Part-Four
Women Participation in Nepali Labour Movement


I. Participation in 1947-60

Trade Union movement in Nepal began from Biratnagar in the form of united movement of Nepali labourers on March 4, 1947. The movement was led by comrade Man Mohan Adhikari and Mr.Girija Prasad Koirala. Expressing his views (in a conversation on January 1998 on the labour movement, Man Mohan Adhikari said, "Union activities began in Biratnagar with a little experience gained while working in unions in Banaras. Efforts were made from the very beginning to raise the movement politically rather than making it an issue associated only with labourers. The movement raised demands for the matters concerning daily life of the labourers. Bonuses, salary increments, health check up, holidays, quarters, maternity leave and other benefits for women, child care centres, equal wages for equal work etc. were the main issues raised."

Commenting on women's participation in the movement, Mr Adhikari said, "Women were always in the forefront of the movement. The number of women workers was maximum in Cotton Mills and slightly lower in Jute Mills. They were very responsive. Women coming from Burma and living in the Burmeli Tole were more enthusiastic than others were. But there were no women in policy-making body of the union. I cannot remember the names of the women who took part in the 1951 movement but if a search is made in Biratnagar Mills Area, one can find more information on this."

Likewise, in a conversation in January 1998 with the present Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Mr.Koirala said "I started to work at Biratnagar Cotton Mills not because of political reasons but due to financial problems. I accepted the condition that I would not participate in politics. But, as the management started to harass and suppress, we setup a union and organised strikes. In the beginning, we put forward a number of, necessary as well as unnecessary, demands. But, later, with the advice from B.P. Koirala, specific demands such as the increase of salary by half a paisa, quarters for labourers, health treatment, holidays etc. were put forward.

On women participation, Mr Koirala says, "A separate list of demand for women was not raised in the movement. But still, women fully and bravely participated in the movement. However, I cannot remember the name of any of the women who took part in the movement. One of them had come to meet me two years ago when I was in Biratnagar. But, I don't remember her name too. If you go to Biratnagar Mills Area and ask for them, may be, someone can tell more about them."

With a number of ups and downs of various kinds, the movement gradually moved ahead with increasing participation of women from their respective sectors. In 1951 anti-Rana movement, workerers in Biratnagar used a tractor as "tank". Biratnagar Jute Mills was locked at the end of the Rana Regime. Labourers were expelled from their work, but they did not stop waging protests. Three of the women labourers working in the Jute Mills-Nanda Devi Nepal, Rukmani Acharya and Radha Devi Poudel- staged a hunger strike for 27 days. It forced the management to reopen the factory. Everyone returned back to work following a decision to reinstate all the expelled labourers.

Devi Paswan, who worked at Biratnagar Jute Mills from 1950-1986, said, "Women participated in 1951 movement carrying kitchen utensils with them. They also participated in other forms of the movement, including donation collection. Devi Paswan gave birth to a son while she was on a strike. She is thus known as the "Hadtaliki Ma," because the son was named Hadtali

Mangalmaya Bajracharya is another revolutionary of the Cotton Mills. Born in 1915 at Tangal, Kathmandu, Bajracharya reached Biratnagar with her husband in 1948 and started working at Ganapati Cotton Mills from 1950. Mrs. Bajracharya worked for 11 years at the cotton mill and shifted to the Jute mill from 1961.

Mrs Bajracharya who retired after 28 years of service at the Jute Mills says she was severely beaten up by police during the 1981 Labour Movement. Mangalamaya Bajracharya, who was always active in the labour movement, while she worked in the factory, is still active.

Yashoda Rana Magar is a Comrade-in-arm of Mangalmaya Bajracharya. Yashoda began working at Ganapati Cotton Mills and was involved in Nepal's Labour Movement from the beginning. She took part in the 1951 Labour Movement and continued even after she lost her employment when the factory was closed. After 1951, she was actively involved in the 1975-80 Labour Movement of Biratnagar. Presently 56-year-old, Yashoda cannot even walk properly because of injury on her legs. She is currently living with her youngest son at Barmeli Tole near Hulas Metal Company in Biratnagar.

