অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

--THE GLORIOUS HISTORY OF ASSAM--

 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Ahom Kingdom

SUKAPHA (1228 – 1268)

 The Ahoms are the members of the
Shan branch of great Tai or Thai family
of South-East Asia.
 Sukapha left his homeland in about
1215 AD Mong Mao
 He reached Brahmaputra valley
(Namrup) in 1228 (Assam Divas 2nd
December)
 Established his first capital in
Charaideo in 1253.
 Assisted by Buragohain and Borgohain
 Beginning of history writing in Assam
Charaideo
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Estimate of Sukapha

 He had relentless energy, indomitable courage, rare foresight and great

diplomatic skills.
 He knew the mster art of dealing with the tribes and harnessing their
strength to his advantage.
 He always first proceeded with peace proposals
 If peace proposal failed, then only he applied force

Acceptance of the overlordship of the Shan invaders

 Sukapha came not as a conqueror but as the head of an agricultural folk in

search of land
 He opened up new areas for settlement
 He organized feasts and invited the local inhabitants. He sought their co-
operation in friendly terms
 He learned their language, honoured their religious rites, married their
daughters
 He led the simple life of a commoner, himself cultivating the land
 He accepted the local inhabitants to his social fold, placed them on an equal
footing with his own men
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

 Suteupha (1268 – 1281)

 Subinpha (1281 – 1293)
 Sukhanpha (1293 – 1332)
 Sukhranpha (1332 – 1364)
 Interregnum (1364 – 1369) SUDANGPHA / Bamuni Konwar (1397 - 1407)
 Sutupha (1369 – 1376)  First official entry of Hinduism to the Ahom court
 Interregnum (1376 – 1380)  The worship of Vishnu continued with the Ahom
 Tao – Khamti (1380 – 1389) deity Chom-Cheng (Chomdeo)
 Interregnum (1389 – 1397)  Shifted his capital to Charagua near Dihing
 First Ahom king to perform his coronation
 Sudangpha (1397 – 1407) ceremony, which was called Singari-ghar-utha.

 Sujangpha (1407 – 1422)

 Suphakpha 1422 – 1439)
 Susenpha (1439 – 1488)
 Suhenpha (1400 – 1493)
 Supimpha (1493 – 1497)
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

SUHUNGMUNG / Dihingia Raja (1497 - 1539)

Phra-Sen- Mong
 Also known as “Dihingia Roja” as he shifted Sadiyakhowa Gohain
his capital to Bakata, on the bank of the river
Dihing.
 Assumed the Hindu title “Swarganarayan”
 Adopted ‘Saka’ era.
 In 1523, Chutiya kingdom was annexed to
Ahom kingdom and Chutiya territory was Morongikhowa Gohain
placed under ‘Phra-Sen-Mong' who was
designated as ‘Sadiyakhowa' Gohain
 In 1536, Kacharis revolted against Ahom.
Their king Detchung was caught and
beheaded. The administration was placed
under a new officer called “Marangikhuwa
Gohain”.  Borgohain
 A new Minister’s post was introduced –  Buragohain
“Barpatra Gohain” in 1504.  Borpatro Gohain
 In 1532, Turbak Khan invaded Assam.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Sati Sadhini
Mula Gabhoru:

Mula Gabharu was the wife of an Ahom

General who lost his life in the battle during an
Islamic Invasion. After his death, Mula
Gabharu, seeking revenge and to defend her
country, lead the army and fought with
exemplary bravery and perseverance and
caused major damage to the invasive Muslims.
However, she laid her life during a direct
engagement with the General of the Invaders
Turbak. At her sacrifice, the Ahom Army got
Soon after the Chutiya king (Nitipal)
supremely inspired and fought the battle with
had fallen into the hands of the Ahoms,
renewed vigour. The invaders were defeated
his queen Sadhani, who preferred
completely and general Turbak was killed. The
death to surrender, committed suicide
Muslim Army was pursued away to the
by throwing herself from the top of the
Karatoya River across Gaur Kingdom. The
Chandangiri hill
Sulatan of Gaur then pleaded for peace and
offered his two daughters to the Ahom King.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

SUKLENMUNG (1539-1553):
Garhgaon
•He was popularly known as “Gorhgayan
Raja” as he shifted his capital to
Gorgaon. Charaideo
•He placed the deity of Chom-Cheng
(Chomdeo) in a separate temple outside
the palace, but inside the campus

SUKHAMPHA (1553 – 1603)

•Also known as “Khura Raja”

•Ahoms sustained defeat in the hands of
Koches in the battle of Dikhou and
Handia in 1562.
 অসমৰ গ ৌৰৱ াথা
SUSHENGPHA (1603 – 41)

• Also known as Pratap Singha.

• Also called Buddhi Swarganarayan
and Burha Raja AHOM
BHUTAN
• Fight with Kacharis
• Kacharis were first defeated MUGHALS KOCH
• But later Kacharis under Jasa JAYANTIA
Narayan defeated Ahoms
• Jasa Narayan assume the name BANGLADESH
KACHARI
Pratap Narayan and renamed his
capital city Maibang as Kirtipur KACHARI Maibong
• Two posts were introduced – Barbarua
(Mumai Tamuli) and Barphukan (Langi
Panisiya)
• Mumai Tamuli Barbarua started Paike
System.  Borgohain
 Buragohain
 Borpatro Gohain
 Barbarua
 Borphukan
 অসমৰ গ ৌৰৱ াথা
PAIK SYSTEM
Bora – 20 Paiks
• “PAIK” – derived from ‘Padatika’, meaning foot Saikia – 100 Paiks
soldiers. Hazarika – 1000 Paiks
• It was devised by Mumai Tamuli Barbarua in Phukan – 6000 Paiks
1609.
• Every male between 15 to 50 years of age, who Disadvantage:
was not a noble, a priest, a high caste or a slave
was a paik. Being tied to a fixed khel or territory,
• They were supposed to render service to the they were not free to pursue
Ahom state in exchange for which he was independent trade and thereby to
granted 2 puras of cultivable land (gaa mati). It improve their material conditions
was neither hereditary nor transferable. their way of life was fixed by the
• The royal service that the paiks tended to were state, which they had no right to
– defense, civil construction, military alter. Only by paying a commutation
production etc. money of Rs. 3/- per head per
• Group of four paiks (later three) living close annum could a paik sometimes
together were called got. obtain exemption from personal
• Paiks were organized into professional khels, service. Some paiks bribed the
each rendering a particular kind of productive officers to get their names
work like boat making and arrow making for concealed, whereas some took
the state. shelter in the Satras
 অসমৰ গ ৌৰৱ াথা

