Category Archives: History

The legendary Calcutta March of 29th July 1946 in support of the P and T Strike

28 Tuesday Jul 2020

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29th July 2020 is the 74th anniversary of the Great Rally in Calcutta by the working class in support of the P & T Strike which continued from 11th July to 6th August 1946.

The three week historic strike of the P and T employees which started from 11th July 1946 spearheaded by Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union headed by Shri V.G.Dalvi, is considered as part of the Independence struggle as is the Royal Indian Navy Revolt of the same year. In many states like Bengal, all the P and T workers participated in the strike. Dada Ghosh and K.G.Bose led the strike in Bengal and Assam.  The working class in Madras, Bombay and Calcutta organised massive marches and strike on 23rd, 28th and  29th July respectively.

The only  national trade union in the country, AITUC, gave a strike call on 29th in Bengal and Assam in support of the P and T Strike, which was participated by more than 15 lakh workers. The two states were entirely paralysed. All transport vehicles, including buses, motor cars,taxis, rikshas, trams suspended their operations. Secretariat, colleges, police, courts and mercantile  firms stood closed. Entire students community was in the maidan to participate in the rally. Twenty  thousand Postal and Telegraph workers participated. The rally held on that date was the biggest ever rally Calcutta has seen till that time.Com. Jyoti Basu, former Chief Minister of W.Bengal, in his book has mentioned about the rally which forced the city to be completely stand still.

The P and T strike was called off after all the major 12 demands were agreed to by the British Government. The strike continued  for three more days in Bengal and Assam and was withdrawn after an additional demand ‘ Good Conduct Pay’ was also conceded.

 

P and T TU Movement in India during II World War and thereafter (1939 – 1954) ( by B.N.Ghosh ) CHAPTER : XVI FORMATION OF UPTW (contd..)

16 Thursday Jul 2020

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CHAPTER : XVI FORMATION OF UPTW (contd..)

