Makhan Singh
Encyclopedia
Makhan Singh was an India
n-born labour union leader who is credited with establishing the foundations of trade unionism in Kenya
.
Makhan Singh was born in Gharjakh, a village in British-ruled India's Gujranwala
district, a Sikh
-majority area in the province of Punjab
(since 1947, his native region has been a part of Pakistan
). In 1927, at the age of 13, he moved with his family to Nairobi
, a municipality
which, since 1905, had functioned as the administrative capital of the British East African protectorate
. In 1935, he formed the Labour Trade Union of Kenya and, in 1949, he and Fred Kubai formed the East African Trade Union Congress, the first central organization of trade unions in Kenya.
Makhan Singh presents a new and unique challenge in analysing the history of political detentions and human rights. His ten year detention in late 1950s in the desert prison camp near Lodwar
, Northern Kenya, under the "control orders" issued by the British rulers of Kenya Colony, has become highly significant since both the Guantanamo Bay and Belmarsh Prison detentions of 2000.
After having spoken out in clear and strong terms against British occupation and colonial rule in Kenya on 23 April 1950 at Nairobi's Kaloleni Halls, Makhan Singh was arrested within 21 days on May 15. He had inadvertently given the British colonial masters an opportunity to silence him. At a trial in Nyeri
, Chanan Singh (later Justice Chanan Singh) defended him eloquently and with rigour. He was acquitted.
Like the Belmarsh Prisoners and their detentions in the UK, the then Kenya Colony Governor, Sir Philip Mitchell, ordered that he be detained for an indefinite period. He was released after ten years of being confined without any charge or trial on 20 October 1961.
His detainment and situations surrounding them is history repeating itself. Sir Philip Mitchell
could not send him back to India after his acquittal as India was a new country- sovereign in its own rights. The British administrations idea of using its colonies and friendly (puppet) maharajas (kings) in various Indian kingdoms and Kala Pani (Andaman Islands
) as convenient rendition sites for people who threatened the empire was a common practice. Makhan Singh was a resident in Kenya Colony. India ( a new democracy then 1947), would not accept his "rendition".
Makhan Singh died of a heart attack in Nairobi at the age of 59.
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...
n-born labour union leader who is credited with establishing the foundations of trade unionism in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
Makhan Singh was born in Gharjakh, a village in British-ruled India's Gujranwala
Gujranwala
Gujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...
district, a Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
-majority area in the province of Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
(since 1947, his native region has been a part of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
). In 1927, at the age of 13, he moved with his family to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
which, since 1905, had functioned as the administrative capital of the British East African protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
. In 1935, he formed the Labour Trade Union of Kenya and, in 1949, he and Fred Kubai formed the East African Trade Union Congress, the first central organization of trade unions in Kenya.
Makhan Singh presents a new and unique challenge in analysing the history of political detentions and human rights. His ten year detention in late 1950s in the desert prison camp near Lodwar
Lodwar
Lodwar is the largest town in northwestern Kenya, located west of Lake Turkana on the A1 road. Its main industries are basket weaving and tourism. The Loima Hills lie to its west. Lodwar is the capital of Turkana District...
, Northern Kenya, under the "control orders" issued by the British rulers of Kenya Colony, has become highly significant since both the Guantanamo Bay and Belmarsh Prison detentions of 2000.
After having spoken out in clear and strong terms against British occupation and colonial rule in Kenya on 23 April 1950 at Nairobi's Kaloleni Halls, Makhan Singh was arrested within 21 days on May 15. He had inadvertently given the British colonial masters an opportunity to silence him. At a trial in Nyeri
Nyeri
Nyeri is a town in situated in the Central Highlands of Kenya Kenya, which was the administrative headquarters of the country's former Central Province...
, Chanan Singh (later Justice Chanan Singh) defended him eloquently and with rigour. He was acquitted.
Like the Belmarsh Prisoners and their detentions in the UK, the then Kenya Colony Governor, Sir Philip Mitchell, ordered that he be detained for an indefinite period. He was released after ten years of being confined without any charge or trial on 20 October 1961.
His detainment and situations surrounding them is history repeating itself. Sir Philip Mitchell
Philip Euen Mitchell
Sir Philip Euen Mitchell was a British Colonial administrator who served as Governor of Uganda , Governor of Fiji and Governor of Kenya .-Birth and education:...
could not send him back to India after his acquittal as India was a new country- sovereign in its own rights. The British administrations idea of using its colonies and friendly (puppet) maharajas (kings) in various Indian kingdoms and Kala Pani (Andaman Islands
Andaman Islands
The Andaman Islands are a group of Indian Ocean archipelagic islands in the Bay of Bengal between India to the west, and Burma , to the north and east...
) as convenient rendition sites for people who threatened the empire was a common practice. Makhan Singh was a resident in Kenya Colony. India ( a new democracy then 1947), would not accept his "rendition".
Makhan Singh died of a heart attack in Nairobi at the age of 59.