Archives of Indian Labour

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://dans.nls.ac.in/handle/123456789/3878

ARCHIVES OF INDIAN LABOUR

(copied over from the original)

The Archives of Indian Labour was set up in July, 1998 as a collaborative project of the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute and the Association of Indian Labour Historians. The Archives of Indian Labour is dedicated to the cause of preserving and making accessible the fast depleting documents on the working class with the belief that,

"Archive is to society what memory is to human beings"

The Archives was instituted in order to address the urgent need for preservation of rapidly decaying documents and material on labour and to provide for greater public access to these. It has long been felt that documents and data on Indian labour -now and in the past - are being irretrievably lost. This was primarily due to the neglect and lack of an organised initiative to preserve these documents in India. The Archives of Indian Labour was constituted to overcome this lacuna of adequate documentation of the life and labour of the working class. Its long-term objective is to act as a specialised repository of records and voices of workers, and preserve textual, visual and oral records on labour in India.

The archive, apart from being a repository of sources and documents also builds collections and initiates research in the field of labour history. The collections are generated through projects commissioned especially for the purpose and through institutional documents donated by various organisations. Documents related to the labour movement (generated by workers' organisations, state and business enterprises) are preserved at the archives, in addition to personal narratives, memoirs, video and audio material. The archives combine this effort with an effective public dissemination system of which the offline and on-line access to the digital archives is a major component. Seminars, working papers, film shows, and publications ensure effective ways of disseminating information generated by the archives and other research programmes. The core activities of the archives are, thus:

  • Digital Archiving
  • Research and Collection
  • Public Interface and Dissemination

Some unique features of the Archives are:

  • Full-fledged digital structure: The documents and material on labour related issues are stored and made available in digital form. This is the first fully digital archives in the country and aspires to be the prime repository of labour related records.
  • Integrated Multimedia Storage and Retrieval System: The Archives is enabled to store records and material in different media formats, such as printed material, audio, video and digital forms and provide access to these through an integrated delivery system.
  • Enhanced Public Access: The digital access system installed at the Archives enables fast and meaningful delivery of documents through different access modes, such as offline networked PCs at the Archives, through CDs, and now over the World Wide Web. This enables a far greater access directly to the documents right to the level of page of a document or a tagged audio and video clip than a traditional archival system. A much wider public now can have access to basic information on conditions of labour over time.
  • Integration of historical and contemporary records: The digital archives enables simultaneous access to records of both the historical and contemporary periods. This provides historical depth to contemporary issues and situates historical changes in a contemporary perspective.
  • Focus on Records of the Unorganised sector labour: The archive has through special collections focused on the activities of workers of the unrecorded sector. A large number of interviews of workers and labour activists and documents of the labour movement in the sector have been stored and can be accessed.

You Can Help Us

Archives of Indian Labour preserves any kind of resources on issues related to labour, including:

  • Personal correspondence and biographical material of labour leaders
  • Documents of trade unions
  • Journals and newspapers addressing the labouring poor
  • Pamphlets, leaflets and posters issued by trade unions
  • Relevant papers of employees organisations
  • Relevant documents of business corporations
  • Oral testimonies, personal narratives of participants in labour struggles
  • Photographs, video tapes and films on labour
  • Work songs and other similar material of workers' culture
  • Trial proceedings in courts of law
  • Records of individual and collective labour disputes
  • Papers on international working class bodies
  • Records of the Ministry of Labour, National Commissions on Labour and other Government Agencies

The prospective social partners, in building up the archive, include:

  • Trade Unions
  • Employer's Organisations
  • Documentation Organisations
  • Libraries
  • Government Departments
  • Journalists
  • Research Institutes
  • Individual Researchers
  • NGOs
  • Social Activists

You could help us by contributing valuable data to the Archives of Indian Labour. Please feel free to contact us at:


Archives of Indian Labour
Integrated Labour History Research Programme
V.V.Giri National Labour Institute
Sector 24, NOIDA
Uttar Pradesh, PIN: 201 301
Tele: 91-120-2411469
E-mail: ilhrpnli[at]gmail.com

ASSOCIATION of INDIAN LABOUR HISTORIANS (AILH)

The Association of Indian Labour Historians is a professional body of historians, social scientists and scholars interested in furthering the historical understanding of the conditions of labour and labouring people.

The Association was founded in December 1996. The AILH provides a forum for interaction among scholars through regular meetings, seminars, conferences and publications. A major objective of the Association is to preserve, generate and make accessible documents and materials relating to the history and heritage of the Indian working class.

The Association, through its activities, also aims to revive and disseminate research on Indian labour. These are pursued through collaboration with universities, research institutions and similar bodies and with individuals associated with the labour movement.