MUGHAL – AHOM CONFLICT

NARA NARAYAN DIED IN 1587

KOCH KINGDOM

AHOM
KOCH BIHAR KOCH HAJO BHUTAN

LAXMI RAGHUDEV MUGHALS KOCH

NARAYAN JAYANTIA
PARIKSHIT
MUGHALS BANGLADESH
NARAYAN
KACHARI
(Following many battles,
Parikshit Narayan finally
accepted defeat and was
sent off to delhi)

Parikshit Narayan’s brother Bali Narayan

took refuge with the Ahoms
 অসমৰ গ ৌৰৱ াথা

MUGHAL – AHOM CONFLICT

SUSHENGPHA (1603 – 41) TREATY OF ASURAR ALI, 1639

Both parties being tired of war, there was

a suspension of hostilities for some years.
But frinctions continued to recur. There Barnadi
were clashes between the parties in
Sualkuchi, Hajo, Bharali etc.
MUGHAL AHOM

But the prolonged war lasting or a period

of twelve years, so exhausted their
resources that both parties desired for Asuror Ali
peace. Accordingly a treaty was concluded
in 1639, known as the treaty of Asuror Ali,
according to which, the Barnadi on the
north bank of the Brahmaputra and, the SURAMPHA/BHAGA RAJA(1641-44)
Asurar Ali, on the south, were fixed as the SUTYIMPHA /NARIYA ROJA (1644-1648)
boundary between the Ahom and the
Mughal territories.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

MUGHAL – AHOM CONFLICT

JAYADHWAJ SINGHA (1648 – 1663)

• War of succession began in 1658.

• Shuja, governor of Bengal, left Bengal to
Barnadi
participate in the conflict Sankosh
• Koch king Pran Narayan assumed
independence and captured Goalpara and
Kamrup.
• Jayadhwaj Singha sent army, and captured
Gauhati from the Koch King.
• Aurangzeb usurped the throne in 1658.
• Aurangzeb made Mir Jumla governor of Bengal
in 1660.
• Mir Jumla proceeded from Dhaka with 12,000
horses, 30,000 foot soldiers, 323 war boats
and a powerful artillery in November 1661
• He reached Assam in 1662.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

MUGHAL – AHOM CONFLICT

JAYADHWAJ SINGHA (1648 – 1663)

Namrup
• Mir Jumla captured Jogighopa
• Jayadhwaj Singha sent army to Saraighat and
Garhgaon
Pandu, but they were defeated by the Jogighopa
Mughal. Mughal captured Gauhati on 4th
February, 1662
• Rajas of Darrang and Dimorua joined Mir
Jumla, deserting the Ahom King.
• Mir Jumla proceeded towards Garhgaon.
• Jayadhwaj Singha fled to Charaideo and then Charaideo
to Namrup. (hence, called Bhagania Roja)
• Mir Jumla captured Garhgaon in March, Guwahati
1662.

No sooner had the Mughals consolidated their position than the monsoons set in.
Communication was blocked, food supplies cut off, soldiers were reduced to great straits
and on the top of all this, the Mughal general had to face a series of night attacks on their
outposts from the Assamese side.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

MUGHAL – AHOM CONFLICT

JAYADHWAJ SINGHA (1648 – 1663)

The Assam king renewed the peace overtures at a time when Mir Jumla’s officers and
men appeared unwilling to proceed any further. Mir Jumla himself failed to withstandthe
climate of upper Assam. Pressed therefore, by circumstances Mir Jumla agreed to accept
the peace proposal.
TREATY OF GHILAZHARIGHAT, 1663

The terms of the treaty were negotiated by Dilir Khan on the side of the Mughals and
Atan Burhagohain on the side of the Assam king at Ghilazharighat on January 22, 1663.

• The Assam king and the Tipam Raja would offer their daughters to the Mughal Harem.
• He will pay war indemnity
• The Assam king would pay a regular annual tribute of 20 elephants
• The province o Darrang to the west of Bharali river on the north bank and the states of
Dimarua, Beltola and Rani to the west of the Kalang river on the south bank o
Brahmaputra were to be ceded to the Mughals
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

MUGHAL – AHOM CONFLICT

JAYADHWAJ SINGHA (1648 – 1663) Causes of defeat of the Assamese

Ramoni Gabharu, daughter of Jayadhwaj • Absence of efficient leader

Singha and Pakhari Gabhoru (daughter of • Failure of Jayadhwaj Singha to take various
Momai Tamuli Barbarua), was sent to the cross-sections of the people into confidence.
Mughal harem at an age of six years. She The nobles instead of identifying themselves
was given muslim name of Rahmat Banu with the king, took advantage of the
Begum after her conversion to islam. Five situation to fulfil their own interest.
years later, she was married to • Jayadhvaj Singha committed a blunder by
Aurangzeb’s son Muhammad Azam Shah. appointing Manthir Bharali Barua, the officer
in charge of the royal store, as the
Jayadhwaj Singha died out of dispair in commander-in-chief of the army at lower
1663. Brahmaputra valley above the Barphukan.
The military officers stationed there, who
On his deathbed, Jayadhwaj Singha took to it, a serious exception felt humiliated
exhorted his cousin and successor and declined to fight.
Chakradhwaj Singha (1663 – 1669) to • Many from the Ahom’s side defected the
remove the spear of humiliation from Ahoms. These betrayers divulged Ahom
the bosom of the nation. military secrets to Mir Jumla.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

CHAKRADHWAJ SINGHA (1663 – 1669)

Chakradhvaj Singha realized his predecessor’s folly of not seeking help from the allied
powers in the war against Mir Jumla. He therefor sought cooperation from the Rajas of
Koch Behar, Jayantiya, Cachar and the hill states of Kamrup. He also strengthened his
friendship with some border tribes of Assam like the Nagas, the Miris and the Deories.