The Jubilee session of the All India Trade Union Congress which was held in Calcutta from the 13th to 19th Feb, 1947 under the president-ship of Shri. Mrinal kanti Bose, granted affiliation to the All India Postal and RMS Union and the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union. The congress session was attended by 27 delegates from both these unions. The following were elected as members of the All India trade Union Council:
1. Com. V.g.Dalvi
2. “ S.P.Anand
3. “ K.S.Dharia
4. “ Mrinal Kanti Bose
5. “ Om Prakash Gupta
6. “ B.N.Ghosh
7. “ Raj Bahadur
8. “ M.Alim
9. “ K.S.Pitkar
The communication formed an independent group in the Trade Union Congress. Shri. Mrinal kanti Bose and Shri. V.G.Dalvi were elected as member of the working Committee.
The session was a largely attended. I had the privilege of addressing the open session on the 13th. I remember to have spoken on strike period pay and on the grievances of the E.D.Staff. Shortly after the session was over the General Council met at the Moti Seal Free School under the Chairman-ship of Shri.M.N.Joshi, the newly elected President. In the Council, I drew special attention of Sri.Joshi to need for publishing the cost of living index of all big cities to which he agreed.
After the session of the Trade Union Congress was over, it struck me that if other recognised P&T Unions would also join the Trade Union Congress, it would pave the way for establishing one union of the P&T workers. My attempt to that direction did not bring any result. By joining the All India Trade Union Congress the prestige and position of the All India Postal and RMS Union had greatly increased. Some of the Unions had made forecast that the Government would object to the P&T Unions joining the Trade Union Congress but in fact no such opposition came from the Government side. By joining the Trade Union Congress both the unions established the rights and claims that the P&T Unions are not service associations but trade unions.
If an analysis is made as to what is a trade union, it will come out that in the trade union congress’ constitution it was nicely explained in the following words:-
“What is trade union?:-
A trade union is an organ of class struggle; its basic task, therefore, is to organize the workers for advancing and defending their rights and interests, and although collective bargaining is the necessary implication of a trade union and although in the transactional period to socialism, negotiations, representations and other methods of collective bargaining must remain as an integral part of trade union activities, labour and capital cannot be reconciled within the capitalistic system”.
The All India Postal and RMS Union, Bengal and Assam Provincial union got itself affiliated to the Bengal Provincial Trade Union Congress. I was given an opportunity to serve as a member of the working committee of the B.P.T.U.C and Sarbasree K.D.Roy Choudhry, J.N.Banerjee and myself were members of the General Council of the Provincial Trade Union Congress.
Coming in contact with the Trade Union Congress leaders, we took decision to run our union on trade union lines. During the days of the unions were within the Trade Union Congress, their activities greatly increased.
On the other side, a section of the leaders of the All India Postal and RMS Union headed by Com. Om Prakash Gupta the General Secretary of the Union, began in right earnest for preparing the grounds for establishing one union of P&T workers. Com .Gupta with his youthful energy wrote series of articles in the Indian Post advocating in favour one Union.
In March, 1947 issue of Indian Post, the Journal of the All India Postal and RMS Union, under the joint signatures of Coms.V.G.Dalvi, Mrinal Kanti Bose and Om Prakash Gupta was published a detailed scheme for amalgamation of all the P&T Unions. This scheme gave food for thought to all.
Since adoption of merger resolution at the Akola Conference of the All India Postal & R.M.S Union, The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Union came forward to ridicule the idea in the editorial of the POSTAL ADVOCATE, the journal of the Union in January, 1947 issue wrote justifying existence of so many unions.
It dittoed the policy of certain anti-trade unionists of great Britain of 1920 model who opposed the “closed shop policy “(one union) by saying that several organizations tend rather to strengthen than to weaken the cause of workers. It further contended in writing “Let there be healthy rivalry and competition in different unions catering for the same class of employees. The weaker and the inefficient of them will stand out and serve the cause of their members better.” It further went to the length of suggesting that as the existing Federation was there a parallel Federation to be established.
The “Telegraph Review” the journal of the All India Telegraph Union in its editorial of January, 1947 issue rejected the idea of one union and strongly advocated formation of one union only for the Telegraph, Telephone and Engineering Employees.
The Central Committee of the All India Telegraph Union also supported the idea of one union of Telegraph, Telephone and Engineering employees.
In spite of above facts the mass of the P&T workers who had been growing more conscious on the need of one union in one industry began putting pressure on the leadership. Even in the Postal and R.M.S Union and the Postmen & Lower Grade Staff Union a strong section was against having one union. Future events will show that the general Workers were in a position to influence the leadership of the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Union and the Indian Telegraph association to take a different view in the matter.
On the 30th of April, 1947, the Central Pay and Commission submitted its report to the Government. It’s Recommendations were most disappointing. None of the unions was satisfied with the findings of the Commission. The dissatisfaction amongst the mass of the P&T workers was this time at its height. All the Unions leadership began thinking as to how through concerted action the wrong done by the Pay Commission to the P&T workers could be righted. Every cloud has its live linking. The unsatisfactory Recommendation of the Pay Commission later on brought changes in the way thinking in the leadership of the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Union and the Indian Telegraph Association.
The Executive Council of the All India Postal & R.M.S Union which met at Delhi from the 12th to the 15th of June not only declared the recommendation to be unsatisfactory but took a decision to advance the cause for establishment of one union and adopted the following resolution:-
“This Council appeals to the Provincial, Divisional and District Branches and individual members to carry on an extensive propaganda amongst all members and members of the sister unions to arouse consciousness in favour of a single union and to achieve the same. They are directed to submit ordinarily a monthly report to the All India office on the efforts made”.
A convention of the District Secretaries was also held on the 15th June at the Union Academy, Raja Bazar, New Delhi. It was a largely attended gathering. I had the proud privilege of presiding over the convention which also took unanimous decision in favour of effecting merger of all the existing P&T Unions and expressed utmost dissatisfaction at the unsatisfactory recommendations of the Pay Commission.
Dr.G.Noronha General Secretary of the Indian Telegraph Association, who attended the Convention expressed definite opinion that in view of the injustice done to the P&T workers by the Pay Commission, establishment of the union was essential. Such a union if established the opinion would have enough potentiality, and would be in a position to achieve the objectives through struggle. He declared that his Association would like to join the proposed one union. On the 17th of June, Dr.Noronh, Shri.J.N.Banerjee, Shri.Om Prakash Gupta, myself and a few others met at Devico Restaurant in the Regal Buildings and had preliminary discussion as to how to advance the cause of the union movement. Dr. Noronha agreed to call a meeting of the different unions representatives in Calcutta on the 2nd July 1947.
On the 3rd June, Shri.P.C.Chatterjee General Secretary, All India Telegraph Union wrote to Com.Om Prakash Gupta that the A.I.T.U would join merger provided equality of voting between Postal and Telegraph side finds a place in the constitution .
On the 21st June, the Working Committee of the Indian Posts and Telegraph Union, Madras Provincial Branch, adopted the following resolution:
“This Working Committee directs Mr.Jabber and Shri.Sreepada Rao to inform the General Secretary of the I.P.T.U at Delhi that irrespective of the fact whether the Federation participates or not in the merger talks proposed to be held in Calcutta on the 2nd July 1947, this Working Committee is strongly of opinion that the I.P.T.U, must participates in such talks and make every effort to achieve the ideal of merger of all unions or devise any other machinery for creating unity and taking joint and concerted action”.
The General Secretary of the I.P.T.U agreed to the proposal. The news of participation of I.P.T.U in the merger talks in Calcutta created enthusiasm amongst the member of the Postal and R.M.S Union everywhere.
In these days rapid changes were taking place. By the time everybody had known that the British would leave India and that the country would achieve independence on the 15th August, 1947. The partition of the country in the East and West was known to be fait accompli. The Hindu P&T workers in West Punjab Sind and N.W.F.P and East Bengal were preparing for opting for India whereas the Muslims of India were preparing for would be Pakistan. Thus it was a transitory period. The Interim Government was manned by national leaders. Every soul was eagerly awaiting for the day which would bring freedom from bondage of 200 years. The thoughts and ideas were cropping up in every mind. A large section of the P&T Workers too did not lag behind. I am bribed with the spirit of unity they came forward to translate it into action. Com.Om Prakash Gupta who was already authorized to prepare the ground for amalgamation of the unions visited Madras and Bombay. In both the places he got encouraging support. Com.Gupta met Shri. V.G.Dalvi and Shri. K.S.Dharua on 24-4-47 at Bombay and discussed the entire matter relating to merger of unions. Shri.Dalvi agreed to work for the scheme to which he had already put his signature. Some hold the view that the following were the reasons which hastened effecting of merger of unions:
1. Unsatisfactory recommendations of a central Pay Commission.
2. Partition of the country.
3. Impending independence of the country.
4. Growing consciousness and urge for unity amongst the rank and file of workers.
On the 2nd July 1947 the representatives of four unions met at Olympia House, Calcutta, under the president-ship of Shri.Dalvi, duly authorized by their representative unions. The following gentlemen took part in the meeting:
Com. Om Prakash Gupta }
“ B.N.Ghosh }
“ K.S.Pitkar } All India Postal and R.M.S.Union
“ K.D.Roy Choudhry }
“ Raj Bahadur )
Com. B.S.Kamble }
“ Mrinal Kanti Bose } All India Postal and RMS union
“ M.A.Jabar }…………………………………………………..
“ K.V.Sreepada Rao } Indian Postal and Telegraph Union
“ P.Madhava menon }…………………………………………………………..
Dr. G.Noronha }
Com. B.G.Das } Indian Telegraph association
“ J.Subramaniam }
“ L.J.Gomes }…………………………………………………….
“ V G Dalvi Postmen Union.
The last session of the Merger Committee met at the Tarapada Hall on the 5th July. The Committee finalized the draft constitution for the Union of the Post and Telegraph Workers and the members of the merger Committee put their signatures and decided to hold the All India Conference of the respective Unions as well as the Merger Conference on and from the 12th August, 1947 at Delhi. It is worth mentioning that Shri.P.C.Chatterjee , General Secretary of the All India Telegraph Union who promised to join the meeting provided parity clause was embodied in the constitution, did not turn up to join the meetings of the Merger Committee assurances given to him by all that such a clause would be incorporated.
The decision of the Merger Committee was released under the joint signatures of Messrs. V.G.Dalvi, C.Noronha, M.A.jabbar and Om Prakash Gupta. The decision was as follows:
1. “The main decision taken by the representatives of the Merging Unions was the decision to accept the Constitution enclosed in toto, and to request their members to accept this Constitution as it stood, without amendments, since the introduction of amendments by the members of any one Union would involve further consultation with the other Unions and would be likely to throw the entire Constitution back into the meeting pot. The merging Committee, therefore, considered it essential that the members of each Union should accept the Constitution as a whole, and defer any amendments which they wish to introduce to a later date after the new Union had been fully established.

