Finer Meaning, The Impact, The Essence And The Significance Of International Workers' Day Stressed
PREPAK bats for work culture
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 30 2013:
On the occasion of the International Workers' Day (May 1), the banned outfit PREPAK has called upon all the people of Manipur to nurture a healthy work culture for a self-reliant economy.
Asserting that peasants and workers are the backbone of any Nation's economy, the outfit stated that welfare of a Nation lies in the welfare of its working class.
A statement issued by the outfit's Assistant Publicity and Propaganda Secretary Leibakakngakpa Luwang traced the origin of workers' movement to USA.
It was on May 3, 1886 police opened fire and killed six workers when the workers were holding a meeting at Mc Cornick Reaper Works, Chicago.
Denouncing the brutal killing, workers staged a protest demonstration at Hay Market Square on May 4 .
Police again assaulted the workers who were protesting peacefully.
Enraged by the police brutality, the workers retaliated resulting in the death of seven policemen and four workers.
Four leaders of the workers movement; Parsons, Spies, Fischer and Engel were arrested and awarded capital punishment.
This incident sowed seeds of more forceful workers' movement across the USA.
This was followed by convention of workers coming from across the world at Paris on July 14, 1889 .
The convention resolved to observe May 1 as the International Workers' Day every year, recounted the outfit.
The first chapter of observing International Workers' Day was opened on May 1, 1939 when workers of Kangleipak took out a protest rally from Moirangkhom to the office of the Political Agent Jimson under the leadership of Lamyanba Hijam Irabot.
Even though May Day is observed in Kangleipak every year, the working class have been deprived all the more rather than devising their welfare policies since the day Kangleipak came under foreign occupation, the outfit alleged.
There was a well defined legacy of work culture under the principle of Kanglei Sinyel since the period of Meidingu Loyumba (1074-1122).This work culture which was the backbone of the kingdom's self-reliant economy was completely destroyed after Manipur came under the alien rule.
In place of the erstwhile work culture, a parasitic culture of idleness has crept into the mind of a large section of the society.
With many consumer networks based outside the State invading every home and hearth of Manipur, all the indigenous cottage industries have been rendered defunct.
Apart from usurpation of fertile agricultural lands, the once vibrant work culture has vanished from the social psyche.
Observing that Kangleipak is facing a very crucial period, the outfit asserted that it is the foremost duty of the present generation to rescue Kangleipak from the unfolding critical situation.
It is paramount to revive, re-instill and nuture the lost culture of discipline and diligence, it added.