The king appointed Lachit, the son of Momai Tamuli

Barbarua, to command the expedition against the
Mughals and appointed him the Barphukan.

In August 1667, the Assamese army led by Lachit advanced towards Gauhati.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

• Gauhati captured in 1667.

• Aurangzeb appointed Raja
Ram Singh to recapture Saraighat
Gauhati
• Lachit opened negotiation in
order to buy some time.
• Mughal advanced up to Hajo.
• Assamese were not yet fully
prepared. Lachit was still busy
in the construction of a
rampart at Saraighat. (Mumai Hajo
Kota Garh) Gauhati
“ দশতৈক মামাই ডাঙৰ নহয়”
“My uncle is not greater than my
country”
On the following day the Mughal army reached near Saraighat, but they had to give up in the
face of this invincible blockade, the idea of crossing the river
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Battle of Alaboi

• Ram Sing challenged Chakradhvaj Singha to

a single combat and undertook in case of
his defeat to return with his army to
Bengal.
• The Assam king, in his turn, grew impatient
and ordered his commanders to attack the
Mughals immediately.
• The Mughals then concentrated their army
near the Alaboi bill in the vicinity of Dalbari.
There was a vast plain in front of the
Mughal camp.
• In the battle of Alaboi, ten thousand
Assamese soldiers lost their lives.
• Soon after the battle of Alaboi, Chakradhvaj
Singha died in 1669. he was succeeded by
his brother, who in his accession assumed
the Hindu name Udayaditya Singha and the
Ahom name Snytpha.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Battle of Saraighat, 1671

• Ram Singha’s proposal – Return to 1639 status quo.

• But soon he received reinforcements and decided to play the offensive again.
• Udayaditya Singha sent an army of 20,000 soldiers under Atan Buragohain from
Chamdhara to Saraighat
• Ahom army – demoralized after battle of Alaboi.
• Lachit Barphukan was seriously ill and was in his sickbed. Not present in the battle field.
• The Ahom army started to retreat soon after the battle started.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Battle of Saraighat, 1671

• At this crucial moment, Lachit Barphukan, in spite of his

illness, rushed into the thick Mughal fleet.
• He had with him six war-vessels.
• This unprecedented attack of the Barphukan restored to
courage of the retreating Assamese soldiers who came
back and fell upon the enemy.
• A terrible contest took place.
• The Mughals could not stand the “dash and fury of the
Assamese onset”. They had to retreat with ignominy and
disaster.

Battle of Saraighat, brought a decisive victory for the

Assamese and officially closed their long-drawn conflict with
the Mughals. Ahoms consolidated their extension upto the
river Manaha. Lachit Barphukan did not longsurvive the
battle of Saraighat, he breathed his lastand was succeeded
by his elder brother Nimati alias Laluk Sola as the
Barphukan
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

The period of political instability (1673 – 1681)

• Udayaditya Singha died in 1673. His younger brother

Suklampha, in league with Debera Hazarika (alias Lechai),
poisoned him to death.
• Then Ramadhvaj Singha (Suklampha) ascended the
throne and appointed Debera as Barphukan.
• Ramadhvaj Singha fell seriously ill in March 1675 and the Rise of Debera Barbarua
question of succession came up.
• Debera caused Ramdhvaj Singha poisoned to death and
his chief opponents arrested or killed.  Udayadity Singha
• He then placed a prince name Suhung on the throne.  Ramadhvaj Singha
Debera did not spare anyone suspected of challenging his  Suhung
authority. He killed as many as fourteen princes.  Gobar
• When Suhung also became rebellious, he too was
assassinated after a short reign of 21 days only. After that,
another prince Gobar, was placed on the throne.
• Meanwhile, completing his works of fortification in
Gauhati, Atan Burahohai, along with the Barphukan,
attacked Debera, imprisoned him and subsequently killed
him. Gobar was also killed. He reigned for 24 days only.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
The period of political instability (1673 – 1681)

• The nobles and the officers requested Atan Burhagohain

to become king, but he refused stating that a minister Rise of Atan Buragohain
could not become king.
• Officers then placed Sujinpha (Hindu name Arjun) on the  Sujinpha
throne.  Sudaipha
• But real power was in the hands of Atan Buragohain. So
soon there was dissensions in the court between the
supporters of the king and the Burhagohain.
• The king was captured, extracted of his eyes and
afterwards stoned to death (1677). His eldest son
escaped, the second was blinded and the youngest two
were killed.
• Then, Atan Buragohain brought a grandson of a former
king and placed him on the throne with the Ahom name
Sudaipha.
• Atan Buragohain continued to be the de-facto ruler who
made and unmade the officers according to his own
sweet will.
• Later Lalok Sola Barphukan attacked Atan Buragohain,
and subsequently Buragohain was put to death.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
The period of political instability (1673 – 1681)

Laluk Sola Barphukan

Momai Tamuli
Barbarua Lachit Barphukan
Pakhari Gabhoru Jayadhvaj Singha

Prince Azamtar Ramani Gabhoru (Nang-sen)