2. The second major decision was that each of the four Unions which had participated in the conference should make a contribution of Rs. 2500/- each to start the new Union with a small capital fund, and that each Union should be left completely free to dispose of its other assets, if any, and its members desire, subject to start another Union.
3. Thirdly, the Merging Committee agreed that the new Union should, as far as possible, take over the staff of the pre-existing Unions.
4. Fourthly, and finally, the Merging Committee agreed that their respective institutions should hold, as far as possible their extra-ordinary meeting or Conferences for the purpose of effecting amalgamation, in Delhi on the 12th August.
The Conference of the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Union, Indian Telegraph Association, All India Postal and R.M.S Union and All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union met at Delhi on the 12th August in all enthusiasm. All the first three unions in their respective Conference passed resolutions in favour of merger. The Postmen Union Conference, however, rejected the proposal.
On the 13th of August ,1947, two days before the country achieved Independence, the Merger Conference of the Three Unions met under the president-ship of Shri.B.S.Kamble. Amidst acclamation it adopted unanimously a resolution establishing the Union of Posts and Telegraph Workers. Thus the dream of one union became a partial reality. The Postmen Union and the All India Telegraph Union kept out of the unity move. The three great unions which up to 12th of August were functioning as separate organizations, with the establishment of the Union of Posts and Telegraphs Workers in a moment’s time forgot their past separate entities. The entire members of those unions numbering about fifty thousand souls felt as if they were members of the same family.
The Merger Conference elected the following gentlemen as office bearers of the Union of Post and Telegraph Workers
Com.N.M.Joshi – President
Dr.G.Noronha – Vice-President
Com.M.A.Jabbar }- Joint General Secretaries.
Com.Om Prakash Gupta }
The Conference also set up two bodies, one known as the Co-ordinating Committee and the other as the Negotiating Committee and framed and passed a Charter of Demands divided in to two parts such as the Short-term and the Long-Term Demands. The Co-ordinating Committee very ably effected merger of the three unions at the Circle, Divisional and Branch levels. The Negotiating Committee began negotiations on the demands embodied in the Charter. (to be continued)

