Indian Workers' Association
Encyclopedia
The Indian Workers' Association is a political organisation in Great Britain
.
The first Indian Workers' Association was founded in London
in the 1930s, while another was set up in Coventry
in 1938. Set up by immigrant workers from India
, their members included Udham Singh
, and they focussed on agitating for Indian independence. After this was achieved, the groups became largely moribund.
In 1958, the Indian Workers' Association (GB) (IWA(GB)) was set up to provide a central national body co-ordinating the activities of the local groups. The Association aimed to improve conditions for immigrant workers, working alongside the mainstream British labour movement
. An increasing number of activists, in particular from the Punjabi
community, joined. The Communist Party of Great Britain
also gained influence, as some of the immigrants had formerly been members of the Communist Party of India
. However, the large group in Southall
distanced itself from the national body, supporting Labour Party
candidates, joined the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination
and supported the National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants. Piara Khabra
became President of the Southall group, and later, Labour MP for Ealing Southall.
In 1967, the IWA(GB) split into two groups. One, led by Prem Singh, supported the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
, while the other, under Jagmohan Joshi, supported China
. This second group began working with Black Power
activists, but later disappeared. The Singh group thus became the only IWA(GB), joining the Black People's Alliance. Anti-revisionist
Harpal Brar
became editor of the organisation's journal, Lalkar
. The organisation later supported the Anti-Nazi League
.
The organisation remains active, but on a much reduced scale.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
The first Indian Workers' Association was founded in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the 1930s, while another was set up in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
in 1938. Set up by immigrant workers from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, their members included Udham Singh
Udham Singh
Udham Singh was an Indian independence activist, best known for assassinating Michael O'Dwyer in March 1940 in what has been described as an avenging of the Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre....
, and they focussed on agitating for Indian independence. After this was achieved, the groups became largely moribund.
In 1958, the Indian Workers' Association (GB) (IWA(GB)) was set up to provide a central national body co-ordinating the activities of the local groups. The Association aimed to improve conditions for immigrant workers, working alongside the mainstream British labour movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
. An increasing number of activists, in particular from the Punjabi
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
community, joined. The Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
also gained influence, as some of the immigrants had formerly been members of the Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
. However, the large group in Southall
Southall
Southall is a large suburban district of west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include Yeading, Hayes, Hanwell, Heston, Hounslow, Greenford and Northolt...
distanced itself from the national body, supporting Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
candidates, joined the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination
Campaign Against Racial Discrimination
The Campaign Against Racial Discrimination was a British organization, founded in 1964 and which lasteduntil 1967, which lobbied for race relations legislation...
and supported the National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants. Piara Khabra
Piara Khabra
Piara Singh Khabra was a British politician who served as the Labour Member of Parliament for Ealing Southall from 1992 until his death. He was the fifth Asian, and the first Sikh, to become a British MP...
became President of the Southall group, and later, Labour MP for Ealing Southall.
In 1967, the IWA(GB) split into two groups. One, led by Prem Singh, supported the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
, while the other, under Jagmohan Joshi, supported China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. This second group began working with Black Power
Black Power
Black Power is a political slogan and a name for various associated ideologies. It is used in the movement among people of Black African descent throughout the world, though primarily by African Americans in the United States...
activists, but later disappeared. The Singh group thus became the only IWA(GB), joining the Black People's Alliance. Anti-revisionist
Anti-Revisionist
In the Marxist–Leninist movement, anti-revisionism refers to a doctrine which upholds the line of theory and practice associated with Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, and usually either Mao Zedong or Enver Hoxha as well...
Harpal Brar
Harpal Brar
Harpal Brar is an Indian-born communist politician, writer and businessman based in Britain.Born in Muktsar, Punjab, British India, Brar has lived and worked in Britain since 1962, first as a student and lecturer in law at Harrow College of Higher Education , and later in the textile business...
became editor of the organisation's journal, Lalkar
Lalkar
Lalkar is a London-based bi-monthly political magazine. The word ‘lalkar’ means ‘challenge’ in Punjabi and the expression ‘lal kar’ means ‘red work’....
. The organisation later supported the Anti-Nazi League
Anti-Nazi League
The Anti-Nazi League was an organisation set up in 1977 on the initiative of the Socialist Workers Party with sponsorship from some trade unions and the endorsement of a list of prominent people to oppose the rise of far-right groups in the United Kingdom. It was wound down in 1981...
.
The organisation remains active, but on a much reduced scale.