Rise of Laluk Sola Barphukan

• Laluk Sola Barphukan refused to remain subservient to the
Buragohain.
• Atan Buhagohain dismissed Barphukan.
• Laluk Sola saught help from the Mughals and in return,
agreed to surrender Gauhati to the Mughals.
• Azamtara took possession of Gauhati in 1679.
• Now Laluk Sola, strengthened by reinforcements from
Bengal, proceeded towards the Ahom capital. Atan
Buragohain was arrested and put into confinement. King
Sudaipah and Atan Buragohain were subsequently put to
death
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
The period of political instability (1673 – 1681)

• Laluk Sola Barphukan brought in a fourteen year old

prince name Saru Gohain, and installed him as king in
November 1679. the prince assumed the Ahom name
Sulikpha and the Hindu name Ratnadhvaj Singha. But he
was better known as “Lora Raja” (the “Boy King”)
• Laluk Sola Barphukan soon assumed all powers.
• He gave his daughter in marriage to Lora Raja. Rise of Laluk Sola Barphukan
• Laluk Sola gave a new orientation to the Ahom right of
kingship by declaring that a prince having any physical  Sulikpha (lora raja)
deformity would not be eligible to sit on the throne.
• In pursuance of this principle, he, under the orders of the
king, is said to have killed or mutilated several hundred
scions of the royal family.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
The period of political instability (1673 – 1681)

Jaymati and Gadapani

Sati Jaymati
• Laluk Sola Barphukan’s main target of attack was
Gadapani, son of Gobar of the Tungkhungia royal family.
• Gadapani was roaming about incognito and spies were
sent out on foot to gather information.
• Gadapani’s pregnant wife Jaymati was therefor brought
to the court and interrogated, but she refused to say
anything about her husband’s whereabouts.
• She was then tortured to death at Jerenga pathar.
• In the meantime, the chief nobles and officers became
agitated with the activities of the Barphukan. The noble sacrifice of
• They therefore had him killed in 1680. Jaymati for the cause of
• The nobles held a meeting at Kaliabar and decided to her husband and hence
declare Gadapani as the king. for her country is still held
• Gadapani was declared king in 1681. in great esteem by the
• Gadapani marched towards the capital with an army and Assamese people.
overthrew Lora Raja.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

GADADHAR SINGHA (1681 – 1696)

• On ascending the throne, Gadadhar Singha sent a
large army to recapture Guwahati.
• The last series of battles between the Assamese
and the Mughals took place at Itakhuli (near
Sukleswar in Gauhati). It is known as battle of
Itakhuli.
• Mughals were defeated and the river Manas
remained the boundary between Mughal India and
the Ahom.

• Gadadhar Singha had a number of roads and

bridges constructed and several tanks excavated.
• He was the first to introduce the system of survey
and measurement of land.
• Though formally not a Saktist, Gadadhar Singha
greatly patronized Sakta Hinduism. The temple of
Umananda on the Peacock island was built under
his auspieces.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
Persecution of the Vaishnavas Growing influence of the Vaishnava Satras
• Many Satras were pillaged and their heads
were either killed or banished to Namrup. • Satras were under the royal
• The false kewaliya bhakats were forced to patronage since the days of Jayadhvaj
eat the flesh of swine, cows or fowls, robbed Singha.
of their properties and compelled to do • Satras had vast extent of land and
manual labour. Some were mutilated and they enjoyed the service of several
others were put to death, some were hundreds of paiks
offered up as sacrifice to idols. • Jayadhvaj Singha granted celibate
disciples (Kewaliya Bhakat) exemption
from personal labour to the state.
• The number of their desciples
increased so greatly that offices of
Gadadhar Singha died in 1696. He was Phukan, Hazarika, Saikia, Bora etc.
succeeded by his elder son Lai with the Ahom parallel to the pattern of the Ahom
name Sukhrangpha and the Hindu name Rudra administrative set-up were
Singha. introduced.
• Thus a state within a state had grown
up and som Vaishnava Satradhikars
began to interfere even with purely
political matters of the kingdom
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

RUDHRA SINGHA (1696 – 1714)

“Do not appoint persons of low social ranks in high offices. Do not trust persons with
foreheads smeared with horizontal lines. Do not entertain the couriers with female –
dancers dancing to the tune of drums” – Gadadhar Singha

Policy towards the satras Patronage of cultural activities

• He created a special khel called Bairagi, whose
• He brought back the
function was to visit different countries and report
satradhikars and ordered that
the king of the nature of the social and cultural life
the Brahmana Gosains should
led there.
have their headquarters on the
• It is said that it was he, who, for the first time had
Majuli.
the Bihu celebrated in the palace courtyard and
• He received the Auniati Gosain,
organized varied performances for full seven days
who was the most influential of
including competitions of different kinds of sports
the Brahmana Satradhikars, as
and games and cultural shows
his religious preceptor.
• There were a number of poets and scholars in his
• Policy of divide and rule – Synod
court. The most notable was Kabiraj Chakravarty
of Garhgaon (1702) – it
who composed the famous drama Sankha-Chuda-
debarred the Sudra Mahantas
Badha, and had also translated the Abhijnanam
from initiating the Brahmanas.
Sakuntalam and Brahma Vaivarta Purana into
Assamese.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

RUDHRA SINGHA (1696 – 1714)

Architecture:

• Kareng Ghar
• Jaysagar tank
• Jaydaul
• Namdang bridge, etc.

