UPSC Prelims 2018 Q70: Modern History – Post - Independence India
- (a) B. Krishna Pillai, E.M.S. Namboodiripad and K.C. George
- (b) Jayaprakash Narayan, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and M.N. Roy
- (c) C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, K. Kamaraj and Veeresalingam Pantulu
- (d) Ashok Mehta, T.S. Ramanujam and G.G. Mehta
Answer: (d) Ashok Mehta, T.S. Ramanujam and G.G. Mehta
Explanation
Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) - Founders
Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) is a major central trade union federation in India, founded in December 1948 by socialist and Praja Socialist Party leaders who broke away from the AITUC (dominated by communists after independence).
| Option | Match? | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| (a) B. Krishna Pillai, EMS Namboodiripad, KC George | NO | These are Kerala communist leaders, associated with CPI/CPI(M) and AITUC, not HMS. |
| (b) Jayaprakash Narayan, Deen Dayal Upadhyay, MN Roy | NO | JP is a socialist, but DDU (BJS/Jana Sangh) and MN Roy did not co-found HMS. |
| (c) CP Ramaswamy Iyer, K Kamaraj, Veeresalingam Pantulu | NO | Kamaraj was Congress; Veeresalingam was 19th-century social reformer; CP Ramaswamy Iyer was Dewan of Travancore. None founded HMS. |
| (d) Ashok Mehta, TS Ramanujam, GG Mehta | YES | Founded by socialists Ashok Mehta, TS Ramanujam and GG Mehta in Calcutta, December 1948. HMS emerged from the socialist wing of the Congress that formed the Socialist Party in 1948. |
Answer: (d) Ashok Mehta, TS Ramanujam and G.G. Mehta.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. These are Kerala communist leaders (CPI/AITUC), not HMS founders.
- (b) Incorrect. Jayaprakash Narayan was socialist, but DDU (Jana Sangh) and MN Roy (Radical Democratic Party) were not HMS founders.
- (c) Incorrect. Kamaraj (Congress), Veeresalingam (19th-c. Telugu reformer) and CP Ramaswamy Iyer (Dewan of Travancore) were not HMS founders.
- (d) CORRECT. Ashok Mehta, TS Ramanujam and GG Mehta founded HMS in Calcutta in December 1948.
Key point
Trade union federations mapping: AITUC (1920, communist/CPI), HMS (1948, socialist), INTUC (1947, Congress-affiliated), BMS (1955, RSS/BJP-affiliated), CITU (1970, CPI-M), UTUC (1949).
Remember
The Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) was founded in Calcutta in December 1948 by socialist leaders Ashok Mehta, TS Ramanujam and GG Mehta. It emerged from the socialist wing of the Congress that had broken away to form the Socialist Party. HMS became India's third major central trade union federation, distinct from AITUC (communist) and INTUC (Congress-affiliated).
Common mistakes
- Confusing HMS (socialist, 1948) with AITUC (communist, 1920) or INTUC (Congress, 1947).
- Attributing HMS to prominent socialists like JP - JP was involved with Praja Socialist Party but Ashok Mehta led HMS founding.
- Mixing HMS founders with unrelated politicians from Kerala, Andhra or Congress.
Exam tip
Central trade union federations by ideology: AITUC (CPI, 1920), INTUC (INC, 1947), HMS (Socialist, 1948), BMS (RSS, 1955), CITU (CPI-M, 1970), AICCTU (CPI-ML), TUCC. HMS split from AITUC over communist domination.
Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Employment - Central Trade Union Organisations
- Bipan Chandra et al. - India After Independence