Category Archives: History

Declare Andaman Cellular Jail as National Monument – CPI(M) MP

12 Wednesday Apr 2017

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“New Delhi, Apr 11 A CPI(M) member today expressed concern in the Rajya Sabha that the Andaman Cellular Jail, which represented death-defying heroism of the freedom fighters, has not yet been declared a national monument.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Ritabrata Banerjee said the Cellular Jail in Port Blair has “unfortunately even today” not been declared a national monument and the government seems to have “no records” as far as the jail is concerned.
He said the popular sound and light show there continues to ignore most of the heroes and seems to have ignored historical records and sought a comprehensive portrayal of the realities.
“The Jail and light and sound show is dedicated to one single cell of a particular inmate. Historians belonging to all schools of history and British archive records that no inmates were kept in a single cell for more than a week. They were rotated,” Banerjee said.” (Courtesy: Ganashakti)

I completely agree with the demand raised in the Parliament. Hundreds of freedom fighters belonging all states in the country were put in the Cellular Jail in Port Blair and many of them died there mostly due to the harsh conditions and physical torture. Some of the tools of torture as also the gallows are still there.The names of those martyrs who died while in prison are also kept there. Many of the wings of the building have been demolished to construct a hospital or so. The demand to keep the Jail as a national monument should be accepted by the government.

Five Requisites for an Ideal Trade Union – Babu Tarapada

05 Wednesday Apr 2017

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Babu Tarapada Mukherjee, one of the great leaders of the P&T Trade Union movement, in his famous Lahore Speech (1921) pointed out five important requisites for a successful trade union.

  1. There should be strong feeling of class consciousness. The bond of all unions is this feeling of class consciousness. We all belong to the Postal Services and are, therefore, brothers. We may come from different provinces, we may speak different tongues, we may be separated by wide areas extending over thousands of miles, but all this difference must appear before our common brotherhood. We may have our private disputes, tempting offers may be in work to seduce particular officials to create divided interest, but we must rise superior to all these. Private quarrel never so better and temptation never so powerful, should not alienate us from our allegiance to brother officials and make us traitors to our cause. This feeling is class consciousness, without which no organisation worth the name is possible.
  2. The second requisite is that no official stand  aloof from our union. Union is strength, and we can not afford to have division in our camp. In the interest of service as much as for individual interest, every one should join the union with heart and soul, so that our demands may have behind them, the united strength of the entire body of officials.
  3. The third requisite is to create  a substantial reserve fund. Brother delegates, full purse constitutes the sinews of war, and no special emphasis is at all necessary on this point. You all know without a strong financial backing, satisfactory work can not be done.
  4. The fourth requisite is to give publicity to our grievances through the press. ….The organ of the union should be very largely subscribed, so that every employee may have the opportunity to acquaint himself with the activities of the association and become familiar with the progress of ideas.
  5. The fifth requisite is to influence the members of the Legislative Assembly and the Council of State with a view to bring pressure on the government.  The value of help in this direction, will however, depend to a great extent on the strength of our organisation. The members are in a position to help, no doubt, but their help will not be very effective, unless our organisation becomes powerful. (From the 09-10-1921 Lahore Speech of Babu Tarapada Mukherjee)

Com.N.P.Padmanabhan remembered

06 Monday Mar 2017

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5th March 2017 is the 23rd death anniversary of Comrade N.P.Padmanabhan, former Secretary NFPTE and also former Convener of the mighty P and T Co-Ordination Committee NFPTE, Kerala. Pappettan, as he was fondly called was a powerful and committed leader, who took the entire P and T workers of Kerala in to sustained struggles for achieving their demands and against victimisation.

Not only Postal and Telecom employees, but also many organisations and workers sought the help of Pappettan in their struggles. He was a guide and philosopher for each and every employee.

On his death anniversary, let us pledge to continue our struggle for the betterment of the toiling masses!

A glimpse of old P and T journals

17 Tuesday Jan 2017

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While going through the P&T Labour and other union journals for  for writing a short history of P&T Unions, certain interesting information are being noticed. One of them is about taking decisions by the Unions and Federation.

The entire discussion that has taken place is recorded and published in the journal. Opinion of each and every body who have spoken is recorded in brief with their names. The conclusion of the Secretary General /General Secretary and if necessary the final decision by voting is also recorded. The contribution of each and every delegate / committee member can be understood.