P and T TU Movement in India during II World War and thereafter (1939 – 1954) ( by B.N.Ghosh ) CHAPTER : XIV FIRE SPREADS

09 Thursday Jul 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, B.N.Ghosh Book, P&T TU History

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CHAPTER – 14 FIRE SPREADS

The Joint Council of Action in Calcutta felt necessity that with a view to making the strike a short lived one, it should spread throughout the country so that the government be forced to come to them. Accordingly, Sri.Keshab Ganguly and Sri. Sisirlal Sen Gupta , that two energetic members of the executive committee of the reorganization party were sent to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. They left to Calcutta on the 30th dressed as up-country-men with fictitious names of Kesho Singh and Debi Singh .They addressed meetings in Hindi at Patna , Banaras ,Allahabad and Agra and tried to impress upon the P&T workers on the need of joining the struggle. As the All India Telegraph Union had already served the Government with strike notice and Telegraph workers of Bengal and Assam were already on strike, it was easy for Sri. Ganguly and Sri. Sen Gupta to persuade the Telegraphists to join the strike. The Telegraphists of Agra and Lucknow were already on strike, credit for which goes to comrades B P Banerjee and S N Misra, and as a result of this new effort, the strike is spread amongst the telegraph office staff of Bihar and most parts of UP. It is worth mentioning that wherever the Telegraphists under the A.I.T.U has gone on strike, those under I.T.A left their association and joined the strike.

The Postal Class III Employees of Patna and Lucknow had gone on sympathetic strike . The RMS P Division workers of Patna under the able leadership of Comrade. G.P. Gopal however became full pledged strikers and where on strike for full 8 days under protection of the Bihar Provincial Trade Union Congress with which the RMS P Division Union, a branch of the All India Postal and RMS Union , got itself affiliated . The strike later on spread amongst the RMS workers of A Division at Allahabad. Besides, Com. V.G.Dalvi, Com Dharia and Susil Kavelkar took active part in conduction the strike at Bombay. Com. P.M/Krishnan was at the helm of Strike Committee in Madras while Delhi strike was conducted by Com. Y.D. Sarma and by Com.Mehaboob Hussain, Vice President of Delhi Provincial branch of the Post Men Union. Comrades S P Anand and Mohd Hayat , Vice President and Secretary of Punjab and N.W.F Province , conducted the total strike in that Circle. The specialty of strike in Calcutta and Bombay was that not a single postman and lower grade staff had attended the office from the 11th July onwards.

The strike at Delhi was also virtually complete. In New Delhi, out of 156 postmen only 2 were at work on the first day and in Delhi, out of 184 postmen only 10 attended duty on the first day and on subsequent days there was further dwindling down. The over-whelming majority of post man and lower grade staff of Bombay, Madras, Bengal and Assam UP, Punjab and NW FP Bihar and C.P joined this unit struggle which was a struggle for existence.

