Someone has very well said, “Genius begins great work, labor alone finishes them.”
May 1 is celebrated as International Labour Day, also known as May Day. The day celebrates both labourers and the working class. In many countries, Labour Day is an annual public holiday. It is also known as International Workers’ Day, Worker’s Day or World Labour day all over the world. In India, the day is known as Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas or Kamgar Din.
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Labour Day originated in the labour union movement in the United States. In the beginning of the 19th century, when new industries came in, the labour class was exploited by the industrialists and they were made to work for up to 15 hours a day. To boycott this exploitation, the workers rose and demanded paid leaves, proper wages and breaks between work. The labour did a movement known as the eight hour day labour movement, advocating eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. So the Labour Day each year celebrates the achievements of the workers.
Though different countries have different stories for the day but the reason for Labour Day was the ill-treatment done with the labour class.
In 1886, on May 1, there was a general strike for the eight-hour workday in Chicago. On May 4, the police came in support of the strike and acted to disperse a public assembly when an unidentified person threw a bomb. The event resulted in several deaths as the police responded by firing on the workers. The incident is thus commemorated as the Haymarket affair, or the Haymarket massacre and the place where the incident took place was designated as Chicago Landmark in 1992.
Labour Day or May Day has always been the central point of protests done by various socialist and communist groups. It is an important holiday in China, North Korea, Cuba and the former Soviet Union countries. India celebrated its first Labour day or May Day in the year 1923. It was organised by the Labour Kisan Party in Chennai, then known as Madras.
We wish you a very Happy Worker’s day!! 2021