• Rudra Singha’s inclination towards Sakta Hinduism increased as he grew older and at last
he decided to formally embrace that religion. A Sakta Brahmin priest Krishnaram
Nyayavagish was summoned from Bengal for this purpose. But the king died before
having his initiation.
• He however instructed his sons to accept the Bengali priest as their religious preceptor
and establish him on the Nilachala hill, for which the priest came to be known as
Parvatiya Gohain.
• Rudra Singha expressed his will from his death bed that all of his sons should become
kings in order of succession.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

SIVA SINGHA (1714 – 1744) Phuleswari

• Siva Singha was greatly influenced by Brhmana She attempted to make Saktism
priests and astrologers. In 1722, at the the state religion. She summoned
suggestion of the Parvatiya Gosain, he endowed the Sudra Mahantas to the Durga
his chief queen Phuleswari with the supreme puja and compelled them to bow
vest. The latter accordingly took the regalia to their heads before the goddess,
her hands with the title Bar Raja. have their foreheads besmeared
with the blood of the sacrificed
• Phuleswari died in 1731. the king then married animals and made them accept
her sister Draupadi and made her Bar Raja. nirmali and prasad. More than
others, the powerful Maymara
• At her death in 1738, she was succeeded as Bar Mahanta considered it aa serious
Raja by another wife of Siva Singha, named insult, not to be forgotten or
Enadari, who was renamed as Sarveswari. forgiven.

• Phuleswari – Gaurisagar tank Phuleswari also suppressed the

• Draupadi – Sivsagar tank. Siva doul. Famous age-old Ahom custom of burying
Assamese work on elephantry called Hsti their dead and compelled them to
Vidyarnava was written under her patronage. take to cremation.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

SIVA SINGHA (1714 – 1744) Phuleswari

• Siva Singha was greatly influenced by Brhmana She attempted to make Saktism
priests and astrologers. In 1722, at the the state religion. She summoned
suggestion of the Parvatiya Gosain, he endowed the Sudra Mahantas to the Durga
his chief queen Phuleswari with the supreme puja and compelled them to bow
vest. The latter accordingly took the regalia to their heads before the goddess,
her hands with the title Bar Raja. have their foreheads besmeared
with the blood of the sacrificed
• Phuleswari died in 1731. the king then married animals and made them accept
her sister Draupadi and made her Bar Raja. nirmali and prasad. More than
others, the powerful Maymara
• At her death in 1738, she was succeeded as Bar Mahanta considered it aa serious
Raja by another wife of Siva Singha, named insult, not to be forgotten or
Enadari, who was renamed as Sarveswari. forgiven.

• Phuleswari – Gaurisagar tank Phuleswari also suppressed the

• Draupadi – Sivsagar tank. Siva doul. Famous age-old Ahom custom of burying
Assamese work on elephantry called Hsti their dead and compelled them to
Vidyarnava was written under her patronage. take to cremation.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

PRAMATTA SINGHA / SUNENPHA (1744 – 1751)

• Rebuilt Rang Ghar Rise of Kirti Chandra Barbarua
• Also built Singhaduar at Gargaon, Sukleswar
and Redreswar Temple at Guwahati • Towards the end of the rule of
Rajeswar Singha, Kirti Chandra
Barbarua became very powerful.
RAJESWAR SINGHA (1751 – 1769) • Numali bargohain wrote a chronicle
entitled Chakari pheti Buranji, where
• Helped Manipuri king Jay Singha in his he made some aspersions regarding
expedition against the Burmese. (Lata-Kata- the origin of the Barbarua. The
Ran) buranjis were destroyed by Kirti
• Manipuri Queen – Kuranganayani Chandra Barbarua.
• He built Kareng Ghar at Gargaon, Basistha • The arrogance and over bearing
Ashram, Navagraha Mandir, Chitrachal conduct of the Barbarua created
Mandir, Har-Gouri Devalya and Talatal Ghar. much resentment among the nobles
as well as in the Mayamara Mahanta,
who had to bear grave insult at his
hands.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

LAKSHMI SINGHA (1769 – 1780) Mayamara Satra

Kirti Chandra Barbarua was the de-facto ruler

• Founder – Aniruddha Bhuyan
• The satra – Mayamara.
First Moamariya rebellion, 1769 - 1770 • Its disciples – Moamoriya/ Purani
• In October 1769, disciples of Mayamara Satra, Bhakats/ Mataks / Marans
Nahor Khora and Ragha Maran were mercilessly • This satra freely admitted converts
beaten at the orders of Kirti Chandra Barbarua. from the backward or depressed
• Moamorians revolted against Ahom rule and classes of the society and placed
occupied Rongpur. them on an equal footing with the
• Captured Laxmi Singha and killed Kirtichandra caste-Hindus like the Brahmanas.
Barbarua • The Moamariyas were extremists
• They placed their nominee Ramakanta (son of in their reverence to their Guru
Nahor Khora) on the throne. Ragha became the and very strict in observing the
Barbarua rites of their sect. their Mahanta
• Due to their inexperience, they could not hold the was not only their spiritual head,
power. The weaknesses on the part of the rebels but also their virtual sovereign.
were properly utilized by the royalists, who soon
organized a strong counter offensive.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

LAKSHMI SINGHA (1769 – 1780) Mayamara Satra

First Moamariya rebellion, 1769 - 1770

• Founder – Aniruddha Bhuyan
• On the Assamese New Year’s Day in 1770 (14th • The satra – Mayamara.
April), Ragha was killed by a Huchary party. • Its disciples – Moamoriya/ Purani
Ramakanta escaped but was shortly captured Bhakats/ Mataks / Marans
and killed. • This satra freely admitted converts
• Lakshmi Singha was reinstated on the throne. from the backward or depressed
• The restored Ahom monarchy ordered a classes of thesociety and placed
general massacre of the Marans, who were the them on an equal footing with the
most prominent among the rebels. caste-Hindus like the Brahmanas.
• The Mayamara Mahanta and his son were • The Moamariyas were extremists
arrested. in their reverence to their Guru
and very strict in observing the
Such a ruthless policy of repression brought fresh rites of their sect. their Mahanta
troubles for the Ahom government. Maran was not only their spiritual head,
survivors considered it to be a sacred duty to but also their virtual sovereign.
avenge the death of their brothers who had
perished by the sword of the Ahoms.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

