When the Streets Fall Silent: What Strikes Say About a Nation’s Soul
In Bengal and beyond, strikes have long served as more than protests — they are the voice of the unheard and the final weapon of the ignored. From childhood memories of bandhs to the constitutional right to dissent, this is a legacy of collective resistance. Strikes may halt life briefly, but they often restart conversations we can no longer afford to ignore. Please read the first part of the three part series on the issue
When I was growing up in Kolkata during the Left Front days, hearing the words “Kaalke bandh aache” (“Tomorrow, there’s a bandh”) was a regular part of life. And those three words would change everything around us. It was like a switch: schools would shut, buses would vanish, shops would pull down shutters, and the usually busy roads would fall silent. Only slogans or a distant police siren would break that silence.
The political party calling the bandh would be out on the streets enforcing it. Those opposing it would also be visible, sometimes leading to arguments or even clashes. But for us children, it usually meant an unexpected holiday — a chance to play on empty roads.
That was the environment many of us in Bengal grew up with: the culture of hartal, or strike.
What really is a strike?
A strike isn’t about causing a disturbance, nor is it simply about skipping work. A strike is a collective decision — a way for people to stop routine work and raise their voices when something feels deeply wrong or unfair. It is recognised under the Industrial Disputes Act when related to labour or industrial issues, but in the broader social context, it’s a form of public expression. It is a peaceful way of saying: we can’t carry on like this anymore.
Bengal’s History with Strikes
Bengal has seen many kinds of strikes over the decades — led by factory workers, teachers, junior doctors, and political groups. Some were successful, others were symbolic. But behind most of them was the need to be heard.
In recent years:
- In 2019, junior doctors across Kolkata went on strike after one of their colleagues was brutally attacked. The strike later spread nationwide, raising the issue of safety for medical professionals.
- In 2023–24, over 42 days of strike were observed by junior doctors across Bengal following the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor in a government hospital.
- Teachers and job aspirants have been protesting for over two years at Dharmatala against irregularities in SSC recruitment. Hunger strikes, sit-ins, and peaceful protests continue.
These were not disruptions for disruption’s sake. They were expressions of pain, unity, and a demand for justice.
A Look Back at Key Strikes in India
India has seen many important strikes that helped shape our democracy:
- 1974 Railway Strike – Led by George Fernandes, over 17 lakh railway workers demanded better pay and conditions. It became one of the world’s largest industrial strikes, lasting 20 days.
- 1982 Bombay Textile Strike – Led by Datta Samant, over 2.5 lakh workers protested for the right to form independent unions.
- 2001 All-India Bank Strike – About 9 lakh banking sector employees opposed privatization and reforms.
- 2011 Anna Hazare’s Hunger Strike – His fast in Delhi pushed Parliament to act on the Lokpal Bill.
- 2020–21 Farmers’ Protest – A peaceful, year-long protest that led to the repeal of the three farm laws.
Each of these moments was about ordinary people standing up for justice and equality.
While Bengal and India have a rich history of strikes, they are not unique to this region. Globally, strikes have been pivotal in securing workers’ rights and social change.
Effect of Strikes on Businesses
Strikes inevitably disrupt productivity, planning, and the broader economy. When there’s a bandh or hartal, shops shut down, transport halts, business losses mount, and financial records reflect the dent. There have even been instances where companies had to shut operations permanently due to prolonged or repeated strikes.
But ignoring injustice comes at a cost too — often a deeper one. When trust breaks down and voices remain unheard, the economy might continue to function, but life becomes mechanical. People lose joy in their work, their eagerness to do better fades, and loyalty and dedication begin to erode.
Although not all strikes succeed in their objectives, they represent society’s way of trying to correct the imbalances in the nation’s balance sheet — not just economically, but morally and emotionally too.
Strikes Are a Part of Democracy
Many people assume a strike is a nuisance or an attack on the system. But actually, a strike is a tool within democracy. It is one of the ways through which ordinary people express disagreement, frustration, or demand accountability.
As Mahatma Gandhi said: “Strikes are an inherent right of the working people to secure justice.”
Yes, strikes disturb normal life. But sometimes, normal life hides deep injustices. And a strike is a way of bringing those hidden issues to light. When normal life gets disrupted during a protest, it’s not always the protesters who must be blamed — the administration has a responsibility too. So even if we don’t fully agree with a strike, we should at least try to understand it, because it’s rarely the first option, and more often the last one left. It is often the final cry of those who have been ignored for far too long.
Strikes and the Constitution
Protests are a democratic right protected by the Constitution of India. The Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, the Right to Assemble Peacefully, and the Right to Life empower citizens to raise their voices through non-violent means like strikes, dharnas, or marches — as enshrined in Articles 19 and 21.
