Prem Oraon was an Indian politician and trade unionist. He was a leader of tea garden workers in North Bengal, and was a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from 1972 to 1977.
Oraon was born in Pilkhi village near Ranchi, the son of Bhaku Oraon. [1] He studied up to fifth grade at home. [1] As thousands of other Chota Nagpur and Santal Paragana Adivasis, he migrated to work at tea gardens in North Bengal. [1] [2] At the Kurty Tea Estate where he was working, around 80% of the workers were Chota Nagpur and Santhal Paragana Adivasis and 20% Nepalis. [2] In 1950 a socialist trade union, West Bengal Cha Shramik Union (WBCSU), was formed at the Kurty Tea Estate. [2] In the same year, a team led by communist organiser Debprosad Ghosh (Patalbabu) arrived in the area and began holding meetings, selling literature and distributing Sadri language leaflets to the workers there. [2] Oroan was one of the workers who got in contact with the communist organisers, and he formed a trade union that unsuccessfully sought to challenge the WBCSU. [1] [2]
In 1960, Oraon became a member of the Communist Party of India. [1] In 1966 a branch of the All India Trade Union Congress-affiliated Zilla Cha Bagan Workers Union (ZCBWU) was set up at Kurty Tea Estate. [2] ZCBWU organised a gherao at the company offices and a strike in January 1966, to which the tea garden management responded with dismissals of workers. [2] In 1969 the ZCBWU organised a two-week long strike. [2] Oraon, the garden secretary of ZCBWU, emerged as a popular leader of the Kurty Tea Estate workers and was noted for his charisma. [2] The socialists gradually lost their foothold at the Kurty Tea Estate. [2] In 1970 the Kurty Tea Estate management planned to shut down its tea leaf processing factory and instead ship green tea leaves to another plant. [2] Oraon organised a protest movement, picketing the tea garden for two weeks before the management withdrew plans for factory closure. [2] He lost his right leg during this protest, trying to drive away a tractor. [2]
Oraon was elected to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly in the 1972 election from the Nagrakata constituency, obtaining 21,429 votes (57.16%) against 14,463 votes (38.58%) for the incumbent CPI(M) legislator Punai Oraon. [3] In July 1972 the Governor of West Bengal appointed Oraon to the West Bengal Tribes Advisory Council. [4]
CPI fielded Oraon as its candidate in the Mal constituency in the 1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, finishing in fourth place with 4,816 votes (12.10%). [5]
He was married to Kamila, and the couple had four sons and one daughter. [1] He lived at the Nageswari Tea Garden in Jalpaiguri district. [1]