International Labor Day is an official public holiday in many countries around the world to honour the cooperation of workers or working people. May 1 or May Day is marked in countries such as India, the People’s Republic of China, North Korea, Cuba, and the former Soviet Union. May Day is also known as Workers ‘Day or International Workers’ Day. The principle of Labor Day is ‘Uniting workers for social and economic development.’
Origin of May Day in India:
Labor Day has a different origin story for different countries. Still, the main reason is to remember the attitude of the working class or the labour class against the exploitation of the population. The Labor Kisan Party of Hindustan organized the first day of May Day in India on 1 May 1923 in Madras (now Chennai). This is the first time in India that the red flag is used in India to mark Labor Day.

May Day: Origin in India, it’s significance and history
Today it is associated with the labour movements of the Communist and Socialist political parties. In Hindi, Labor Day is called as ‘Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas’ or ‘Kamgar Din’. Marathi people celebrate it with the name of ‘Kamgar Diwas’, and in Tamil, it is known as ‘Uzhaipalar Naal’. Interestingly, in addition to Labor Day, May 1 was also designated as ‘Maharashtra Day’ and ‘Gujarat Day’ in 1960, after the former Bombay State was linguistically divided by two Western states.
Remembering the Day:
At the height of industrialization, 19th-century industrialists in America exploited the working class and worked for up to 15 hours a day. Finally, on May 1, 1886, the working class gained unified courage and raised their voices against unfair treatment and demanded the leaves, right wages and breaks paid to the workforce.

May Day: Origin in India, it’s significance and history
The labour movement is also known as the eight-hour day movement, as it allocates daily work limit to eight hours, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for leisure. That is why Labor Day or May Day is being promoted by a various anarchist, communist and, socialist groups. During the Cold War from 1947 to 1953, Labor Day became a periodic event in the Red Square for the Soviet Union’s large military caravans, and the Kremlin’s top leaders, notably the Politburo, took part in the Lenin tomb. It became a lasting symbol of that period. To date, countries that refer to May Day as an official holiday have elaborated on famous and military parades that day.
History of the Day:
7 police officers and 4 civilians were massacred in a bomb explosion in Chicago on May 4, 1886. The explosion was in response to the police shooting peaceful demonstrators the day before. Eight anarchists have been charged with conspiracy after the bombing and sentenced to death. The Haymarket Massacre caused worldwide headlines, as none of the eight convicted thrown bombs.
After 3 years, a French Socialist Party decided May 1 as International Workers’ Day to honor the labour movement and to observe the Haymarket Massacre.