The hands that build our nation: Honouring May Day

Celebrate International Labour Day on May 1, honouring workers' contributions and the fight for fair treatment worldwide.

Every year on May 1, people around the globe celebrate International Labour Day, also known as International Workers’ Day. It’s a day dedicated to recognising the hard work and contributions of workers — the people who keep the world running, often behind the scenes.

The roots of Labour Day go back to the late 1800s, during a time when factory workers were made to work long hours in tough conditions. In 1886, in Chicago, thousands of workers went on strike demanding something we now take for granted — an eight-hour workday. What started as a peaceful protest turned violent during what is now known as the Haymarket Affair. Despite the chaos, their fight sparked a global movement for workers’ rights.

Today, May Day is not just a holiday — it’s a reminder of the struggles and strength of workers across the world.

While May Day began as a global movement, India’s voice joined in on May 1, 1923, when the day was celebrated for the first time in the country — right in Chennai (then known as Madras).

The man behind it? Singaravelar, a bold freedom fighter, lawyer, and advocate for workers’ rights. He founded the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan and organised two public meetings to honour workers and demand better treatment for them. This historic moment marked India’s entry into the international labour movement.

During British rule, many Indian workers faced harsh conditions — long hours, very low wages, and almost no rights. Whether in mills, plantations, mines or railway construction, workers were often overworked and underpaid. They had little say in their working conditions and were rarely treated with dignity.

Singaravelar’s celebration of May Day was not just symbolic — it was a call to stand up, speak out, and demand justice for Indian labourers. From that day onward, India began shaping its own journey of worker protection, rights, and recognition. (above picture) As part of this growing recognition of workers’ rights, the Triumph of Labour statue, sculpted by Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury from the Government of Madras School of Arts and Crafts.was installed at Marina Beach, Chennai, in 1959, to honour the contributions of labourers. Sculpted by Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury, from the Madras School of Art (now Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai) it stands as a symbol of their enduring fight.