Besides the movements held in the industrial area of Biratnagar, movements carried out in other areas are also worth noting. Active workers in the public sector constituted All Nepal Low Paid Employees Organisation. The Organisation mobilised more than 17,000 employees in the movement held in May 1951. The movement came to an end after their demand was fulfilled. It is also learnt that the organisation also had women involved in its movements. What kind of role the women had in the movement is however still a matter of further research.

Another section of the Nepali Labour Movement is the Peasants' Movement. Women peasants took to the streets in the anti-rana movement in Kathmandu, Sadhana Adhikari recalls. The Peasants' Movement carried out in different parts of the country from 1951-60 is also important. Women actively participated in all these movements. Particularly, the movements held in Parsa, Bara, Nawalparasi and Bardia are notable ones in this area.

Peasant Movement of Western Nepal

Bhim Datta Panta, who served jail sentence for taking part in the Independence Movement in India, came to Nepal in 1949 and involved himself in uniting peasants in Dadeldhura and Baitadi to fight against the Ranas. After the fall of the Rana Regime in 1950, a Peace Volunteers Group was constituted in his initiation. Mr. Panta gradually distanced from Nepali Congress due to its pro-Indian inclination and came under the influence of Marxism. Demanding land for the landless, he led a movement, in 1953 among the peasants, tillers and cattle herders in Bajhang, Bajura, Kailali, Baitadi, Kanchanpur and other adjoining areas. He was arrested in 1953. Women who were involved in the Peace Volunteers Group led the public pressure standing in the forefront. As a result, Mr. Panta was released on June 25, 1953. He was beheaded on July 25, 1953 by the government. The authorities however refused to handover the corpse of Panta to his wife. Instead, it was hanged in a public place. This kind of inhuman murder did not stop revolutionaries, specifically the peasants, from taking up the movement with ideals. Pant had passed on to them.

Beluwa Banjari Peasant Movement:

In December 1959, a movement against landlords began in Dang District with the participation of the Tharus, the indigenous people in the locality. The movement took a new height in 1960. In an effort to contain the movement, the then Nepali Congress government murdered peasant Gumraha Chaudhary. Women had an important role in this movement in which Lahani Chaudhary and Somati Chaudhary had a leading role. Police arrested Ratna, Kalu and Lahani and released them after a weeklong torture.

"When the landlords came to loot mustard in 1959, all of us except old and children, went out to defend the land-lord atrocity with sticks in our hand. Lahani suffered injuries on her back. But we were not hopeless, we did not left the ground for the landlords. Rather, we could chase away their servants. They came again, next morning, we chased them again", says Somati Chaudhary.

Commenting on the movement, she adds, "They came back to fight again in 1960. The fight continued throughout the month of June/July. Police assisted the landlords, they haunted regularly to look for our people. One day, Ratna and Kalu were arrested. Gumraha was murdered. We had to struggle hard to save the village people from the Jamindars and police."

Besides this, women activists have played decisive roles in many other movements held during this period. The peasants' movements, which had notable participation of women, can be listed as follows:

 

B. Participation in 1960-1979

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Labour unions were banned with the enforcement of Panchayati system in 1960. But, the workers, who were aware that the movement was the only way to fight against injustice, did not stay quiet for long time. After the enforcement of the land reform programme in 1964, peasants started to revolt against landlords in many places. Some of such movements can be stated as below:

1. Chisapani Peasants' Movement

The people who were homeless due to heavy floods and landslides in 1954 began to clear out jungles for setlement near Chisapani of the Hetauda Municipality. In 1964, the land was tried to confiscate as ordered by Badahakim and the tussle mounted. In 1965, police arrested many of the revolutionaries, including three women. They were kept in custody for three days and were released.

In 1968, a delegation of 115 peasants went to the Royal Palace. The delegation had an equal participation of men and women. Gurud Acharya, Ram Bahadur Giri, Hari Prasad Subedi, Ram Prasad Dahal, Netra Bahadur Chettri, Bir Bahadur Awale, Kesari Maiya Khadka, Laxmi Magar and Kunti Devi Manandhar were in the delegation. After a 15-day Dharna in front of the gate of the Narayanhiti Royal Palace, two of the representatives of the delegation were called by the Palace. "If the representatives are telling the truth, it will be responded accordingly, " said the King. The delegation then returned back to Hetauda.

