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Biratnagar jute mill strike


The Biratnagar Jute Mill Strike (Majdur Hartal) of March 1947 was a labour strike in Biratnagar, Nepal, by workers and laborers of Biratnagar Jute Mill, Ltd. The strike was initially against the management regarding labor rights, but gradually turned into a nationwide anti-regime movement.

According to the workers in the mill, there were no labour rights in the mill and the mill-owners disregarded their input. The living conditions of workers were also very poor, with no running-water in the quarters. It also was clear that a handful of people were suppressing the workers in the mill.

The demonstration started on March 4, 1947 under the leadership of Girija Prasad Koirala, along with Tarini Prasad Koirala, Man Mohan Adhikari, and Yuvaraj Adhikari, as employees in the mill. The strike was launched with demands purely based on labour rights, but later political trade union rights were also demanded. The Nepali Congress supported the strike at Biratnagar. On March 9, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala joined the strike with his supporters and the strike grew in number. The Rana dynasty regime sent state troops to Biratnagar to put down the strike. The strike ended when the troops reached Biratnagar after they arrested the leaders. Some of these leaders escaped capture by fleeing to India. Six National Congress leaders (Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, Girija Prasad Koirala, Tarini Prasad Koirala, Gehendrahari Sharma, Manmohan Adhikari and Yubaraj Adhikari were walked to Kathmandu as prisoners . The Nepali congress held a conference in Jogbani, India and resolved to initiate a nationwide Satyagraha, or civil disobedience movement. Thus, the countrywide anti-Rana demonstration started.


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