The Government false prestige stood in their way to agree to come to settlement with the Post Men Union , but from the 21st midnight, from whence the entire P & T workers of all arms of service of Bengal and Assam struck work, the situation completely changed. Sri. Krishnaprasada, ICS Director General of Post and Telegraphs left Delhi and reached Pune on the 22nd and met Sri B G Kher, the Chief Minister of Bombay State and discussed with him the question relating to bringing about an amicable settlement between the Government and the strikers. (To be continued)

Sustained Struggles to save BSNL -6 Protest Demonstration on 01-03-2006 on ADC and Revenue Sharing

29 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by in BSNL, BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, History

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Protest Demonstration on 01-03-2006 on ADC and Revenue Sharing

Despite assurance by the government, the ADC to be paid by the private operators was reduced as per the decision of the TRAI, which was always partial to the private operators. The ADC being paid by the private telecoms is to be paid to the PSUs to compensate for their loss in providing universal connectivity. As per the decision of the TRAI, the net result was that the due payment to be made by the private telcos to the tune of Rs. 5,300 crores was reduced to Rs. 2,000 crore. Amount from the revenue sharing was also reduced causing loss to the government.
As per the decision of the Joint Forum, Protest Demonstrations were organized in all SSAs which were addressed by the leaders of various unions who are part of Joint Forum.
Meeting with the Secretary DOT on 7th June 2006
Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener JF, along with other members met Shri J.S Sharma, Secretary DOT and had detailed discussions on the major issues confronting BSNL. The following were the issues discussed:
1. Navaratna status to BSNL: The Secretary DOT assured that the Navaratna status will be conferred to BSNL next year after fulfillment of the obligatory provisions.
2. Unbundling of local loop: The apprehension of the workers on the formation of a sub-committee headed by the Secretary DOT on the issue was discussed and the JF strongly opposed the same. Secretary assured that the commitment given earlier continued and no unbundling will take place.
3. Merger of BSNL and MTNL: Secretary DOT assured that the talk of merger is only speculation of the media and there is no decision for the same.
The Joint Forum addressed a letter to Shri Dayanidhi Maran, Communications Minister, on 26th June 2006, strongly opposing the proposal for unbundling the last minute copper and sought for a meeting.
The JF in its meeting on 5th and 10th July 2006 decided to organize agitational programmes on the following issues:
1. No disinvestment of BSNL / MTNL.
2. No unbundling of local loop.
3. No sharing BSNL / MTNL infrastructure with private operators.
4. No increase in FDI
5. No reduction in Revenue Sharing and ADC
6. Immediate grant of Navaratna status to BSNL
7. Grant of autonomy to BSNL and MTNL
8. Expand mobile and broadband services
9. Early and amicable settlement of ITS absorption.
The following are the programmes:
1. Joint lunch hour demonstrations to be organized on 27 July 2006 at Circle/SSA levels and also send telegrams to the Prime Minister demanding “NO DISINVESTMENT, NO UNBUNDLING OF LOCAL LOOP OF BSNL MTNL”.
2. March to Parliament on 3rd August 2006.
3. Strike in September 2006, the date of which will be decided later. (to be continued)

25th death anniversary of Com.N.P.Padmanabhan on 5th March 2019

01 Friday Mar 2019

Posted by in History, Obituary, Tributes, P&T TU History

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the 25th death anniversary of Com.N.P.Padmanabhan (Pappettan) falls on 5th March 2019. He was the militant leader of the P and T workers. He functioned as the Secretary of NFPTE, Convener of the P and T Co-coordinating Committee as also the convener of the Confederation. He was dismissed for leading the 19th September 1968  strike and was taken back only after the Janata Government came in to power in 1977.

I have written a book in Malayalam on the life and activities of Pattettan  “N.P.Padmanabhan – the Militant Leader of the P and T Workers” , which was released in the last of Circle Conference of NFPE at Tirur. The day is being observed by the P and T workers all over Kerala.

Red Salute to Com.N.P.Padmanabhan!

50th Anniversary of 19th September 1968 Strike

31 Friday Aug 2018

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Central government employees’ organisations all over the country are observing the 50th anniversary of the historic One Day Token Strike of Central Government employees on 19th September 1968. The main demands were Need Based Minimum Wage and payment of DA on the basis of cost of living. The Indira Gandhi government put all efforts to suppress the strike by promulgating Essential Service Maintenance Ordinance (ESMO) and other anti-workers orders.

17 workers became Martyrs, shot dead and also beaten to death. Tens of thousands were arrested, jailed, terminated, suspended and severely punished. Recognition of the unions were cancelled. Fake unions were recognised. But all these repressive measures could not extinguish the fire in the  minds of the workers. By about three years, all were taken back and the victimization was almost over.

NFPTE was in the forefront of the struggle and the P and T workers were the maximum victimised. But in no time, it has risen back and a new chapter of struggle started.

All these will be discussed and evaluated during the observation of the 50th anniversary. In this connection, I am publishing a book on the strike, which will be released at Thrissur on the same day. Major developments in connection with the strike, victimization, the aftermath etc. will be explained in the book.

Let us move forward with inspiration f the 19th September strike!