But, the order of the King was not enforced. As a result the movement continued. On April 1969, 17 peasants, including Mohan Bajracharya, Krishna Hari Rizal and Kunti Devi, Kangali Deaula, Laxmi Magar, Kesari Maiya and other women were arrested in this movement. Following the arrest the movement further intensified. On May 1969, the land administration came with police force to survey the land. Thousands of people gathered there. A tussle arose between the two groups again. Pran Maya Bajracharya, an active participant of the movement, was beaten unconscious by police. Protesting peasants retread this by tying 18 policemen to trees. The fight lasted throughout the night. Pranmaya was not sent to hospital even when the Red Cross team came. She remained unconscious.

Next morning, a procession was organised with the slogan that "Land to the tillers!" The procession took Pranmaya to hospital for treatment. After medical check-up, she was brought back and kept at a chowk. The police force came again, but was chased away by the people. The people stayed awake the whole night guarding the market, which was completely closed.

Additional police and army forces from Kathmandu were brought to suppress the movement. Hundreds of peasants were manhandled. Next day, Damodar Shumsher came to inspect the action and ordered that Pran Maya would not be held. She was released from hospital. Following the release, she went to the police station and said, "I have not run away. I will be at home, will come out to fight if called for."

2. Labour Movement of Biratnagar

The Labour Movement of Biratnagar in 1965 can be taken as a major one among the movements that took place during this period. Women working in Biratnagar Jute Mills actively participated in this movement.

Because of involvement in the movements, Ramjan Ansari, Jayanti Devi Upadhyaya, Ram Maya Biswokarma, Padma Kumari Giri, Saraswati Devi, Kamal Maya and many other women were ousted from their jobs in the factory. Expressing his view on women participation in the movement, Balram Giri says, "Women were more active than men in the movement during the period. They were not represented in the executive posts of the union they were only advisors. Although women agreed to stay in committees, we requested them not to do so account of the social attitude and behaviour towards them. "

3. Peasant Movement of Dang

In 1979, the farmers of Dang began a district-wide revolt against landlords under the leadership of Netralal Poudel. The movement made the landlords started to leave the villages for District and Zonal headquarters for security reasons. One of the leading revolutionaries of this movement was Asma Chaudhary. Sharing her experience, she said, "I was encouraged to fight against injustice by my parents and the political education I received from Netralal Poudel. This inspiration led me to join the 1979 movement." Stating that this was the first time she took part in the movement, Mrs Chaudhary said, "while there was a meeting inside the house, 16 policemen came to arrest. Six Jamindar, including Shreedhar Gopal of Guruwa village, Yagya Bahadur of Fachakpur and others, had informed the police. In order to protect their friends, who were discussing about the movement, the villagers encountered with the policem. They could not withstand the villagers and ran away. This boosted our morale and we were more encouraged to participate in the movement."

Recalling the incident, Asma says, "Jamindars from Karjahi started troubling the tenants. In 1980, they came to loot the house of a peasant. Informed of this, all the villagers united and chased away the offenders. A policeman was injured in the incident. Another day, on the night of April 1980, the Janmindars, backed by police and army, looted the house of Sundar Chaudhary. During this period, such incidents were usual, but the administration used to accuse all the revolutionary peasants as "dacoits".

Shedding light on her participation in the movement, she further added, "I took part in the movement unable to tolerate injustice and oppression by police administration and Jamindars. If we had not taken part in the movement, many of our houses would have been looted." She never felt scared to fight against the Jamindar. As Asma says, she has been involved in politics from 1980, and will continue it.

