Babu Tarapada is one of the pioneers of the P and T Trade Union movement. He organised the Postal workers in the early 20th century by first forming the Postal Club, Calcutta and then forming the Postal Union. The period was when the Britishers were ruling the country and British Empire was termed as an empire where the sun never sets. In almost all the continents they had colonies and was the super power.
It was not an easy period to organise the unions. But Babu Tarapada meticulously organised the Postal Union. The Second All India Conference of the All India (including Burma)Post Office and RMS Employees union was held at Lahore (it was then in India)in which Babu Tarapada presided as the President of the Union. His Presidential Speech was well prepared and it inspired the Conference in such a way that it was a big leap for the organisation and a mile stone in the P and T Union movement.
A few portions of his speech which will explain his commitment to the union and his fight for the working class.
” Organise if you want real living wage! Organise if you want your working hours reduced! Organise if you desire better treatment from your superior officer! Organise if you want that authorities should consult and consider your opinion on all administrative measures affecting you!”
” Take it from me, Brothers, that petitions and memorials and supplications will count for nothing so long as you do not organise yourselves in a manner to convince the Government that you will no longer stand nonsense.”
” The rules laid down by Government for recognition are humiliating and if you accept them, your association will be reduced to officialised bodies without liberty and independence. Recognition is bound to come from the unwilling government as soon as you make your Association strong..”
This speech was made on 9th October 1921.
It was not an easy period to organise the unions. But Babu Tarapada meticulously organised the Postal Union. The Second All India Conference of the All India (including Burma)Post Office and RMS Employees union was held at Lahore (it was then in India)in which Babu Tarapada presided as the President of the Union. His Presidential Speech was well prepared and it inspired the Conference in such a way that it was a big leap for the organisation and a mile stone in the P and T Union movement.
A few portions of his speech which will explain his commitment to the union and his fight for the working class.
” Organise if you want real living wage! Organise if you want your working hours reduced! Organise if you desire better treatment from your superior officer! Organise if you want that authorities should consult and consider your opinion on all administrative measures affecting you!”
” Take it from me, Brothers, that petitions and memorials and supplications will count for nothing so long as you do not organise yourselves in a manner to convince the Government that you will no longer stand nonsense.”
” The rules laid down by Government for recognition are humiliating and if you accept them, your association will be reduced to officialised bodies without liberty and independence. Recognition is bound to come from the unwilling government as soon as you make your Association strong..”
This speech was made on 9th October 1921.
It is as relevant and fresh as it was at that time.
Babu Tarapada was charge sheeted for the speech. He was given an option to make a statement that what he spoken is not correct and get out of the punishment proposed. But Tarapada was of a sterner stuff and committed to the workers. He challenged the charge sheet and firmly told with evidence and statistics that whatever he spoke was correct and stood by it. He was dismissed from service. But till his end he workerd for the P and T workers sacrificing everything he had.
Babu Tarapada and his Lahore speech will ever be remembered and the same will inspire many generations of workers.
Babu Tarapada was charge sheeted for the speech. He was given an option to make a statement that what he spoken is not correct and get out of the punishment proposed. But Tarapada was of a sterner stuff and committed to the workers. He challenged the charge sheet and firmly told with evidence and statistics that whatever he spoke was correct and stood by it. He was dismissed from service. But till his end he workerd for the P and T workers sacrificing everything he had.
Babu Tarapada and his Lahore speech will ever be remembered and the same will inspire many generations of workers.