ProtestNational and Dravidian movements
Buckingham and Carnatic Mills strike
· Chennai
Workers of the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills in Madras went on a prolonged strike against Binny and Co. over wages and conditions.
Workers at the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills in Madras, organised in the Madras Labour Union, struck against the managing company Binny and Co. over low wages and poor working conditions. The official strike was declared on 20 June 1921 and was led by V. Kalyanasundaram Mudaliar, with support from Congress leaders. On 29 August 1921 police fired on strikers, killing several workers. The management kept the mills running with workers who did not join the strike, and the dispute turned into clashes between caste Hindu and Dalit workers, including the burning of huts at Pulianthope. The strike caused heavy losses to the Madras economy and led several Dalit leaders to break with the Justice Party.