 

Telecom Trade Union Movement – A Saga of Struggles, Sacrifices and Achievements (4) – To Delhi

26 Thursday Jul 2018

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To Delhi

OPG supporters had already started conspiracies how to torpedo the election of the All India Conference and create problems in the organisation. As part of it, they raised the strange demand that the polled ballots and other records should be handed over to the outgoing office-bearers, since Com. Moni Bose is yet to take charge as the General Secretary. Coms. N.T.Sajwani and R.K.Kohli led the group and pressurised the election officers for the same. Well knowing that this was intended to manipulate the votes and results later, the Asst. Presiding Officer Com. J.Renganathan firmly refused to consider the unjustified request.
Workers have not forgotten, how Com. OPG, General Secretary, manipulated the records after the Gauhati All India Conference in 1969, by declaring after reaching Delhi, that election of Com. K.G.Bose as Federal Councillor, is nullified. The plan now was to repeat the same and nullify the Bhopal elections.
(Com.J.Renganathan, Asst. Presiding Officer, who took the correct and firm decision, was the Vice-President of the All India Union, who has resigned the post protesting against the revisionist line of the General Secretary, along with Moni Bose and V.A.N.Namboodiri, who were respectively, Vice-President and Asst. General Secretary of the union, just before the All India Conference. He entered the services in 1959 in Ramnad Telephone Exchange as Telephone Mechanic and became a leader of the union within a short time. His close connection with leaders like Com. A.Pirmanathan, Pasupati, Gurumurthy and others helped him to develop as a militant leader. He was suspended and transferred to Coimbatore for leading the 1968 historic one day token strike of the Central government employees. He reached back to Madras in 1970. In 1989, he became the Circle Secretary of Madras Telephone District Circle after defeating the then circle secretary and a close associate of OPG, Com. B.Srinivasa Rao. JR, as he was popularly called, was already elected as the Asst. General Secretary in the Madras All India Conference. He voluntarily retired from service in 1993 with commitment to social service. He worked as Editor of the labour magazine “ Uzhaikkum Vargam” for a number of years .
During my last visit to Chennai, I went to his house and met him and wife and had discussion about the various aspects of the present situation of BSNL. He was a comrade who stood firm during his entire service in telecom for the correct policies and is one of my close associate for decades).
I, as the newly elected President, intervened and took hold of the entire documents, ballots etc. which was handed over to me by the Com. JR, Asst. Presiding Officer and kept it in a safe place. Com. Ramachandran, Secretary of ITEF, M.P., Com. S.C.Shrivastava, Circle Secretary T.III Union, M.P.Circle and others gave full support and assistance in the matter.
Com. Moni Bose and I stayed at Bhopal for two days arranging everything for moving to Delhi. Comrades who came along with me including my wife returned to Calicut. I had no other way but to go to Delhi and stay some time there, according to the promise I had given to Com. Moni Bose. The situation was serious since any move from OPG group had to be countered.
What will be the situation in Delhi? We were very apprehensive. Whether we will be allowed to function in Dada Ghosh Bhawan, CHQ of the union? Where we will stay? How to effectively strengthen the organisation? What will be the reaction of the DOT? A lot of questions were in our mind.
Any way, we prepared for our Delhi journey along with the ballot papers and election materials etc. No prior information was given to anybody, as we expected some protest demonstration etc. since the OPG group was very angry, which we have seen at Bhopal after the elections.
But after considering everything we firmly decided that we will face everything calmly and courageously and started for Delhi by train. All options were discussed. Our final option was that after getting down, we will directly go to Dada Ghosh Bhawan, the citadel of E.III Union. We will function from there. (To be continued)

Nostalgic Memories of Telegraph/ Telegram Services

16 Monday Jul 2018

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Morse Key Board for sending telegrams.

Five years have passed since the government of India closed the Telegraph / Telegram services in India. Despite strong protests from the union and the public, the telegraph / telegram services were closed on 15th July 2013 by the Government of India. BSNL Employees Union organised protest actions, but the decision was already taken by the government stating that the service is in loss. It is true that telegram services lost its attraction and use to a certain extent after the mobile services and various message applications started, but it was a record for courts, banks and such organisations. Our plea that at least it should be kept in the four metro cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta and Chennai in which Central Telegraph Offices a minimum of at least about 500 messages were received and dispatched was also not conceded. However, our demand for a Telegraph Museum was accepted and is now situated in former CTO Building, Kolkatta.