Such reporting enables the reader, the ordinary worker to understand the details of the discussion and how the decision is taken. It is an essential part of the democratic functioning of any organisation.

One of the aspect for the growth of NFPTE in to a mighty organisation is the internal democracy and the right of the worker to express his opinion.

Com.P.S.R.Anjaneyulu, Commander of the 1960 Strike

27 Tuesday Dec 2016

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It is four decades since Com. P.S.R.Anjaneyulu, former Secretary General of NFPTE, passed away. His death anniversary falls on 16th December. A homage to his memory is given below:

Com.P.S.R.Anjaneyulu, Commander of the 1960 Strike

(03.09.1922 – 16.12.1977)

V.A.N.Namboodiri

Com.P.S.R.Anjeneyulu, former Secretary General of NFPTE, is one of the most respected leaders of the P&T Trade Union movement. It was he  who led the P&T workers in the historic Strike of the Central Government Employees in July 1960.

Patibandla Seetha Ram Anjaneyulu was born on 03.09.1922 in a well to do orthodox Brahmin family at Vijayawada. Father P.Subba Rao died early leaving his wife and children orphans. After completing graduation from Madras University, he got appointment as a Telegraphist in CTO Madras and joined there on 16.11.1945. Later Anjaneyulu got transfer to Vijayawada, his own place. In between, he worked at Kurnool also. His mother died while he had gone to attend a meeting of the Federal Executive Meeting of NFPTE.

PSR, as his colleagues and friends affectionately called him, was an expert and efficient worker and was much appreciated by his superiors and colleagues. He was very much interested in union activities and became the General Secretary of the then All India Telegraph Union (AITU) in 1953 and shifted to Calcutta, union head quarters. At his initiative, the head quarter was shifted to New Delhi (W.E.A. Karol Bagh) and he started functioning from there. He worked closely in co-ordination with the Union of P&T Workers (UPTW), which was formed by merging most of the unions in P&T. During this period he visited London, Switzerland, France, Italy and Germany and participated in the Third Session of Advisory Committee on “Salaried Employees and professional Workers” of ILO and addressed the same as the General Secretary of AITU.

This was the time when serious discussion was going on for realignment of all the unions in P&T to form a single Federation. In addition to the union leaders, Minister Communications Jagjivan Ram also took keen interest to bring in the Realignment Scheme. Accordingly National Federation of P&T Employees (NFPTE) was formed on 24th November 1954 in the Convention held at Vinay Nagar, New Delhi. Initially PSR was reluctant to merge due to the pressure of Dewan Chaman Lal President of AITU, but he convinced him and AITU was also merged with NFPTE.

Com.PSR was expected to be the first General Secretary of the T.III Union affiliated to the New Federation. In addition to his name, two other names also came,  that of S.N.Misra and K.Krishna Murthy. There was no doubt that in the election, PSR would have won. But he did not want an election and withdrew his candidature. S.N.Misra was elected by majority votes as the General Secretary. In the 1957 All India Conference of T.III., PSR was elected as the General Secretary and continued as such till 1960, when he was elected as the Secretary General of NFPTE, after B.N.Ghosh (Dada Ghosh) vacated the post. During the period, PSR gave oral evidence before the Telegraph Enquiry Committee in a very effective way.

It was in the Gauhati Federal Council held on 19-25 April 1960 that PSR was elected as the Secretary General. There was a feeling among the leaders and workers whether this quiet and calm young man of 38 years will be able to take this high responsibility of leading the mighty organization, especially when it was preparing for an Indefinite Strike.

As Secretary General of NFPTE, he co-ordinated with all the General Secretaries in a very cordial way, as one among equals. There were leaders committed to different political ideologies, but PSR ensured that every decision is taken democratically and had the support of all. Immediately after taking over as the SG NFPTE, his responsibility was to lead the historic Indefinite Strike against the retrograde recommendations of the II Central Pay Commission.

In the negotiations with the government before the start of the strike, he took a firm position. Immediately after his return from the talks, within hours, he was arrested, handcuffed and taken to Tihar Jail. He was presented handcuffed before the Magistrate, who ordered the police to remove it immediately. The photo published in the P&T Labour, organ of NFPTE, with PSR handcuffed being taken to the Court, shows a calm and non-agitated person with almost his usual smile on his face. The photo became famous with the caption “Lion in Chains”.  Thousands of strikers and non-strikers were arrested, jailed, dismissed, terminated and so on. The strike was withdrawn after five days by the leaders in jail, including PSR.