Dr. Rana Behal
42 Deshbandhu Society
15 Patparganj
Delhi 110092
Ph-91-11-2721744

Integrated Labour History Research Programme

The Integrated Labour History Research Programme (ILHRP) is a specialised research programme on labour history research, set up in collaboration with the Association of Indian Labour Historians (AILH), a body of professional historians and scholars interested in history of labour. The overall aim of the ILHRP is to initiate, integrate and revive historical research on labour in India and is the first of its kind in the country. The programme has three mutually reinforcing components such as digital archiving of Indian labour; writing labour history of India; and interdisciplinary research. The archive systematically collects and preserves various documents and material concerning the working class in digital form, through collaboration and networking with various stakeholders (such as trade unions, NGOs, governmental departments and business houses). Networking with similar agencies (national and international) involved in digital archiving is also a crucial aspect of the archive. So far, the archive is the country's largest digital repository of labour documents, with more than 15 gigabytes of data on the World Wide Web, for public access. The collections for the archives are generated through commissioning and monitoring research and collection projects on prioritised areas of labour history, which involves negotiation and networking with experts and agencies, both within and outside the country. The programme also organises regular academic discussions, seminars and colloquia on the prioritised areas of labour history. The programme has so far more than 50 completed/ ongoing research and collection projects. Since year 2000, the programme has published 18 working papers and organised around 85 seminars/discussions, including 10 international seminars on labour history.

ILHRP has recently launched a project titled, "History of Dalit Movement and Labour Movement in India". The Project aims to document and research dalit movement in India focusing specially on the movement's interface with labour movement. The project attempts to fill the glaring lacunae in contemporary scholarly and political discourse by researching the sociological and historical intersection between labour and dalit movement. The activities undertaken in the project will trace the emergence, track the turning points and analyze the regional dimensions of both these movements.

International Conferences on Labour History

One of the most significant contributions of the ILHRP has been the 10 major International Conferences on Labour History organised to deliberate on significant themes like 'Towards Global Labour History: New Comparisons', 'Expanding the Frontiers of Labour History', 'Work and Non-Work: Histories in the Long Term', and 'Labour History - A Return to Politics'. These conferences provide an important platform for historians, social scientists and scholars to deliberate upon varied dynamics of labour history, furthering the historical understanding of the conditions on labour and labouring people. Scholars from around 20 countries across the world have been participating in the conferences on Labour History.

Joint Advisory Committee

The programme is continuously advised and monitored by a Joint Advisory Committee, which is constituted of nominees and representatives from both the Institute and the AILH. The current JAC Members of the Programme are:
  • Dr. H. Srinivas
  • Prof. Sumit Sarkar
  • Director General, National Archives of India
  • Dr. Ravi Vasudevan
  • Prof. Madhvan K. Palat
  • Dr. Indu Agnihotri
  • Dr. Prabhu P. Mohapatra
  • Dr. Rana P. Behal
  • Dr. Chitra Joshi
  • Dr. S.K. Sasikumar
Centre Co-ordinator
Dr. S.K. Sasikumar, Senior Fellow

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Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Correspondence

