France's May 1968 General Strike
What began as student protests over university conditions in Paris escalated into a general strike involving 10 million workers—two-thirds of France's labor force. Factories were occupied, transportation stopped, and the government briefly appeared on the verge of collapse.
President de Gaulle negotiated the Grenelle Agreements, granting significant wage increases and labor protections. The immediate crisis subsided, though de Gaulle's party won subsequent elections.
The events weakened de Gaulle's authority; he resigned within a year. May '68 became a reference point for mass social movements and demonstrated how worker-student coalitions could shake established governments.
Today's Indian strike combines organized labor with farmer groups and has drawn some student support—echoing the cross-sectoral coalition that gave May '68 its power. The question is whether India's one-day actions can generate comparable pressure.