Women participation was at maximum in the Karjahi Peasant Movement, one of the most renowned movements in Dang. Laxmi Chaudhary, Asma Kumari Chaudhary, Patharkali Chaudhary, Maiya Chaudhary, Shanti Chaudhary, Indra Chaudhary, Kewala Chaudhary, Surajkali Chaudhary, Shyamkali Chaudhary, Sukanya Chaudhary, Kalika Chaudhary, Belkesari Chaudhary, Sauni Chaudhary and Kali Chaudhary were amongst those who fought against Jamindars. Among them, Patharkali Chaudhary was a bit aggressive even, the reactionaries named her as Indira Gandhi of Nepal.

Women were in the forefront resisting the landlords in the Karjahi in 1980. Whenever police came to surround the village, all the villagers used to gather and resist them with sticks in their hands. Once when, Netralal was in the village, the villagers disguised him as a Tharu come to the place to look for horses, and helped him escape away.

In the repressive situation, Pattharkali got her-self actively involved in the movement with the belief that death is inevitable and that she would be honoured as a martyr if killed.

4. The Teachers' Movement

From 1975, teachers set up Welfare Trust depositing two percent of their salary. The Trust was to be used by teachers in difficult circumstances. After three years in 1979, the teachers started thinking towards the institutionalisation of the Trust. Later, a demand was put forward to develop the Welfare Trust into the Provident Fund.

This demand raised by teachers of Balsewa Secondary School of Kathmandu. Women Teachers Meera Dwanju, Astalaxmi Shakya, Purna Sobha Chitrakar and others actively participated in the movement that ensued. In this context, a nationwide signature campaign was carried out. Signatures of all the teachers from 78 schools were submitted to His Majesty's Government. Side by side an underground exercise was made to set up a teachers' organisation so that it would raise professional and other issues collectively and institutionally. To foster the campaign, Astalaxmi Shankya and Krishna Bhakta Manandhar left Kathmandu for the Eastern Region while Meera Dwanju and Purna Shobha Chitrakar headed towards Nuwakot. In course of the movement, they met Kamala Amatya, Narayani Rana, Bindabasini Shrestha, Renu Thapa, Manju, Santosh Pyakurel, Kunta Sharma and Bindabasini Karmacharya. They all participated in the movement.

 

C. Participation between 1979-1990

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When People's movement was taking a nationwide momentum in 1979, the labour movement emerged from industrial districts of the country. The major ones carried out by workers in between 1979-90 can be summarised as follows:

1. Balaju Industrial District

A larger number of women actively participated in the strike of 1979 Nebico Biscuit Factory in Balaju. Sulochana Manandhar, Kamala Shrestha, Sharada Koirala, Purna Shobha Chitrakar organised the women working. Giving a background to this movement, one of the activists-Kabindra Shekhar recalls, "a study group was set up in Kathmandu in 1974 which included 30 to 40 women. Matters relating to politics and ideology and self-reliance were taught in the study classes."

Members of that group later involved in organisational works in the industrial area in 1979. Women participation in the 1979-82 movement was encouraging. They took part with special interest in the May Day programs. In 1979, the workers in Balaju staged a strike along with a 27-point demand. A large number of women took part in the Sit-in programme that took place for 45 days inside the Balaju Industrial District. During the strike, police tried to arrest Laxmi Bahadur Karanjit but a group of women foiled the attempt. Meena Kafle however was arrested and released after an hour following enormous pressure from workers outside.

The movement was called off with an agreement following 45-days of continuous sit-in. However, immediately after that, 10 workers, including 8 women, were expelled from the Nebico.

A gathering held on January 1980 in Kathmandu, which founded the Nepal Independent Worker's Union.

Workers in Balaju staged a strike with a 34-point demand again in 1981. Women were in a greater number than their male counterpart while protecting the union's flag from police, who tried to pull it out from where it was installed by the strikers. The workers protected their flag but police arrested Menaka Maharjan and released her after four days in custody.

The movement resumed at Nebico in 1983. A delegation of the workers met the Labour Minister Bhadra Ghale. Four members of the delegation, Rupa Shrestha, Jamuna Malakar, Bimala Thapa and her child were arrested from Singha Durbar. Bimala Thapa was held in custody with her baby. The movement was responded by the government relieving 316 workers of their job from the Balaju Industrial District. Among them, 70 percent were women including Menaka Maharjan, Reena Bajracharya, Anju Shrestha and Nisha Shrestha. Following this another strike was organised at Spinning Mill in Balaju. This also had a leading participation of women.