GAURINATH SINGHA (1780 – 1795)

• In April 1782, when the king had just finished the celebration of the coronation
ceremony at Garhgaon, the insurgents entered the palace campus in disguise and set fire
to the coronation hall.
• The king promulgated an order that the Moamariyas should be killed without
discrimination. Maniram Dewan wrote in 1838 – “The water of the rivers could not be
drunk and the people could not walk along the roads. Even the water and fish of the
Brahmaputra became tainted with the stinking smell of the corpses.”
• The inhuman recourse further aggravated the situation. The Moamariyas attacked Ahom
capital. Panic-stricken, the king left for Gauhati, accompanied by most of his officers, and
leaving Purnananda Burhagohain in charge of the affairs in Rangpur. Purnananda
Burhagohain could not defend the capital for a very long time.
• Unable to bring the situation under control with his own arms, Gaurinath Singha wrote to
Lord Cornwallis, the Governor General, asking for military assistance and undertaking to
pay for the troops that might be sent for the purpose.
• Accordingly, 360 sepoys under Captain Welsh reached Goalpara on November 2, 1792.
• The revolt was suppressed and Gaurinath Singha was reinstated on the throne.
• Thomas Welsh went back to Bengal in 1795.
• Gaurinath Singha shifted his capital from Rangpur to Jorhat.
• Gaurinath Singha died in 1795.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

KAMALESWAR SINGHA (1795 – 1811)

• Gaurinath Singha died in 1795 without

leaving any male issue. Purnananda
Buragohain managed to install Kamaleswar
Singha on the throne. Purnananda
Buragohain now beame the de facto ruler of
the kingdom.
• The first trouble which confronted the new
king and his premier Purnananda was a
rising in Kamrup led by Haradatta
Choudhury and his brother Biradatta.
• The revolt was suppressed by Kalia
Bhomora, the new incumbent to the office The same site was selected by the
of Barphukan Indian National Government for the
• Kalia Bhomora was conferred the title second bridge over Brahmaputra,
Pratap Ballabh for his service. which was name as Kalia Bhomora
• It was this Barphukan, who is said to have Bridge in the revered memory of the
started the work of constructing a bridge Barphukan.
over the Brahmaputra near Silghat. But his
successors failed to follow up the project.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

CHANDRAKANTA SINGHA (1811 – 1817)

• Brother of Kamaleswar Singha Circumstances leading to the

• Purnananda Buragohain continued to be the de first Burmese invasion
facto ruler.
• As he grew up, Chandrakanta Singha began to • Purnananda Buragohain sent a
resent the influence of the Buragohain. force to apprehend the
• The king developed friendship with a youth Barphukan.
named Satram, who soon obtain supreme power • Badan Chandra escaped to
and hatched a conspiracy to assassinate the Bengal and sought help from
Burhagohain. the British. But the Governor
• Kolia Bhomora was succeeded by Badan Chandra General refused to accede to his
as the Barphukan. request.
• Badan Chandra Barphukan grew lust for power • Badan Chandra then went to the
and wealth, and became arrogant and corrupt. Burmese court at Amarapura for
• Reports of Badan Chandra’s mismanagement help.
including that of misappropriation of the items • The Burmese, who were ever
and articles of worship in the Kamakhya temple anxious to extend their
reached the Buragohain. There were also reports dominion westwards, made
of oppression on the people of Kamrup. their appearance on the scene
in 1817.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

First Burmese invasion (1817)

• The Burmese army arrived at Namrup

early in 1817.
• On hearing the advance of the enemy, the
Buragohain sent 7 companies of sepoys to
resist their advance. The two parties
entered into an encounter at Ghiladhari.
Ahoms were defeated.
• The news reached the Buragohain that the
enemy was accompanied by Badan
Chandra. At this, the Buragohain became
so wild with rage that he collapsed
suddenly, possibly of a heart attack.
• Badan Chandra entered Jorhat in the
middle of March, 1817, allowed
Chandrakanta to continue his rule, but
himself became the de facto ruler with the
title Mantri Phukan.
• The Burmese army returned with a huge
indemnity and an Ahom princess for the
Burmese monarch.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Second Burmese invasion (1819)

• Shortly after the return of the Burmese

army, Badan Chandra was assassinated.
• Ruchinath (Purnananda Buragohain’s son)
attacked Jorhat, deposed and mutilated
Chandrakanta.
• Purandar Singha, another scion of the
royal family, was enthroned in his place.
• Chandrakanta once again appealed to the
Burmese who returned with a larger force
in 1819 under the command of Ala Mingi.
• Purandar fled to Gauhati.
• Chandrakanta was reinstated on the
throne by the Burmese.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Third Burmese invasion (1821)

• Chandrakanta, however, soon realized that Burmese attitude towards Assam had
undergone a change.
• The new Burmese king, Ba-gyi-dwa, was determined to make Assam a part of the
Burmese kingdom.
• In January 1820, the Burmese army left for Burma, leaving Assam affairs in charge
of Patalang Barbarua.
• But an Assamese by birth, Patalang soon espoused the cause of Assam and
persuaded Chandrakanta to shake off the Burmese allegiance.
• He also constructed a fort in Dighalighat, Jaypur with the object of fighting the
Burmese.
• It was about this time that the Burmese king sent royal ornaments and dresses to
the court of Chandrakanta Singha. When they saw the construction of the fort, they
suspected evil motive on the part of Patlang and got him killed.
• Chandrakanta became anxious about his own safety and fled to Gauhati and then
to Bengal.
• The Burmese asked him to come back and held out assurances to him, but he did
not reciprocate their professed friendhip.
• The Burmese then placed one Jogeswar Singha (1821-1824) on the throne.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Burmese rule in Assam (1821- 1824)

This period was marked by blood-shed, rapine, plunder and devastation. The Brumese
imposed arbitrary tax on all classes of people and realized their payment by force. In lieu of
personal sercice, commutation money at the rate of Rs. 6 per paik was imposed.