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 15
  • Item
    NCCRS Letters file
    (AIRF, 1974) Mishra, J.N.; Bharadwaj, R. C.; Gupta, Priya; Fernandes, George; Krishnan, Parvati; Mukherjee, Samar; Gokhle, G.S.; NCCRS; Ved Mitter Vig
    over a hundred letters by individuals and from trade unions in the Indian Railways in the mid 1970s, many handwritten; some written to members of parliament and the Minister of Railways, to NCCRS and AIRF, and from AIRF dealing with loss of employment, conditions of temporary workers, planning of industrial action and the national convention of Railwaymen, post 1974 railway strike situation, facing disciplinary actions by Railway' management, harassment, transfer of workers, dealing with day to day trade union organisational matters, description and information on organisation of sit-ins, processions, meetings, 'Demands Week', putting up of posters, workers wearing badges; One letter is Marked 'Relief Fund Bulletin' giving details of contributions; letters with excerpts from News reports; another one makes mention of the 'Strike News Bulletin'
  • Item
    Letters File (AIRF Archive - Folder 15)
    (AIRF, 1974) Northern Railwaymen's Union; Western Railway Employees Union; All India Guards Council; South Eastern Railway Accounts Sub-head Association; Embassy of Japan; Central Railway O.H.E. Staff Association; Mukherjee, Samar
    Correspondence between railways trade unions shows discussions regarding proposal for strike; tensions among constituents -- notably with loco running staff association; concern about repressive methods by railway management and support for the six-point demands of the NCCRS for railwaymen and support for strike if demands are not accepted; to incorporate Bharatiya Rail Vidyut Karamchari Sangh in the national coordination committee (NCC) ; A handwritten letter indicating that strike notice has been served; A Letter from the Japanese Embassy in Delhi seeking information on the railway strike; A letter from a member of Parliament to the Railway minister regarding the railways withholding subsistence allowance of suspended workers ....
  • Item
    Letters and Applications (File No. NCCRS/1/74(ii)/AIRF 160-B)
    (All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF), 1974) All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF); Purvi Railway Karamchari Sangh; M.T.P. Railways Employees Union; South Eastern Railway Union; All India Railway Junior Supervisors Association; Indian Railway Signal and Telecom Staff Association; United Committee of Railwaymen; All India Station Master' Association
    Scanned file containing letters from NCCRS and all afflilate unions to Railway authorities and copies to state officials dealing with labour matters giving written notice of strike action in the Indian railways on 7 May 1974. The letters accompany a six point charter of demands of workers..
  • Item
    Letters and Applications File (NCCRS /I/74 Part II /74-75)
    (AIRF, 1975) National Rail Mazdoor Union (N.R.M.U.); Divisional Insurance Employees Association; National Coordination Committee For Railwaymen's Struggle (NCCRS); All India Railway Employees Confederation; Electrical Staff Council; Mahila Samiti (Santragachi; Insurance Employees Union; North East Railway Workshop Council
    Letters and applications from trade unions for redressal of grievances from workers in Railways and other establishments, letters and memorandums from unionists and others regarding job classification, reinstatement, opposition to wage freeze, regarding working conditions, promotion etc
  • Item
    NCCRS letters File No. NCCRS/1/74/Part-I
    (AIRF, 1974) All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF); NCCRS; AITUC; All India Railway Employees Confederation; Indian Railways Ticket Checking Staff Association; Northern Railway Workers Union; All India Guards Council; Eastern Railwaymens Union; Bharatiya Railway Mazdoor Sangh
    Correspondence file with letters concerning the resolution adopted at the February 1974 National Convention of Railwaymen and various interunion exchanges as well as letters addressed to Minister of Railways.
  • Item
    Correspondence file of AIRF regarding preparations of national convention of 1974
    (AIRF, 1974) Saksena, S.K.; Lall, Chaman; Purohit, Umraomal; Susankar; Anand, S.R.; Subramanian, M.R.; Dutta, Rasamay; Sitaraman, M.; Niranjan, T.K.; Verma, R.K.; Shrivastava, B.B.; Fernandes, George; Chatterji, U.P.; Chowdhury, B.P. Roy; Namasivayam, M.; Huque, S.A.; Maharaj, Anand; Ghosh, K.N.; Bhargava, M.P.; Sindhi, J.C.; Sarkar, Satyanarayan; Jayadeva, C.N.; Vincent, Antony; Vasu, M.; Sreenivasan, V.B.; Mukherjee, S.K.
    Correspondence file of AIRF. Contains letter(s) . . . to the India's Railway Minister; text of resolutions passed at regional and national level deliberations of unions and staff associations, regarding recommendations of the third Pay Commission regarding job designation of 'Mistri' [Mechanics] as junior supervisors and its implications for pay; the resolution demands equal treatment with other public sector employees, a revision of pay structure of class III and IV employees, and demands bonus of 8,33 percent and questions doing away with housing provisions for certain employees, Fresh job analysis and training, regularisation of casual or temporary workers etc
  • Item
    Correspondence File NCCRS/1/74 (Part-II)
    (AIRF, 1974) All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF); Indian Railway Workers Federation (IRWF); National Coordination Committee For Railwaymen's Struggle (NCCRS); Western Railway Labour Union; Divisional Insurance Employees's Association; Paschim Railway Karamchari Parishad; National Federation of P & T Employees
    Correspondence file containing letters, telegrams, from union leaders from multiple locations giving information on staff transfers, dismissal from jobs, with lists of cases, and post 1974 railway strike situation as seen by railway workers organisations. Also letters regarding problems of the functioning of the NCCRS; organisation of a National Convention in August 1974 and development of strategy in response to government action.
  • Item
    Correspondence regarding special convention of All India Govt. Employees' Organisations of 15-16 March 1974
    (AIRF) Indian Railways S.A.S. (Subordinate Accounts Service) Staff Association; A.I.R.F.; Federation of C.S.I.R. Employees and Workers Unions and Associations; West Bengal Democratic Workers and Employees Forum; Northern Railway Shunting and Cabin Mazdoor Association; Geological Survey of India Employees Association
    Correspondence file with letters from various govt employees organisations to and from All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) that are seeking revision of wages and working conditions in the light of the third Pay Commission and planning the All India State Employees Convention of March 1974 and subsequent industrial action
  • Item
    Letter to AIRF soliciting Fraternal Greetings for the 13th Circle Conference of A.I.A.O.E.U.
    (AIRF, 1974) All India (P & T) Administrative Offices Employees Union Class III, IV, P.M.G's Office Branch, Bihar
    Letter of March 1974 to AIRF from the reception committee of XIIth circle conference of All India (P & T) Administrative Offices Employees Union, Class III, IV, P.M.G's Office Branch, Bihar seeking fraternal greetings for the conference to be held on 24-26 March 1974.
  • Item
    Three Letters to General Secretary of AIRF
    (AIRF, 1979) Rao, V.K.T; Gramachandran, G.
    Two handwritten letters written in 1977 to J.P. Chaubey, General Secretary, AIRF. One of these letters concerns re-instatement of personnel dismissed from service during the 1974 railway strike.