2. Garbage Cleaning Sector

Another centre of Labour Movement in Kathmandu was the community of Garbage Cleaners. The Garbage Cleaners had helped the movement advance in the Industrial District by distributing pamphlets and posters and taking part in protest rally. In 1980, the Garbage cleaners of Kathmandu Municipality staged a strike putting forth their demands. For the first time in 1980, the Garbage Cleaners, who were regarded as untouchables throughout their life, held talks with the Panchayat administration sitting together round the same table. After this movement, the organisational activities, which had begun in Kathmandu, spread out gradually to Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur.

Purna Sobha Chitrakar and Surendra Tuladhar have initiated the union formation among the Garbage Cleaners. Prakash Nepali, Dilkumari Pode, Basu Nepali, Maiya Pode, Junu Pode and others led the workers in the union. Sharing her experience about the union formation and its works Dil Kumari Pode says, "During that time, we used to work with a feeling that revolution should begin from homes and special emphasis should be given to make our family members aware of what we are doing and why so that their support could be gained. As the garbage cleaners were mostly illeterate, we had to encourage to fight injustices by showing Chinese and Korean films. After watching the movies, our mothers wished to see their daughters as brave fighters like the ones seen in the movies."

Along with other works related to the movement, garbage cleaners had a big role to provide shelter to the underground leaders, collect and pass their letters and docusments from one place to another.

They also had to make contact the revolutionaries in custody and exchange information with them. Women workers Basu Nepali, Tulsimaya Nepali and Junu Nepali were among those responsible for the risky work of information exchange with Sabitri Bohra and Betrawati Poudel, who were arrested in the Piskar Incident while men workers were responsible for the work in the men's prison.

In connection with the movement, Prakash Nepali was arrested, but a group of people that including elderly women rescued Prakash from police immediately.

3. Other movements in Kathmandu

Besides this, union movement spread out in other sectors in Kathmandu. Women working in garment factories also initiated the organisational work in 1983. Srijana Devkota and Rubi Rana were involved in the formation of Nepal Independent Garment Workers Union. Champa Shrestha and Ratna Nepal were also actively involved in it.

During the period women participated in union movement in a numbers of ways. The demands forwarded by the union for women workers included 60-day maternity leave, provision for child care, no night shift work for women and strong legal provision to end all kind of gender discrimination. On Jan 1988, the representatives of Nepal Independent Workers Union, along with Pro-people members of the Rastriya Panchayat, submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister.

Likewise, on August 1988, a 45-day strike was staged in all the textile industries in Kathmandu valley. Obviously, many women participated in the strike.

4. Hetauda Industrial District

Labourers in Hetauda staged a strike in 1979 where women were in the forefront. In 1979, Sita Dhungana represented the NIWU-Makwanpur District Committee while Shubhadra Regmi, Meena Poudel, Sabitri and other were active members of the Committee. Since 1983, women workers in Hetauda had begun celebrating the International Women Workers Day. In 1983, the workers of Hetauda Textile Factory put a charter of demands including a 60-day maternity leave, child-care facility and paid-leave for women on March 8. As a result of this movement, women in Hetauda received paid-leave on March 8. Union members Goma Timilsina, Bishnu Ojha and others led the movement. Bal Kumari Thapa was active in the rural sector. It is noteworthy that women in Hetuada have always been in the fore-front of every national movements.

5. Teachers' Movement

Nepali teachers launched a nation-wide "pen-down" for the first time on May, 1979. About 20 to 25 teachers, including Nila Bajracharya, Sharada Koirala, Pran Tara Shakya, Lalita Manandhar, Purna Shobha Chitrakar and Bindabasini Karmacharya were arrested while they tried to gherao Kathmandu District Education Office. They were released after a week. Following this, a valley level gathering of women teachers was held in August. Altogether 81 women teachers took part in the gathering.
After this, the first national gathering of teachers was held in September at Bhutandevi Secondary School, Hetauda. Police tried to terrorise the gathering and warned to shoot in case anyone came out. Even in such a tense situation, women teachers kept up the spirit of the participants by singing such inspiring songs as "struggle is life, life is struggle, let's not therefore be afraid of death." The gathering successfully held its programmes. However, It was quite ironic that not a single women teacher was represented in the Central Organisation Committee constituted by the gathering.

