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Book Review
Pioneer of trade union movement
INDIA THOZHILALARGALIN THANTHAI MAAMAETHAI SINGARAVELAR: P. Vasanthakumaran; Poornima Pathippagam, 34, Mandaveli Lane, Mylapore, Chennai-600004. Rs. 150.
THIS BOOK, biography of a revolutionary from Tamil Nadu, who had immortalised himself in the cause of the working class, is bound to stir the conscience of the readers and compel their introspection on the state of the past and present trade union movement in the country.
A pioneer of the trade union movement in India, freedom fighter and a renowned and staunch activist in popularising Communist ideologies during the British rule and suffering in the process all privations, Singaravelar, synonymous with labour movement even today, remains however a forgotten hero like others who dedicated their lives to the cause of freedom.
Presenting a lively picture of the struggles in support of labour waged by Singaravelar in defiance of the authorities and his advocacy of the abolition of private ownership, profit sharing by labour and the right of labour to form trade unions, among other things, the author elaborates on his concern to unite the labour under one roof so as to make it a force to reckon with and his abiding zeal to follow the ideals of Lenin in this respect to bring about the formation of a government on the Soviet model.
Singaravelar's concept of labour and trade union movement may sound out of tune in the present era of economic reforms and the ubiquitous computerisation in each and every sphere, not to speak of the privatisation spree of the public sector undertakings and the dangling of the VRS.
The author ruefully acknowledges that Singaravelar's aspirations could not make much headway in his lifetime because of the disunity among trade union leaders and their failure to extend support to the labour-kissan party started by him to weld the two major forces so as to help spread the ideals of Communism.
Mention of the service and sacrifice of Singaravelar is now an annual ritual during the May Day celebrations, which the pioneer of the trade union movement helped organise as early as 1923.
That the labour movement stands at the crossroads now is evident from the disunity among labour leaders and the politicised trade union movement.
R. PARTHASARATHY
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