P.S.R.Anjaneyulu as SG NFPTE, made out all efforts to end the victimization. But it was not an easy task. It took many years to end the victimization at least to a certain extent. After the strike, recognition of NFPTE was withdrawn. PSR was posted back to Vijayawada CTO.

In the Ambala Federal Council held on 21-26 February 1965, PSR on his own stepped down from the top post. D.Gnaniah was elected as Secretary General. PSR was elected as Vice-President and continued till 1970. PSR was the President of T.III Union from 1960 to 1974 and President of T.IV Union from 1968 to 1972.

After he was promoted to TTS-II, a class II Officer, he was posted at Vijayawada CTO. Though he accepted the post, he continued his close connection with T.III Union and NFPTE. He gave guidance and advice to the union leaders and workers.

As an administrator, he was one of the best. He was punctual, disciplined and committed and he wanted other officials also to be in the same way. His subordinates saw him as a model officer.

PSR Anjaneyulu was a man of simple living and high thinking. His dress was always of white cotton shirt. He never smoked or drank. He continued as a strict vegetarian. He was amenable with all whom he contacted. Though mild-spoken he was firm in his principles and an excellent negotiator. All those who were in contact with him were enamored by his sincerity and firm convictions. Shri L.C.Jain, then Chairman P&T Board, said about PSR that he is an “Ocean of Calmness.”

PSR expressed his opinions clearly and argued for its acceptance. Even if the decision was against his opinion, he worked to implement the decision with 100% sincerity. He was a democrat to the core. He participated in the discussion with both II and III Central Pay Commissions.

Since he was an excellent Officer, the administration entrusted with more and more responsibility. On a few occasions, he was at the same time, functioning as STT, as Superintendent of Hyderabad CTO and some other function also. The hard work made him weak and sick, but he did not take much care about his health. He neglected his health and continued to over work.

PSR Anjaneyulu was admitted in the Hyderabad Nursing Home 0n 15th December 1977. His condition became worse and despite best treatment, he passed away at 07.42 AM on 16th.

The news of his sudden illness and death shocked the entire P&T fraternity. The news spread like wild fire. Through telegrams and telephone calls, the sad news reached all over India. Condolence messages reached his bereaved family, wife Kamala Anjaneyulu and daughter Lalita, in hundreds.

All India leaders and many active comrades from many parts of the country reached Vijayawada hearing the news. GMT Hyderabad and other top officers also reached there. All of them paid homage to the departed leader. The body was covered with the Red Flag of NFPTE.

A big funeral procession was taken through the streets of Vijayawada participated by hundreds of P&T workers and other comrades and reached the banks of river Krishna, where the body was put on the funeral pyre after rituals. Com. PSR Anjaneyulu has left us forever.

The following words of Com.N.J.Iyer, then General Secretary of R.III Union gives a befitting picture of Com. PSR:

“Wearing a smiling face, giving patient hearing to all  views, firmly holding his own and fearlessly giving expression to it and implementing the policies and programmes decided upon, Com. P.S.R.Anjaneyulu, unified the movement of P&T and through it , the Central Government employees movement. Looking back, he has a right to be satisfied for doing his best to bring credit to this great organization”.

…………

 

From the Past (33) – NFPTE, A Role Model for Trade Unions!

11 Tuesday Oct 2016

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I have been going through the old journals and records of NFPTE in preparation for writing some articles on the P and T Trade Union history. National Federation of P and T Employees was formed on 24th November 1954, by merging all the unions of the Class III and Class IV employees in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. The structure was this way: 9 All India Unions, one union each for the class III and Class IV employees in Postal, RMS, Telegraph Engineering ( Telephones) and Telegraph Traffic and one for the P and T employees working in the administrative office of the Post Master General. (PMG both for Posts and Telegraphs). All the 9 All India Unions were compulsorily affiliated to NFPTE. Since this was under a Realignment Scheme agreed by both Unions and Department, recognition was granted to all the unions and Federation with the condition that no new unions will be formed, affiliated or recognised. Certain aspects of the then functioning are given below:

  1. All the Unions and Federation were accommodated in the same (rented ) building named P and T House, 9, Pusa Road, New Delhi.
  2. Regular meetings of the Federal Executive were held.
  3. Monthly journal/s were published by the Federation and All India Unions.
  4. Federal Council and All India Conferences were regularly held annually and Office-bearers elected. Interestingly, there seemed to be contest in elections in almost all Federal Councils.
  5. The Statement of Receipts and Payments as also the quota received from the hundreds of Branch Unions were regularly published in the monthly journals.
  6. The deliberations of the  Working Committee Meetings / Federal Executives as also All India Conferences / Federal Council, were reported in detail, with the issues discussed, the opinion expressed by each office-bearer/ member/delegates, the decisions arrived etc.  enabling the reader to clearly understand the different view points and the speakers who expressed, what opinions etc.
  7. There were regular reports about the Parliament debates with regard to the P and T matters, some times verbatim, ( there was separate budget for P and T, just like the Railways). Reports on the trade union movements in various countries, regular report of the PTTI (Posts, Telegraph, Telephone International), articles on trade unions and socialism by well known trade union leaders, tour report of the leaders, Readers views, minutes of the meetings with the government and Department etc. were published in full with the names of the participants. The correspondence with the government and the replies was a regular feature.
  8. These monthly journals were printed in very small types having about 40 pages or more.  I was surprised how there was time for the office-bearers to go through the proof ( only hand composing at that time, which have to be gone through more than once) and correct it. Despite this, I could hardly find any mistake.
  9. There was sustained fight against victimisation of leaders and workers. Even all India leaders were not spared.
  10. The President of almost all the unions and Federation were mostly trade union leaders who are Members of Parliament. This enabled effective discussion in the parliament on the issues of P ant and its workers.

In fact, such systematic functioning of NFPTE and affiliated Unions strengthened them. It is not surprising that  other service unions at that time viewed NFPTE as a role model.

From the Past (32) – “Remain Indoor” Agitation by Bombay Postmen

09 Sunday Oct 2016

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The coastal areas of Arabian Sea from Kerala to Bombay and north onwards used to get heavy rains. It is the same now also. In the recent years, it has become usual to have heavy floods in Bombay and the entire town under waters for one or more days.

I am going back to 1967, when the Bombay Postmen were compelled to go on “Remain Indoor” agitation to get umbrellas supplied for going out on duty during rainy season.

As per departmental rules, Postmen are supplied umbrellas. But before the rainy season in 1967, the department failed to supply the same. It was said that because of a typing mistake in the order, instead of 4750 umbrellas required only 475 were procured. The monsoon rains started in June and no umbrella for Postmen. There was a monsoon fury on 21st June 1967 and the Postmen remained indoors at Kalbadevi, Byculla etc. The Postmen Union demanded for the immediate supply of umbrellas, but the administration remained casual. The Union called for “Remain Indoor” agitation till umbrellas are supplied.

A massive demonstration was organised by the Postal workers on 27th June 1967 which went to the PMG and gave notice that the “Remain Indoor” agitation will start from next day. Nothing happened. On 28th, not a single Postman in Bombay went out for duty, but  remained inside the Post Offices. The administration arose from its slumber. By evening all the Postmen were provided with umbrellas and the agitation came to an end with a big victory. The local agitation was fully successful.

Such local agitations were organised in many places for getting rules implemented and benefits extended. It was part of the policy of NFPTE to compel the administration to get favourable orders implemented at local levels. The struggles brought out many active young comrades to the fore.

From the Past (30) – Tools Down Strike in CTX Delhi against molestation of lady T.O.

09 Sunday Oct 2016

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The incident happened at 19.45 hours on Sunday, 5th March 1967, almost 50 years back. The place : In front of Central Telephone Exchange, New Delhi.  A young lady telephone operator on her way to duty was molested and  bitten on cheek by a miscreant. She ran down to the telephone exchange weeping and completely shattered.

The shocked, angered and agitated lady telephone staff (  Delhi Exchange was a feminised one) spontaneously  went on tool-down-strike. As at the wave of a hand, the trunk boards were unplugged, the headgear sets removed and the entire trunk and international telephone services were at a complete stand still. The hundreds of lady telephone operators reacted with all their anger at the insult, molestation and humiliation of their co-worker.

This was not the first such incident. The way from the Connaught Place to the exchange was usually dim-lighted. There was a taxi stand in front of the telephone exchange and teasing of the lady telephone operators coming and going before and after their shift duty hours was not uncommon. Protests by the workers were unheeded by the administration and police. The above incident was the breaking point.

General Secretary of the union Com. O.P.Gupta and other leaders rushed to the spot. The workers demanded that unless the taxi stand is removed from there, more security and transport facilities are provided to the lady staff from the Connaught place to the exchange, the tools-down strike will continue. Negotiation took place with the top officers of the department and the police.

