May 1 - A Celebration of Work and Dignity

Irwin Almeida

Work gives us meaning and purpose. Whether an entrepreneur or humble employee, part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid, in an office or from home as in the recent pandemic times, work is an opportunity to use our unique gifts and talents to contribute something beautiful, something significant to our world. Yes, every one of us contributes towards making the world a better place to live in with a cleaner environment, and thus caring for creation.

A famous personality once said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." Volunteering for social work, getting involved in community service, extending a helping hand is something we all do at some time or another, consciously or otherwise.

In today's world, the "joy of giving" consists of several factors; it could imply monetary assistance, offering a helping hand to the aged and infirm, giving a patient ear and perhaps advice to someone in trouble, offering to teach underprivileged children or adults, substituting for a caregiver, offering

The ideal scenario is to make a career of a hobby and may be earn well from it too. Of course this rarely happens, yet there are ways to enjoy your work and make it lucrative. To accomplish this end one must pursue areas where your skills and talents must strive to reach the fullest potential. All of us expect appreciation of our work, so your efforts must be directed at making an impact on people so that they too could find some benefit from your work.

However, there are some tasks that we would rather avoid because of the dignity of the work or livelihood which one cannot afford to dent. Yet again, while we discuss the dignity of labour, we need to focus on the dignity of persons, irrespective of the nature of their work. Employment is just a means to earn a livelihood -- this is related to one's creativity and talents, abilities and interests. Therefore, one's profession or employment is an objective outcome of one's innate skills.

Two questions come to mind to break out of the humdrum mind set. Firstly, what value does the job add to one's life. In today's economic situation in the country, a job gives a person much more than remuneration and a few luxuries; it gives one an identity, independence, recognition, security and other experiences from which one could benefit.

The second question is how does one add value through our job? The answer is that while empowering and serving others one could feel inspired and motivated to work. One needs to use one's talents, resources, education and position at the job well so as to give back to the firm and the country.

The dignity of work needs to be appreciated even celebrated. Being appreciated is a wonderful and positive gesture, as it is also an acknowledgement of the workers contribution to the well -being of other citizens. We do not generally realise that the world would not function without the sweepers on our roads, those who keep our drains clear the manual scavengers who perform inhumane tasks putting their health and safety at risk, the farmers, the construction workers, the bakers, the delivery agents, the butchers, the hairdressers, the shoe shine boys barefooted themselves and the like. The dignity of work is everywhere evident.

Hence, as a means of celebrating the dignity of work, May 1 is observed as Labour Day. To understand this more clearly we must delve into the history of International Labour Day which started as International Workers' Day in Chicago, USA in May 1886, and gradually spread to other parts of the world, including India. The first celebration of Labour Day in India was in Chennai (then Madras) on May 1, 1923. Organised by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan, the Red Flag became the emblem of the labour class in India.

The Labour statue signifying the "Triumph of Labour" stands at Chennai's Marina Beach right opposite the University of Madras. The statue shows four men trying to move a rock, showcasing the hard work of the labour class and is significant as being the country's first commemoration of May Day.

After the initial May Day celebrations a meeting was convened and a resolution was passed declaring a holiday on the occasion. There were other pointers too which explained the non-violent principles of the party and independence for the workers of the world.

May 1 has special significance for Maharashtra, as the State also celebrates Maharashtra Day. The Samyukta Maharashtre movement began in 1956 with the demand for the creation of a separate Marathi speaking state out of the bilingual state of Bombay. That same year, the Mahagujarat Movement also began for a Gulerati speaking state to be carved out of the same territory. But both movements wanted Bombay city for themselves.

The States Reorganisation Act, 1956, defined boundaries for states within India on the basis of languages. The Bombay State formed under this act had people speaking various languages like Marathi, Gujarati, Kutchi and Konkani. But having two linguistic units in one state did not seem to work The Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was thus at the forefront of the movement to divide the Bombay State into two states -- one where people primarily spoke Gujerati And Kutchi and the other where people primarily spoke Marathi and Konkani.

Thus, on May 1, 1960, as per the Bombay Reorganisation Act. Maharashtra and Gujarat were divided and thus Maharashtra attained its statehood.

Other countries that celebrate May Day are: Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, S0uth Africa, Colombia, Baharain, China, Indonesia, Iran, France. In New Zealand and some parts of Australia this day is celebrated on the first Monday of October, while in US and Canada, it takes place on the first Monday of September.

Bandra (West) resident Irwin Almeida was once with The Indian Express and former editor of the EIJ (East Indian Journal)