The case of Maruti workers reflects the anti-labour stance of companies, governments and media.
THERE WAS a time when workers were heroes in this country. It was a golden period that started with the hope of a newly-independent nation and lasted a couple of decades, perhaps more. The films of that era reflected this perception. Plots usually featured a factory hand who stood up against the seth (owner) and his violent henchmen. Sometimes, the seth would see the light—that exploitation and unfair practices hurt everyone—and have a change of heart. My earliest memory of this is the 1959 Dilip Kumar classic Paigham where the conflict ended on a happy labour-and-capital-must go-hand-in-hand note. Later, Sagina Mahato brought together the more complex story of the Left capture of trade unions (TUs) and the helplessness of the worker.
This story is from the April 01, 2017 edition of Down To Earth.
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This story is from the April 01, 2017 edition of Down To Earth.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT
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TROUBLED TEAK
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