Anti-British Rising and Peasant Revolts in Assam - Questions and Answers

The British introduced a new revenue system in Assam that replaced the traditional Ahom system. They imposed cash payments instead of payments in kind and fixed land revenue. This system was more rigid and exploitative, causing hardship to peasants. The British appointed officials called Keyas to collect taxes efficiently.

Maniram Dewan was a prominent Assamese nobleman and one of the first tea planters in Assam. He served as a advisor to the Ahom princes and later became a vocal critic of British policies. He played a leading role in the 1857 revolt in Assam, aiming to restore Ahom rule. For his involvement in the rebellion, he was captured and executed by the British in 1858.

The Phulaguri Dhawa was a peasant uprising that took place in 1861 in the Nagaon district of Assam. It was a protest against the British imposition of taxes on betel nuts and paan (betel leaves). The peasants, armed with sticks and bamboo poles, confronted the British officials. During the confrontation, Lieutenant Singer was killed, leading to brutal suppression of the revolt.

The peasant revolt of Lachima occurred in 1894 in the Darrang district of Assam. It was a protest against the increased land revenue imposed by the British. The peasants refused to pay the enhanced taxes and organized resistance against the authorities. The revolt was eventually suppressed by the British with force, but it highlighted the growing discontent among peasants.

The Battle of Patharughat took place on January 28, 1894, in the Darrang district of Assam. It was a peasant uprising against the increased land revenue rates imposed by the British. Thousands of unarmed peasants gathered to protest peacefully but were fired upon by British troops. The incident resulted in the death of many peasants and is remembered as a significant episode of peasant resistance.

The peasant revolts in Assam were significant as they represented early organized resistance against British colonial rule. These revolts highlighted the economic exploitation faced by peasants under the British revenue system. They demonstrated the unity and courage of the rural masses in opposing oppressive policies. These movements laid the foundation for future nationalist movements in the region.

Tikendrajit Singh, also known as Prince Tikendrajit, was a Manipuri prince and military commander. He played a key role in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 against the British. Tikendrajit led the Manipuri forces in resisting British interference in Manipur's internal affairs. After the British captured Manipur, he was executed for his role in the uprising against colonial rule.

The revolt of 1857-58, also known as the First War of Indian Independence, was caused by multiple factors. Politically, the British policy of annexation through the Doctrine of Lapse angered many Indian rulers who lost their kingdoms. Economically, the heavy taxation and destruction of traditional industries caused widespread discontent. Socially, British interference in Indian customs and religious practices offended both Hindus and Muslims. Militarily, the introduction of the Enfield rifle with cartridges greased with animal fat offended the religious sentiments of Indian soldiers. The cumulative effect of these policies created an atmosphere of resentment that eventually erupted into a widespread rebellion against British rule across northern and central India.

Maniram Dewan played a crucial role in the 1857 revolt in Assam as one of its principal leaders. As a former advisor to the Ahom princes and a wealthy tea planter, he used his influence and resources to organize the rebellion. He established contacts with sepoys in various British regiments and coordinated with other leaders like Kandarpeswar Singha. Maniram Dewan's main objective was to restore Ahom rule in Assam by overthrowing British authority. He planned to capture the British treasury and key administrative centers. Despite his efforts, the revolt in Assam remained limited in scale and was quickly suppressed by the British. Maniram Dewan was eventually captured, tried, and executed in 1858, becoming a martyr for the Assamese freedom struggle.

The revolt of 1857-58 failed in Assam for several reasons. Firstly, it lacked widespread popular support and was primarily confined to a small group of disaffected nobles and some sepoys. The general population, particularly peasants, did not actively participate in large numbers. Secondly, the British had established strong administrative and military control in the region, making it difficult for the rebels to sustain their movement. Thirdly, there was a lack of coordination and communication between different rebel groups within Assam and with rebels in other parts of India. Fourthly, the leadership, though committed, was limited in number and resources. Finally, the British acted swiftly to suppress the rebellion, arresting key leaders like Maniram Dewan before the movement could gain momentum. These factors combined led to the failure of the revolt in Assam.