In 1982, teachers organised a dharna at Bhadrakali. Women had an active participation. Similarly, in the "Let's go Kathmandu" Progrmme of 1984, women teachers had a good participation. In the preparation leading up to the movement, many women teachers in Sunsari were arrested under the "fill up prison" programme. Women expressed their utmost courage by breaking the police circle and continued their active participation in the days that followed.

Although women actively participated in the movements held during this time, their participation in policy decision level was seen only after restoration of democracy in the country. Currently, the teachers' organisation has been carrying out a number of activities for women under a separate department of women.

The overall picture of the movement shows that women were always in the forefront of the movement carried out in the earlier days when organisations were not systemic. Unfortunately, women were pushed behind as the organisations were institutionalised and the movement got strengthened.

6. Nursing Sector

The movement in the Nursing sector began from 1985, and proceeded through the movement in 1985 making its unique identity. The sector was quite vibrant and strong in the popular movement of 1990. A statement by Nurse Meena Poudel that "crores of amount has been deposited in a Swiss Bank in the name Pampha Devi" and that the pillage of its kind be revolted strongly encouraged not only the nurses but also to all others. Two activists were shot dead by police in Kirtipur on April 1990. Their dead bodies was brought to Teaching Hospital, where nurses Jyoti, Iswori, Wakila Chudal, Radha Devkota, Shubadhra Koirala and others played a highly acclaimed role and they did not allow the police force to enter the hospital and take away the dead bodies. They even tried to snatch guns from the police hands as they were resisting. The same year, nurses organised a strike against Thribuvan University decision of expelling 25 assistant nurses from Teaching Hospital. They staged a sit-in program in front of the office of Vice-Chancellor. The movement concluded only after permanent appointment of those 25.

7. University Teacher

Many Indian Teachers used to work in Nepal during the Rana rule. There was a big difference between the facilities enjoyed by Nepali and Indian Teachers. In 1952, the University Teachers gave an ultimatum to the government demanding equal services and facilities. Their demands were timely fulfilled.

Nepal University Teachers Association (NUTA) was founded in 1962. Later, King Mahendra could turn the association in his favour. In 1979, anti-Panchayat professors took hold of the association and continued the movement for their professional rights and academic independence. Women were also involved in the process although they had a little role in decision making. By then a practice of electing at least one woman member in every central election has been established.

University Teachers also had an important participation in and contribution to the 1990 popular movement. In the name of a professional solidarity they were always active and willing to abolish the Panchayat system.

Women have a good participation in banking and telecommunications. Even in terms of education, women working in the sectors are better compared to those in other sectors. However not a single movement was carried out in the banking and telecommunication sector to support what was proceeded until the restoration of democracy.

8. Establishment of GEFONT and Popular Movement of 1990

General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) was founded on 20 July 1989. Women were not present during the foundation of the federation although they had an active participation as members in the GEFONT Member Unions.

The 1990 popular movement began after a few months of the establishment of GEFONT. The entire strength of GEFONT was mobilized for this movement. Women workers throughout the country took part in the movement amidst batons, boots and bullets of the police.

On February 18, 1990, Sita Bidari of the Hetauda Textile Factory sustained a bullet injury. Sita Bhujel, another woman activist, was arrested as the movement mounted. She was released only after the restoration of democracy. Other active women workers in the movement were Goma Timilsina, Bishnu Ojha, Juneli Shrestha and Sita Maharjan.

In support of the popular movement workers across the country organised strikes, and protested against Panchayat tying black bands around the arm and setting up black flags in different industrial districts. Trade union activities were freely launched following the restoration of democracy in the country.

Immediately after the restoration of democracy, altogether 316 workers were ousted from their jobs from Balaju and a relay hunger strike was organised demanding their reinstatement. Women had a greater participation in the strikes carried out.