May Day is also known as International Workers’ Day or Labour Day, and it commemorates the contributions of workers and the historic labor movement. May Day is celebrated on May 1st every year, and in 2023, India marks a hundred years since the first commemoration of this day on May 1, 1923, in the city of Madras.
Singaravelu Chettiar’s Contribution to May Day in India
M Singaravelu Chettiar, a nationalist figure, and an early communist associated with the anti-caste movement introduced May Day in India. Singaravelu sought to connect the struggles of Indian workers with the global-level resistance of labor against brutal exploitation and dehumanization. He initiated the first May Day celebration in India and helmed the celebrations in Madras in 1923.
The History of International Workers’ Day
May Day has its origins in the ancient northern hemisphere spring festival. However, it became associated with the labor movement in the late 19th century after trade unions and socialist groups designated it as a day in support of workers. It was decided to do so in memory of the Haymarket affair of 1886, in Chicago in the United States. The Second International, an organization created by socialist and labor parties, declared that May 1 would be commemorated as International Workers’ Day from then on in 1889.
The United States recognized Labor Day as a federal holiday in 1894, where it continues to be celebrated every year on the first Monday of September. In 1916, the US began to recognize eight-hour work timings after years of protests and uprisings. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the celebration was embraced by the Soviet Union and the Eastern bloc nations during the Cold War.
The First May Day in India
In India, the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan initiated the first celebration of May Day in 1923. The Comrade Singaravelar (Singaravelu Chettiar) helmed the celebrations and passed a resolution stating the government should allow everybody a national holiday on Labor Day. Since then, the Indian labor movement has come a long way, and May Day is now widely celebrated throughout the country.
Important Points:
🎉 May Day is celebrated on May 1st every year, and in 2023, India marks a hundred years since the first commemoration of this day on May 1, 1923, in the city of Madras.
👨👦👦 M Singaravelu Chettiar introduced May Day in India, seeking to connect the struggles of Indian workers with the global-level resistance of labor against brutal exploitation and dehumanization.
🌍 May Day is also known as International Workers’ Day or Labor Day and commemorates the contributions of workers and the historic labor movement.
📅 May Day was associated with the labor movement in the late 19th century after trade unions and socialist groups designated it as a day in support of workers. The Second International declared that May 1 would be commemorated as International Workers’ Day from then on in 1889.
🇺🇸 The US recognized Labor Day as a federal holiday in 1894, where it continues to be celebrated every year on the first Monday of September.
💪 In 1916, the US recognized eight-hour work timings after years of protests and uprisings.
🇷🇺 After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the celebration was embraced by the Soviet Union and the Eastern bloc nations during the Cold War.
🎊 In India, the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan initiated the first celebration of May Day in 1923. The Comrade Singaravelar (Singaravelu Chettiar) helmed the celebrations and passed a resolution stating the government should allow everybody a national holiday on Labor Day.
🤝 The introduction of May Day in India by Singaravelu Chettiar highlights the interconnectedness of the struggles of workers across the globe against exploitation and dehumanization.
👥 As India marks a hundred years since the first celebration of May Day, it is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in the labor movement and the work that still needs to be done to ensure workers’ rights are protected.
Why In News
May Day 2023 marks the centenary of the first celebration of this important occasion in India, which took place on May 1, 1923, in the city of Madras. This anniversary provides an opportunity for reflection on the contributions of workers and the progress made in the labor movement over the past century, while also recognizing the ongoing struggle for worker’s rights in India and around the world.
MCQs about International Workers’ Day
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May Day is also known as:
A. International Workers’ Day
B. International Labour Day
C. Labour Day
D. All of the above
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Who introduced May Day in India?
A. Mahatma Gandhi
B. M Singaravelu Chettiar
C. Jawaharlal Nehru
D. Subhash Chandra Bose
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Which event led to the designation of May 1 as International Workers’ Day?
A. The Russian Revolution
B. The Haymarket affair
C. The Eight-hour workday movement
D. The Second International
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