The history of telegraphs started long back. The electrical telegraph was invented in 1775. The first commercial telegraphs were introduced by the Western Railways in Britain in the 1830s. It was introduced in India in 1854 along with the railways.The telephones were not invented and the fastest communication system was the telegraphs. Only the Britishers were employed as telegraphist both in Railways and in Telegraph Offices in the initial stages due to its utmost importance and secrecy. The Britishers used the telegraphs and Railways effectively to crush the First Independence War of 1857, which they called as ‘Sepoy Mutiny’. The Telegraphs grew fantastically during the second part of the 20th century and there were telegraph offices in all important cities and towns. In small places, the services were manned by the Postal officials called ‘Singnallers’, who kept the connection between the cities and the villages through telegraph wires.
Telegrams were sent by government as also by public to inform urgent and important news. The CTOs in the metro cities used to have about 100 or 200 telegraphists at the same time and round the clock. The telegrams were taken as official records in the court etc. It was authentic and clear. Since the charge for sending telegram was on the basis of the number of words, the message was constructed briefly with minimum number of words. The message may be of great happiness or that of sorrow like death or disease. The unions used to organise ‘telegram campaigns’ as a method of protest sending the same in large numbers to the concerned authorities.

After the growth of telephones and mobile services, the importance of telegraphs started to wane. By the second decade of 21st century it was almost limited to certain official messages. According to the government and the BSNL, there was much loss and it can not be continued as a viable service.

When the government decided to close the telegraph offices and telegraph/telegram services from 15th July, BSNL Unions put up strong protest and organised protest meetings. As President of the Union, I went to Mumbai and Kolkata offices and held press conferences for getting the support of the people at large for continuing the services.

Telegraph is a heritage service and accommodated in heritage buildings in the big cities. CTO buildings in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata etc. are heritage buildings, which have to be maintained as such. Lakhs and lakhs of documents connected with the history of the Mughal, British rule etc. are there in the old documents of the telegraph offices. Just like Western Court building in Delhi is occupied by a hotel, there are proposals to turn these heritage buildings also in to such posh hotels. You can see that many of the historic palaces have already been converted in to hotels.

A PLI case was filed in the court, but did not get any relief. It can only be said that the BSNL management had taken an unwise anti-people decision as also without taking in to confidence of the unions, which were trying to improve the services and make the company financially viable.

Despite all efforts to ensure that the telegraph services are kept as a token of the past, as in the case of trams in Kolkata, neither the government nor the BSNL agreed. It was finally decided to close it on 15th July 2013 forever.

Nobody expected what happened on the day. It was a pleasant surprise. Thousands of people gathered in front of telegraph offices to send their last telegrams to their near and dear ones. Even after midnight of 15/16 July, the queue did not stop and many people had to return disappointed that they could not send the last telegram. Their spontaneous response on the last day showed their love and appreciation of the telegraph services.

Five years are over after closure of telegraph services. The people have almost forgotten the ‘telegram’. The new generation may wonder what is ‘telegraphs’ and ‘telegram’. But those who knew telegram and sent or received it will always remember the same – A nostalgic memory!

Telecom Trade Union Movement – A Saga of Struggles, Sacrifices and Achievements (1) The Historical Bhopal All India Conference

14 Saturday Jul 2018

Posted by in P&T TU History

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Telecom Trade Union Movement – A Saga of Struggles, Sacrifices and Achievements (1)
The Historical Bhopal All India Conference

