The Biratnagar Jute Mill Strike (Majdur Hartal) of March 1947 was a laborstrike inBiratnagar,Nepal, by workers and laborers ofBiratnagar Jute Mill, Ltd. The strike was initially part of a dispute between mill workers and management regarding labor rights, but gradually the strike grew into a nationwide anti-regime movement.
According to the mill workers, living and working conditions in the mill were extremely poor, with no labor rights and no running water in living quarters.[1]
The demonstration started on March 4, 1947[2] under the leadership ofGirija Prasad Koirala, along withTarini Prasad Koirala,Man Mohan Adhikari, andYuvaraj Adhikari, as employees in the mill.[3] The strike was launched with initial demands purely based on labor rights, but later the workers also demanded politicaltrade union rights. TheNepali Congress supported the strike at Biratnagar.[4] On March 9,Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala[2] joined the strike with his supporters and the strike grew in number. TheRana dynasty regime sent state troops to Biratnagar to put down the strike.[5] The strike ended when the troops reached Biratnagar after they arrested the leaders. Some of these leaders escaped capture by fleeing toIndia. Six National Congress leaders (Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala,Girija Prasad Koirala,Tarini Prasad Koirala,Gehendrahari Sharma,Manmohan Adhikari andYubaraj Adhikari) were walked toKathmandu as prisoners. The Nepali Congress held a conference inJogbani,India and resolved to initiate a nationwideSatyagraha, orcivil disobedience movement.[6] Thus, the countrywide anti-Rana demonstration started.
