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ProtestNational and Dravidian movements

Thevar jailed during Pasumalai mill strike

· Pasumalai

Thevar jailed during Pasumalai mill strike
India Post, Government of India, GODL-India · Wikimedia Commons

Muthuramalinga Thevar was jailed for seven months while leading a strike at the Mahalakshmi Mills in Pasumalai near Madurai.

In the late 1930s Muthuramalinga Thevar became active in labour organising around Madurai. He formed and led unions at the Pasumalai Mahalakshmi Mills, the Meenakshi Mills and the Madura Knitting Company. During a long strike by the Pasumalai Mahalakshmi Mill Workers' Union demanding reinstatement of dismissed trade unionists, he was jailed for seven months from 15 October 1938. The management eventually accepted the union's demands.

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