| Description | This file largely consists of copy letters from Avtar Jouhl, Secretary of the Birmingham branch, but also includes a small number of letters sent to the branch. Most letters date from the early 1960s, but there is also some correspondence dating from 1974, and from 1978-1979. The subject matter of the correspondence is mainly concerned with administrative matters relating to events and campaigns with which the branch was involved, including May Day festivals held in Birmingham in 1960 and 1979, but also includes letters discussing the representation of Indian Workers Association activities in the local press and arranging advertising for 'Mazdoor', the newspaper of the Indian Workers Association established by the Birmingham branch in 1961.
/1 letter from J. H. Nash, secretary of Birmingham Borough Labour Party, 29 April 1960, discussing the responsibilities of members of the Indian Workers Association who had offered to act as stewards at the May Day celebrations
/2 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Councillor E. W. Bond, Birmingham, 26 June 1961, apologising on behalf of the branch executive committee for not attending a celebration party and thanking him for his offer of help to the Indian Workers Association
/3-/4 letters from the Mayor of Smethwick to Avtar Jouhl, dated July 1961, making arrangements for meetings with the Indian Workers Association, and negotiating a meeting between two members of the Association and Patrick Gordon Walker, Member of Parliament for Smethwick
/5 letter from the secretary of Handsworth Dairies Limited, to the Editor of 'Mazdoor', 24 November 1961, giving permission to photograph a dairy yoghurt carton for an advertisement for Handsworth Dairies to be carried in 'Mazdoor'
/6-/7 letter from T. Geoffrey Ayre, Welfare Liaison Officer for the Commonwealth Welfare Council for the West Midlands, 15 January 1962, concerning allegations made by the Chief Education Officer of Smethwick that alcohol had been consumed at a meeting held by the Indian Workers Association on school premises, together with a copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Mr Ayre, 20 January 1962, refuting allegations that members of the Indian Workers Association had been drinking alcohol and become intoxicated during an event to celebrate the liberation of Goa from Portuguese rule, and suggesting that the caretaker of the hall the branch had hired was exaggerating what had happened.
/8 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Stella Jull, honorary secretary of the Movement for Colonial Freedom, 18 February 1962, enclosing a postal order in payment for copies of a pamphlet entitled 'Immigration' and asking for advice about the procedure for the branch to affiliate to the Movement for Colonial Freedom
/9-/12 copy letters from Avtar Jouhl, editor of 'Mazdoor', to businesses including Handsworth Dairies, Air India, and the Life Insurance Corporation of India discussing advertising in the publication, and to J. S. Rai and U. S. Randhawa, members of the 'Mazdoor' Enquiry Committee, discussing the possibility of appointing Ajit Singh Ramewal as editor, February-April 1962
/13 letter from Life Insurance Corporation of India to Avtar Jouhl, enquiring about the circulation of 'Mazdoor', 27 February 1962
/14 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to G. S. Pande, Leeds, 3 July 1962, enquiring about the forthcoming World Youth Festival and mentioning the Aldermaston March which they both recently attended
/15-/18 copy letters from Avtar Jouhl and J. S. Rai, President of the branch, to the Mayors of Smethwick and Birmingham, inviting them to tea with the High Commissioner of India Mr Chagla, at Queens Hotel, Stephenson Street, Birmingham on 27 February 1963, and to a public meeting addressed by the Commissioner at the Birmingham and Midland Institute following the tea. There is also a letter to the Resident Manager of the Queens Hotel, discussing the provision of Indian food items on the menu
/19 letter from the Resident Manager of the Queens Hotel, Birmingham confirming the reservation of a private room for afternoon tea for the visit of the High Commissioner of India, and enclosing a suggested menu, 13 February 1963
/20 letter from the Mayor of Smethwick declining the invitation to meet the High Commissioner of India, due to a prior engagement, 13 February 1963
/21 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl, editor of Mazdoor, to an unidentified recipient addressed as 'Sir', 24 June 1963, asking for details of advertisement charges
/22 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to the News Editor of the Birmingham Post, 10 November 1964, protesting against the misreporting of comments he had made about the split in the Coventry branch of the Indian Workers Association following allegations by Rajmal Singh that the leadership of the organisation was influenced by the Communist party
/23 letter in Punjabi from Avtar Jouhl to Mr Sohan, secretary of the Birmingham branch, making suggestions about future meetings, 14 May 1967
/24 newspaper cutting from the 'Birmingham Post' containing an article about the appointment of Avtar Jouhl as editor of Lalkar, described as a newspaper for Indian immigrants, sponsored by the Indian Workers Association and published weekly in Punjabi. The article also states that Avtar Jouhl has not left the Birmingham branch of the Indian Workers Association, but has been replaced as secretary by Kulvir Singh. The cutting is undated, but the article was probably written ahead of Lalkar's launch in October 1967.
/25 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl, editor of Lalkar Weekly, to members of the editorial board of the publication, 18 September 1967, giving information about the next meeting, to be held in Leamington Spa, 23 September 1967. In this letter, Lalkar Weekly is described as being the 'organ of the Association of Indian Communists, Great Britain'.
/26 correspondence in Punjabi between Avtar Jouhl and the president of the management committee of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick concerning resolutions passed by the Birmingham branch of the Indian Workers Association about the dowry system and other ceremonies performed during weddings, October 1973
/27 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to H.M Inspector of Taxes, Dudley, 21 January 1974, regarding the claim of an Indian Workers Association member for tax allowances. This item is closed because it contains personal information about an individual
/28 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Reg Birch, 10 February 1974, inviting him to speak on the subject of working class struggle in Britain at a Martyrs Day event to be held at Digbeth Civic Hall, 16 March 1974
/29 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to the Assistant Commissioner, High Commission of India, 15 February 1974, giving the names of members of the branch committee who are authorised to attest photographs for passports
/30 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to an unidentified Labour Member of Parliament', 25 March 1974, discussing Labour Party policy on immigration, and particularly the Immigrants Act 1971, asking for specific questions on this issue to be raised with the Home Secretary and Prime Minister
/31 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Sital Singh Sidhu, 9 June 1974, acknowledging the receipt of a donation
/32 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to an unidentified recipient due to speak at a Martyrs Day event organised by the Indian National Youth Congress, at West Bromwich Town Hall 10 March 1976, giving information about the association of this event with the High Commission of India and Indira Gandhi's State of Emergency policies in India and asking the recipient, as a member of the Labour Party, to join the party's NEC in protesting against the Indian government
/33 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Sarwan Singh Bains, Treasurer of the Indian Workers Association, 12 July 1978, discussing the finances of the Birmingham branch
/34-/39 correspondence and promotional material relating to the Birmingham May Day Festival held at Digbeth Civic Hall 1979, with details about the event, and including a typescript programme and printed flyers
/40 undated map of Smethwick
/41 statement about the intention of a member of the Indian Workers Association to change his name.
/42 blank headed writing paper of the Birmingham branch of the Indian Workers Association |