| Description | Correspondence and printed material relating to both the Indian Workers Association (Southall), which split from the national association in the mid 1960s, and the Indian Workers Front (Southall), which was formed following the split and affiliated to the Indian Workers Association (GB).
Papers relating to the Indian Workers Association (Southall) consist of:
/1 copy letter from Jagmohan Joshi to the Southall branch urging members to affiliate to the national association and asking them to consider the matter at the next branch executive committee meeting, 6 October 1964. Joshi has written on this letter that the Southall branch did not reply.
/2 -/4 circular letters concerning elections held at Indian Workers Association (Southall) in July 1965, including campaign letters in English and Punjabi for different teams of candidates and a leaflet setting out the nature of the election irregularities
/5 letter from Jagmohan Joshi, General Secretary, and Rattan Singh, President of the Indian Workers Association to members of the Indian Workers Association (Southall) dated 25 February 1966, discussing the ongoing investigation into alleged charges of ballot rigging and other irregularities in connection with elections at Southall. The letter also expresses concern that the Southall branch had attempted to amend the constitution of the organisation and to register their branch under the Friendly Societies Act and gives information about the response of the Central Executive Committee to these actions. The letter asks branch members to attend a meeting of the General Body on 5 March 1966 at which new office bearers and members of the local executive committee would be elected to restore good relations between the branch and the Central Executive Committee
/6 letter from Jagmohan Joshi, General Secretary, and Rattan Singh, President of the Indian Workers Association to members of the Indian Workers Association (Southall), dated 6 March 1966, reporting decisions taken by the Central Executive Committee in relation to election irregularities
/7 letter from Jagmohan Joshi, General Secretary, and Rattan Singh, President of the Indian Workers Association to members of the Indian Workers Association (Southall), dated 21 April 1966, informing them that the previous committee members of the Southall branch have been suspended, and giving the names of the new office bearers and committee members
/8 undated flyer in English and Punjabi issued by the executive committee of the Indian Workers Association in Southall, describing their programme for welfare and social activities, stating that their policy is non-political and non-sectarian, and giving details about their relationship with the central Indian Workers Association
/9 typescript copy of the Registration of the Indian Workers Association (Southall) as a Working Men's Club under the Friendly Societies Act, 1896, 8 March 1966, comprising the constitution of the organisation under these terms of registration.
/10 letter from Mohinder S. Padda, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association (Southall) to a recipient addressed as 'Secretary/Chairman' discussing arrangements for a conference held to decide a campaign programme against immigration legislation to be held 25 August 1973 at the Dominion Ball Room, Southall
/11 letter from P. S. Khabra, President, and Tarsem Singh Toor, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association (Southall) enclosing a copy of a summary of proceedings of a Convention against new immigration rules held 6 January 1980, organised by the Indian Workers Association Southall and attended by major national anti-racist organisations
/12 undated election flyer in English and Punjabi issued by the 'Broad United Front' contesting Indian Workers Association (Southall) elections, including photographs of candidates for each position on the branch executive committee
Papers relating to the Indian Workers Front (Southall) consist of:
/13 printed pamphlet entitled 'An open letter to the Executive Committee of the Indian Workers Association (Southall) consisting of a detailed account written by Harpal Brar attacking the policies of the Indian Workers Association (Southall), and protesting against the decision of the executive committee to deny him membership of the organisation, 24 July 1976
/14 letter from Harpal Brar on behalf of the executive committee of the Indian Workers' Front (Southall) to Avtar Jouhl, President, and Jagmohan Joshi, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association dated 26 November 1978, consisting of a detailed account of attempts by former members of the Indian Workers Front (Southall )to split the group, and the subsequent formation by these individuals of a rival organisation called the Indian Progressive Workers Forum. Two flyers produced by this group are attached to the letter. One gives details of a cultural programme and public meeting held 24 September 1977; the other is in English and Punjabi and asks supporters to oppose the visit to Britain of Indira Gandhi, and condemns the role of the Indian Workers Association (Southall) in inviting her to speak
/15 copy of 'Mazdoor Lahir', the newsletter of the Indian Workers Front (Southall), volume 2, number 1, January 1979, published in English and Punjabi. The newsletter contains articles about demonstrations against Indira Gandhi's visit to Britain organised by the Indian Workers Front and the Indian Workers Association and comments on a recent Indian Workers Association (Southall) General Body meeting
/16 information leaflet issued by the Indian Workers Front (Southall) condemning the practice by immigration officials of subjecting black and Asian migrants to gynaecological examinations and accusing the leadership of the Indian Workers Association (Southall) of betraying black and working class people, 3 February 1979
/17 letter from Harpal Brar, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Front (Southall) to Avtar Jouhl, Jagmohan Joshi and T. S. Sahota of the Indian Workers Association, 1 April 1979, responding to a series of questions raised in a previous letter about various issues relating to branch business
/18 letter from Harpal Brar to Teja Singh Sahota, Jagmohan Joshi and Avtar Jouhl, 30 April 1979, concerning an incident that took place at a demonstration in protest at Ealing Council's decision to allow the National Front to use Southall Town Hall for a meeting, involving the disruption of a speech by Harpal Brar by members of rival Indian workers organisations in the Southall area
/19 letter from Harpal Brar, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Front (Southall) to Jagmohan Joshi and Avtar Jouhl of the Indian Workers Association, 30 April 1979, informing them of a public meeting held by members of a rival organisation led by Laxmi Dass in honour of May Day, and urging them not to allow any members of the Indian Workers Association to attend this meeting
/20 letter from Harpal Brar, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Front (Southall) to the Central Committee of the Indian Workers Association, 11 August 1979, giving an account of matters discussed at a meeting of the executive committee of the Indian Workers Front (Southall) 4 August 1979
/21 letter from Harpal Brar to Avtar Jouhl, 24 August 1979 complaining about the attitude of the Central Committee towards his work, with particular reference to a dispute at a memorial meeting held at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, organised by the Wolverhampton branch on 1 July 1979 to pay tribute to the life of Jagmohan Joshi. |