Kashmir’s overlooked Muslim labor uprising preceded May Day legacy
As the world commemorates Labor Day, a deeper, lesser-known chapter of labor history surfaces, overshadowed by the iconic 1886 protests in Chicago’s Haymarket Square.
Over two decades earlier, on April 29, 1865, a significant but overlooked labor uprising occurred in Srinagar, capital of Indian held Jammu and Kashmir, marking perhaps the world’s first organized labor movement.
Amid oppressive taxation and dire working conditions under Hindu Dogra rulers, Kashmiri Muslim weavers staged a protest, demanding nominal wages and an end to restrictive bans on emigration and job changes.
However, the protest was met with brutal suppression by the Dogra army, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 weavers and numerous injuries.
This historic event, predating well-known labor struggles, remains largely unrecognized.
Leaders detained after the uprising never returned, leaving behind an unmarked legacy of resistance.
Despite its significance, no inquiries or memorials were ever initiated.
Reflecting on such forgotten movements underscores the enduring global struggle for workers’ rights.
On this Labor Day, acknowledging these overlooked roots enriches our understanding of labor’s universal quest for justice and recognition.
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