According to Chang Ang, a Burmese commander of the first expeditionary force to Assam –

“The roads became red with the blood. The crows and vultures dragged the corpses and had
their food in abundance. Hundreds of wounded, half dead and dead were to be found
everywhere in the roads and jungles. There were corpses without hands, some without legs
and waists and some were with wounded bellies and entrails out. Villages were set on fire.
Women were lifted. It is impossible to estimate the number of persons who fled, were killed
or deported to Burma. There was wholesale depopulation and widespread misery and
agony.”

It was in this worst hour of peril that the British appeared as the deliverer of the people of
Assam, who, therefore, hailed their advent with unbounded joy and offered them the most
loyal co-operation.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

First Anglo-Burmese war (1824- 1826)

• In November 1823, David Scott was apponted

as Agent to the Goveror General of the North
Eastern Frontier in addition to his duties as
Commissioner of Rangpur.
• Scott’s continued reports of the alarming
situation of the frontier convinced the Governor
General of the necessity of adopting strong
measures to punish and humble the Burmese.
• The British declared war against the Burmese in
1824.
• By the beginning o 1826 the Burmese were no
longer capable of offering any resistance to the
British.
• Bai-gyi-daw and the British signed a peace
treaty on 24 February 1826 at Yandaboo.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

TREATY OF YANDABO – 24TH FEBRUARY, 1826

“His majesty, the king of Ava, renounces all

claims upon, and will abstain from all future
interference with the principality of Assam and
its dependencies, and also the contiguous petty
states of Cachar and Jayantia”

In case of Manipur, the Burmese recognized

Lord Amherst (1823-28)
Gambhir Singh’s right to the throne but
remained silent about his future relationship
with the Burmese Monarchy.

In case of Assam, Cachar and Jayantia, the

Burmese simply formalised their withdrawal,
leaving a political vacuum. It was now left to
British Government to settle its terms with
legitimate rulers.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

???

Raja Ram Singh

Assam
Raja Gambhir Singha
Jayantia
Manipur
Cachar
Raja Govinda Chandra

On the eve of the war, in 1824, separate

treaties were signed by David Scott with Rajas “We are not led into your country by the
of Cachar and Jayantia whereby the rulers of thirst of conquest, but are forced in our
these kingdom placed their territories under own defense, to deprive our enemy of
the protection of British against external annoying us. You may, therefore, rest
aggression. So the right of Raja Govinda assured that we will re-establish a
Chandra and Raja Ram Sing to their respective Government adapted to your wants and
throne were recognized by the British. But no calculated to promote the happiness of
such treaty was signed with Assam. Hence, all classes”.
after the war, the British felt free to decide her
future.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Two main factors forced British to change

their position –

• Fear of renewed Burmese invasion

• The newly discovered economic
potentials of the region
Regarding upper Assam, the Company
David Scott proposed to restore the Ahom argued –
Monarchy under the protection of the
company. But it was not accepted and he • None of the aspirant to the throne
was asked to submit a new proposal. He rendered any aid to the British during the
submitted a fresh proposal in 1828 war.
• Large number of claimants. Difficult to
• Retention of lower Assam by the British select a prince who would command
upto Biswanath support of the majority.
• Hand over of upper Assam to an Ahom • There was possibility of economic
prince. potentiality of upper Assam.
Company accepted the first proposal. In
March 1828, the British permanently
annexed lower Assam to its dominion.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Two main factors forced British to change

their position –

• Fear of renewed Burmese invasion

• The newly discovered economic
potentials of the region
Regarding upper Assam, the Company
David Scott proposed to restore the Ahom argued –
Monarchy under the protection of the
company. But it was not accepted and he • None of the aspirant to the throne
was asked to submit a new proposal. He rendered any aid to the British during the
submitted a fresh proposal in 1828 war.
• Large number of claimants. Difficult to
• Retention of lower Assam by the British select a prince who would command
upto Biswanath support of the majority.
• Hand over of upper Assam to an Ahom • There was possibility of economic
prince. potentiality of upper Assam.
Company accepted the first proposal. In
March 1828, the British permanently
annexed lower Assam to its dominion.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

First Revolt against the British, 1828

Why? What they did

• The annexation of lower Assam • Gomdhar was formally enthroned near Jorhat
• Reduced power and privilege of the according to Ahom rites.
nobility • Arms and men were recruited from the
• New legal and administrative neighbouring areas
machinery • They advanced by the end of November 1828
• To restore the old Ahom monarchy towards Mariani.
• They were however intercepted on their way by
Who?
a detachment under Lieutenant Rutherford.
• Gomdhar Konwar fled to Naga hills. But a few
• Gomdhar Konwar and Dhanjoy
days later he surrendered.
Bargohain
• Others were arrested.

• Gomdhar was at first convicted of capital punishment, but later it was commuted to an
imprisonment without labour for a period of seven years
• Dhanjay was sentenced to death, but made a heroic escape from the jail and took shelter
in the Naga hills.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Second attempt by Dhanjoy Bargohain

• Dhanjoy was assisted by his two sons, Harakanta and

Haranath and his son in low Jeoram Dulia Barua, Peali
Barphukan (son of Badan Chandra Barphukan), etc.
• Emissaries with secret letters were sent out to the
chiefs of the Moamariyas, the Khamtis, the Singphos,
the Khasis, the Garos, the Manipuris and the nagas
calling upon their aid.
• The nobles in upper Assam advanced towards
Rangpur. They, however, did not receive the expected
response from the neighbouring chiefs.
• In spite of untoward events, about four hundred
fighting men made a desperate attack on the post at
Rangpur.
• But they were repulsed and hotly pursued by the
British force.
• Most of the leaders, except Dhanjay, were
apprehended.
• In August 1830, Peali and Jeoram were hanged at
Sibsagar on the bank of the Sibsagar tank.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