More than 26 years are over after the All India Conference of All India Telecom Employees Union Class III (affiliated to NFPTE) held at Bhopal on 24th to 29th October 1991, which heralded a new progressive and militant leadership in the organisation.
The new leadership with Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri as President and Com. Moni Bose as General Secretary was elected defeating the four decades revisionist leader Com. O.P.Gupta and his camp, who were in the leadership of the union since 24th November 1954, when National Federation of P and T Employees (NFPTE) was formed merging all the existing unions in Telecom department with 9 affiliated All India Unions, including AITEE Union Class III. The change was heartily welcomed by the vast majority of the workers.
Back ground
We have to go back a little to find out the importance of the AIC and the election. As already stated earlier, NFPTE was formed in 1954, but P and T unions existed from the first decade of 20th century and has a long and great tradition as one of the pioneers in the country. Postal service in India started in 1756 and the Telegraph service is 1854, both under the British rule. Telephone service started in the early 20th century, in a limited way which developed fast. The service conditions were very strict and offensive and the wages very meagre. Though there were some spontaneous agitations in the last decade of 19th century in Poona etc., the unions were formed only after 1900.
Formation of Unions
Indian Telegraph Association (ITA) was formed in 1908 under the leadership of Henry Barton, an Anglo-Indian Telegraphist, who was also called Harry Barton. Almost at the same time, Babu Tarapada Mukherjee formed the All India (including Burmah) Post Office and R.M.S. Union, although it functioned earlier as Calcutta Postal Club, since the Department did not allow unions to be formed. Both the unions were formed in Calcutta, the capital of India at that time. However, the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union was formed in Bombay under the leadership of Shri V.G.Dalvi, Bar-at Law, a well-known Advocate. Another union, All India Telegraph Union (AITU), was formed in Calcutta. All these unions organised agitations for bettering their service conditions and wages.
The Postal Strike of 1946, which continued for 22 days, was withdrawn only after the British rulers accepted all the 12 most important demands raised by the union. It was a great victory for the workers. The appointment of the First Central Pay Commission, separate memorandums submitted which were contradictory and the unsatisfactory recommendations –all convinced the leadership of the various unions to join together in to one union. Accordingly, the Union of P and T Workers (UPTW) was formed on 13th August 1947, two days before India’s Independence, merging almost all unions.
NFPTE was formed on 24th November 1954, merging all the existing unions, including UPTW. Nine All India Unions were formed affiliated to NFPTE, two each in Postal, Telegraph, RMS and Telephone section, one for class III and another for class IV. One union for both the class III and Class IV in administrative offices was also formed. Unification or Realignment, as it was called, was a very important and favourable development. The first Secretary General was Com.B.N.Ghosh, respectfully called Dada Ghosh.
The 5days of strike of CG Employees from 11/12th July 1960 and the One Day Token Strike on 19th September 1968 were historical in all ways, including the number of participants, the brutal victimisation, the sustained fight against dismissals, termination, arrests etc. More than two dozen comrades became martyrs in these struggles shot dead by the police or run over by the trains during the strike period. Two persons committed suicide unable to bear dismissal/termination.
There have been serious differences in NFPTE on the policy and programme to be adopted. One section wanted to fight against the anti-worker policy of the government tooth and nail through militant struggles. The revisionist side did not want to fight against the policies of the government, but wanted to limit it to only on some benefits to the workers and no struggles. The crisis resulted in a hard fought election in the Federal Council in 1970 at Vijayawada where the revisionists lost and the leaders of the militant section were elected with Com. K.G.Bose as President and Com. A.S.Rajan as Secretary General. In the next Federal Council at Calcutta in 1971, the defeated section floated a parallel list of office-bearers, well knowing that they cannot win. The government utilised the opportunity and recognised the fake list. The result was that while the KG Bose section went on strike in the 1974 Bonus Strike, the section led by Com.O.P.Gupta opposed the strike and did not participate.
The impasse continued till the end of National Emergency declared in 1975 by Smt. Indira Gandhi. After sustained discussion and adjustment unity was restored in NFPTE by 1976.
NFPTE was bifurcated in to NFPE and NFTE in 1986 consequent to the bifurcation of the Department in to Postal and Telecom. There was no other alternative, though the workers wanted a united organisation.
In NFPE, the militant leaders Coms. K.Adinarayana, N.J.Iyer and others took the lead, while in Telecom, the leadership of the revisionists under Com.O.P.Gupta continued. The workers were not happy about the revisionist leadership and each and every opportunity, including the Circle and All India Conferences were utilised to fight for the correct policies.
It was in this context that the All India Conference of All India Telco Employees Union Class III was held at Bhopal was held from 24th to 29th October 1991. (to Be continued)
(NB: ‘The History of the P and T Trade Union Movement’, a book published by this author has described in detail all these developments till 1986.Copies of the book are available with Com. R.N.Parashar, General secretary, AIPEU Group ‘C’, Dada Ghosh Bhawan, 2151/1, New Patel Road, New Delhi – 110008, who published the same. The Price is Rs. 100/.)

Remember Salvador Allende

10 Sunday Sep 2017

Posted by in History

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It was on 11th September in 1973 that Salvador Allende, the Socialist / Communist leader, President of Chile, was murdered by the military junta headed by August Pinochet with the full support of the United States. Allende was elected as the President of Chile in 1970. He implemented people friendly decisions, including nationalisation of industries and collectivisation. This created big rift with the United States and other capitalist states. With the help of the military junta headed by Pinochet the Le Monde Palace was surrounded and he was shot dead there. His last speech before being murdered will be remembered long by the Chilean people and the whole world.The military junta that took over dissolved the Congress of Chile, suspended the Constitution, and began a persecution of alleged dissidents, in which thousands of Allende’s supporters were kidnapped, tortured, and murdered. US gave full support to the junta.
This was a dark chapter in the history of Chile till Pinochet was removed in 1990. A big statue of Salvador Allende has been installed later at Palacio de le Moneda, in the capital.