Gherao, meaning "encirclement", is a word which denotes a tactic used by labour activists and union leaders in India; it is similar to picketing. Usually, a group of people would surround a politician or a government building until their demands are met, or answers given. This principle was introduced as a formal means of protest in the labour sector by

Subodh Banerjee Subodh Banerjee (1918 – 16 September 1974) was an Indian politician, belonging to the Socialist Unity Centre of India. He introduced the ''Gherao'' principle as a formal mode of protest in the trade union sector of India while being the Labo ...

, the PWD and Labor Minister in the 1967 and 1969 United Front Governments of

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fou ...

, respectively. Owing to its popularity, the word “gherao” was added to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary in 2004. Page 598 has the entry: “Gherao: n (pl. gheraos). Indian; a protest in which workers prevent employers leaving a place of work until demands are met; Origin: From Hindi” and Subodh Banerjee was referred to as the ''Gherao minister''. Gherao was being used by farmers against government buildings in the

2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest The 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest was a protest against three farm acts that were passed by the Parliament of India in September 2020. The acts, often called the Farm Bills, have been described as "anti-farmer laws" by many farmer unions ...

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Labour in India Civil disobedience Protests in India Protest tactics {{activism-stub

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