted its recommendation regarding revision of pay scales of pay for them. The Adjudicator’s Award was not to the satisfaction of the employees. They could have pleaded and placed the case in a better way before the Adjudicator and satisfactory results achieved had not a section of the leaders and their ardent followers played a double game and had not the different unions placed contradictory demands in their respective memoranda. For obvious reasons their names are not mentioned there. But I shall be failing in my duty if I do not say with all emphasis at my command that some of the to-most leadership betrayed the cause of the employees. Undoubtedly, they came in the field for the purpose. That such a thing would happen was already foreseen by me in the article under caption “More light please” by “ploughman” which appeared in the March, 1946, issue of the Labour.
Adjudicator’s Award which was given with a ceiling of Rs.15/- only created dissatisfaction amongst the employees specially those who were low paid officials.
It was strange enough to find on the 3rd day of the sitting of the Adjudication, Dewan Chaman Lal suddenly got agitated and asked all to boycott the Adjudication and managed to walk out of the Adjudicator’s room along with the entire persons present. I had to follow them but in the meeting which met shortly after I held a different view and opposed the very idea of boycotting the adjudication and all present upheld my views. Next day as usual, all attended the Adjudicator’s Court. I could not believe that Chaman Lal would be actually for boycotting the adjudication. Many of us could not find out the real reason for his suddenly adopting such tactics. Perhaps, he wanted to create a crisis and then come to the rescue of the Govt. Next day, he was granted an interview by the Viceroy. We however could not as to why the interview took place. It will not be out of place to mention here with two days after this, Dewan Chaman Lal expressed a desire that I should accompany him for a little walk. I agreed. He took me to the big bungalow “Retreat” and produced me before Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and suddenly introduced me by saying that he is Mr. Ghosh from Bengal who wants a strike. I could understand his game. Moulana Azad told me that it was not good to go on strike. I replied “We want bread from the Govt. If it does not come, we would have no other way but to adopt the course”. It is worth mentioning here however that on the 5th day the entire Postmen staff of Simla had struck work for an hour. The Postmen Union of entire Punjab was under the control of Com Suraj Prakash Anand and Com. Mukhtiar. (To be continued)