The revolt of 1857 holds significant importance in the history of Assam despite its limited success. It marked the first organized armed resistance against British rule in the region, setting a precedent for future freedom struggles. The participation of figures like Maniram Dewan and Kandarpeswar Singha provided early examples of patriotic sacrifice that would inspire later generations. The revolt demonstrated that even in a relatively remote region like Assam, there was resentment against colonial rule that could manifest in armed rebellion. Although suppressed, the revolt forced the British to reconsider some of their administrative policies in the region. It also created a legacy of resistance that would find expression in subsequent peasant movements and eventually the Indian national movement in Assam.

The Phulaguri Dhawa was a significant peasant uprising that occurred in 1861 in the Nagaon district of Assam. The immediate cause of the revolt was the British decision to impose taxes on betel nuts and paan (betel leaves), which were widely cultivated and consumed in the region. This tax was particularly burdensome for peasants who relied on these crops for their livelihood. In October 1861, thousands of peasants gathered at Phulaguri to protest against this tax. When British officials led by Lieutenant Singer tried to disperse the crowd, the situation turned violent. The peasants, armed with sticks and bamboo poles, attacked the officials, resulting in the death of Lieutenant Singer. The British responded with brutal force, suppressing the revolt and executing several leaders. The Phulaguri Dhawa represents one of the earliest organized peasant protests against British economic policies in Assam.

The peasant revolt of North Kamrup in 1894 was part of a series of agrarian uprisings against British land revenue policies in Assam. The immediate cause was the enhancement of land revenue rates that placed a heavy burden on the peasantry. In North Kamrup, peasants organized themselves and refused to pay the increased taxes. They held meetings and formed committees to coordinate their resistance against the British authorities. The revolt was characterized by non-cooperation with revenue officials and organized protests. When the British tried to enforce tax collection through coercive measures, the situation escalated into confrontations. The revolt was eventually suppressed by the British through the use of force and arrests of leaders. Despite its failure, the North Kamrup revolt highlighted the growing resentment against the exploitative revenue system and contributed to the tradition of peasant resistance in Assam.

The peasant revolt of Patharughat, also known as the Patharughat uprising or the Battle of Patharughat, took place on January 28, 1894, in the Darrang district of Assam. It was a protest against the increased land revenue imposed by the British colonial administration. Thousands of peasants gathered at Patharughat to peacefully protest against the enhanced tax rates and demand their reduction. The assembly was largely unarmed and intended as a demonstration of collective resistance. However, the British authorities perceived the gathering as a threat and dispatched troops to disperse the crowd. Without warning, the British soldiers opened fire on the peaceful protesters, resulting in a massacre where many peasants were killed or injured. The Patharughat revolt represents one of the most tragic episodes of peasant resistance in Assam and is remembered as a significant moment in the history of anti-colonial struggle in the region.

The Jaintia revolt of 1850 was an important anti-British uprising led by the Jaintia tribes in present-day Meghalaya. The primary cause of the revolt was the British attempt to impose their administrative control over the Jaintia Hills and interfere in the traditional socio-political structure of the Jaintia people. The British policies, including the introduction of new taxes and restrictions on traditional practices, were deeply resented by the Jaintias. U Kiang Nongbah emerged as the leader of the resistance and organized the Jaintia people against British authority. The revolt involved guerrilla warfare tactics against British forces in the difficult terrain of the Jaintia Hills. Although the Jaintias put up a strong resistance, they were eventually suppressed by the superior military power of the British. U Kiang Nongbah was captured and executed, but his sacrifice made him a folk hero among the Jaintia people.

The anti-British revolt of 1891 in Manipur, led by Prince Tikendrajit Singh, was a significant armed resistance against British colonial expansion. The immediate cause was British interference in the internal affairs of Manipur, particularly in the succession dispute following the death of Maharaja Chandrakirti Singh. When the British political agent, J.W. Quinton, arrived in Manipur with troops to arrest Tikendrajit, it triggered armed confrontation. Tikendrajit, as the commander of the Manipuri army, organized the defense of the kingdom against British forces. During the conflict, several British officers including Quinton were killed. The British responded by sending a large military expedition that eventually captured Imphal and suppressed the revolt. Tikendrajit and other leaders were tried by a British court and executed. The Manipur revolt of 1891 represents a important chapter in the history of resistance against British colonialism in Northeast India.