Workers in several cities struck work during the war years. Which of…

Workers in several cities struck work during the war years. Which of the following pairs of city and strike is correctly matched?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Madras - Strike at Binny's mills for higher wages

Option (1) Calcutta - Waves of strikes in textile mills — Incorrect. The waves of strikes in textile mills took place in Bombay. In Calcutta it was the jute workers who struck work.

Option (2) Ahmedabad - Strike by jute workers — Incorrect. The jute strike belongs to Calcutta. Ahmedabad's textile workers struck work for a 50 per cent rise in wages.

Option (3) Madras - Strike at Binny's mills for higher wages — Correct. In Madras the workers of Buchingham and Carnatic Mills, known as Binny's, struck work demanding an increase in wages. This was one of the strikes of the war years, when prices rose sharply.

Option (4) Bombay - Strike at the Carnatic Mills for higher wages — Incorrect. The Carnatic Mills strike took place in Madras. Bombay is known for the waves of strikes in its textile mills, around 30 of them in September and October 1917.

NCERT (2026-27): “Workers’ Movements …
Though trade unions emerged later, workers did protest. Their actions then were, however, more spontaneous than sustained. Some of the nationalist leaders also drew in the workers into the anti-colonial movement. The war led to the expansion of industries in the country but it also brought a great deal of misery to the poor. There were food shortage and sharp increase in prices. There were waves of strikes in the textile mills in Bombay. In September and October 1917 there were around 30 recorded strikes. Jute workers in Calcutta struck work. In Madras, the workers of Buchingham and Carnatic Mills (Binny’s) struck work demanding increase in wages. Textile workers in Ahmedabad struck work for increase in wages by 50 per cent (Bhowmick 2004).”