Th strike went on for hours. At last the tools-down strike was called off after the demands were conceded. It was assured that transport  will be arranged temporarily which will be made permanent and that the taxi-stand will be shifted from the place. Once the demands were accepted, the workers returned to their duty.

Hard working conditions, shift duties, heavy work-load, lack of minimum facilities – the workers used to be at the limit of their patience and many such spontaneous struggles took place to defend their right to work and to save their honour.

The P&T Workers have a glorious past of unity and struggles.

 

Name Chandigarh Airport as Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport – CPI(M)

25 Sunday Sep 2016

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Chandigarh, September 23: The Punjab State Committee of Communist Party of India ( Marxist ) strongly feels that the Chandigarh International Airport should be named as Shaheed – E – Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh International Airport . Comrade Charan Singh Virdi, Secretary Punjab State Committee of CPI(M) in a written Press Note issued here today has suggested that it will be appropriate to make the declaration to this effect on 28th September, 2016 the day on which the nation will be celebrating his 109th Birth Day.

Comrade Virdi further said that Sardar Bhagat Singh is the most deserving freedom struggle martyr to be given this name as he happens to be the loved, respected and revered icon of the youth and student community of the country. At the present juncture when we are facing threats to our unity and integrity and communal harmony from fundamentalist , extremist and terrorist elements bent on disturbing peace in the country, it will motivate especially the youth along with all other citizens for inculcating patriotic and secular feelings.(Courtesy: Ganashakti)

Visit the Past (22) – How the NFPTE unions functioned?

21 Sunday Aug 2016

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The functioning of National Federation was systematic and a model for any trade union to emulate. Certain factors impressed me very much. Some of them I will share with our comrades:

  1. NFPTE since its inception was holding its Federal Council (All India Conference) every year. The Federal Council is constituted by the Secretary General and office-bearers of the Federation, the General Secretaries of the affiliated nine unions, and the Federal Councillors elected from the All India Unions on the basis of its membership. There will be serious discussion and decisions are mostly taken unanimously, but some times by voting also.
  2. The All India Conferences of the affiliated unions also were held annually.
  3. The reporting of the Federal Council and All India Conferences were in detail and educative. The discussions were item wise. The entire proceedings are published in detail, with the name of the person participating, the points raised by him/her, and the decision taken in the matter after conclusion of the debate. On each and every issue there used to be discussion. This was not new to NFPTE. In the UPTW, earlier organisation, it was the same way. Photoes of important leaders participating in the debate are also published. Going through the report, it is almost felt, that you are participating in the Conference.
  4. In most of the FCs /AICs, many nominations for office-bearers are proposed and sometimes contest takes place. Who all contested, who proposed and seconded them, how many votes they received etc. are all noted in detail. The Presidents of the Federation and Unions were mostly Members of Parliament or well known TU leaders. Coms. S.M.Banerjee, Homi Daji, V.G.Dalvi and many other public figures held these posts. This gradually changed due to directions from the government.
  5. Almost all unions at the initial stage were functioning in the same office viz. 9, Pusa Road, New Delhi. Therefore it was convenient to hold the Federal Executive whenever necessary.
  6. Th journals of the Federation and affiliated unions were published regularly. The discussion in Parliament about CG Employees and P and T, Budget discussions, questions related to P and T, all were fully published with the name of the M.P.s participating in the discussion. It was really interesting that not only the Communist M.P.s, but many others even including MPs of ruling parties were supporting the demands. M.P.s like Coms. A.K.Gopalan, S.M.Banerjee and many others spoke in the Parliament with full and intimate knowledge of the issues and cornered the government.  The minutes of the meetings with the Minister, DG P and T etc. were fully published with the name of the participants.
  7. The receipts and payments of every month, with the quota received from all the branches were published every month.
  8. Good articles on the current affairs will be there. Reports from the international TUs also included. It was surprising that NFPTE had got close connection with so many foreign unions.
  9. In some of the journals ‘Readers Forum’ was included where the workers can raise questions and opinions.
  10. Regularly cartoons were published on the issues of the employees or otherwise. The letters to the Department and replies were published. The Department used to reply  almost all the letters.
  11. In short, once you read the journal, you can have a general understanding of the functioning of the union.
  12. It was a model of TU functioning and that is why the P and T trade union movement further strengthened.