RESTORATION OF AHOM RULE TREATY OF GAUHATI, 1833

Lord William Bentick was convinced • The EIC handed over the portion of Assam
by Scott’s argument. Finally in lying to the east of the Dhansiri river on the
1832, it was decided to assign south bank of the Brahmaputra river and the
upper Assam to a member of the territory lying to the east of small river near
Ahom royal family. Two were short Bishwanath on the north bank to Raja
Purandar Singha
listed for consideration from among
• The Raja promised to pay the Company’s
many claimants : Chandrakanta government an annual tribute of 50,000
Singha and Purandar Singha. rupees out of an estimated revenue of
1,20,000 rupees.
The choice finally fell on Purandar • The Raja agreed to abide by the advice of
Singha. Chandrakanta submitted an the Political Agent, Upper Assam and the
appeal but it was summarily Agent to the Governor General, North East
rejected. Frontiers.

On March 2, 1833, Treaty of

Gauhati was signed between the
British and Purandar Singha.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

• But soon British began to have doubts about the wisdom of the restoration of the Ahom
monarchy.
• As per the reports o the survey of the northeastern frontier conducted by British oficials
stated the economic potential of the region
• In June 1833, the treaty was recast in the form of an agreement whereby Purandar
Singha was recognized as the ruler of Jorhat region this virtually reduced the status of
the king to that of a jagirdar
• In January 1834, Captain Francis Jenkins was appointed as the commissioner and agent
to the governor general for Assam.
• Jenkins visited Upper Assam in the beginning of the year 1838 and submitted a report to
the Calcutta Government, alleging that there was misgovernment in Purandar’s territory
and recommending at the same time its immediate resumption. He commented on
Purandar as “one of the worst characters,” “a rapacious miser”, “Bengalee by education
and habits and therefore not acceptable to the Assamese.” in support of his contention,
he forwarded certain anonymous petitions asking for the removal of Purandar.
• Accordingly, on September 16, 1838, Upper Assam was permanently annexed to the
Company’s territories. Purandar was offered a pension of one thousand rupees, which
he refused to accept.

THUS 600 YEARS OF AHOM RULE CAME TO AN END.

 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

CAUSES FOR THE GROWTH OF POLITICAL

AWARENESS

Those who were deprived of the benefits of Ahom rule were the
Discontentment first to resist the alteration of the status quo that followed the
among the Aristocracy British occupation.

Bengali was made the official language and medium of instruction in

Assam in 1836.
Increase in the recruitment of Bengalis in government services.
Initial protest came from American Baptist Missionaries and the
The language issue
educated Assamese elite. Anondo Ram Dhekial Phukan played an
important role.
First Assamese language magazine “Orunodoy” was published in
1846 (Nathan Brown – editor)
In 1873, Assamese was adopted as the official language.

The magnitude of immigration was so high that by the end of

Immigration
twentieth century, a distinct demographic change had taken place.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

MANGAL PANDEY MANIRAM DEWAN

• In March, 1857, Mangal • Maniram Dewan served the
Pandey protested against REVOLT OF British first as Tehsildar of
the use of Enfield Rifle. 1857 Upper Assam
• Mangal Paney was hanged • Purandar Singha vested him
in April, 1857. with the supervision o
• Sepoys of Meerut revolted several newly created
in May, 1857. 85 Sepoys mauzas.
were given long term • Joined Assam Tea Company
imprisonment. at Nazira as its Dewan
• Fellow sepoys set them free, • Then he started his own
attacked their officers and gardens at Chenimara and
proceeded towards Delhi. Chenglung.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Favorable condition in Assam for the Revolt

• Most of the members of Assam Light Infantry
stationed at Dibrugarh were from western Bihar, a
hot-bed of the rebellion of 1857
• 500 Assamese soldiers of the disbanded army of
Purandar Singha were there
• Strength of European army in Bengal was only 2400.
MANIRAM DEWAN • There was an acute transport problem.
• The number of British oicers in Assam was less.
• Maniram Dewan served the • The old aristocracy was sure to join Maniram
British first as Tehsildar of • The hill people, too, were sure to extend their
Upper Assam support to the rebels.
• Purandar Singha vested him
with the supervision of First Assam Light Infantry
Second Assam
several newly created
Light Infantry
mauzas.
• Joined Assam Tea Company
at Nazira as its Dewan
• Then he started his own
gardens at Chenimara and
Chenglung.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Maniram wanted to take full advantage of the situation

and goaded the young prince Kandarpeswar Singha as
well as the members of the erstwhile nobility and gentry,
including certain Satradhikars like that of Kamalabari, to
take up arms against the British.

• Maniram prepared for an uprising during the Durga Puja

in October 1857.
MANIRAM DEWAN
• It was assumed that one the call was given, the sepoys
• Maniram Dewan served the would rise simultaneously in their respective outposts,
British first as Tehsildar of seize the magazines and treasuries, kill the Europeans
Upper Assam and burn their houses.
• Purandar Singha vested him • After that, Kandarpeswar would be installed as the
with the supervision of monarch and Maniram would by the prime minister.
several newly created • As news of the preparation leaked, panic stricken
mauzas. European planters left their gardens and missionaries
• Joined Assam Tea Company abandoned their churches to take refuge in Gauhati.
at Nazira as its Dewan • Major Hannay placed pickets at strategic locations.
• Then he started his own • Bridges over Misa and Diju were destroyed to cut off
gardens at Chenimara and communication with Jorhat.
Chenglung.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

• In early September 1857, a bundle of letters Maniram

had written was intercepted and they proved beyond
doubt his conspiracy with Kandarpeswar to overthrow
British rule.
• Kandarpeswar and Madhu Mallick were arrested near
Jorhat. Maniram and several of his co-conspirators were
arrested in Calcutta.
MANIRAM DEWAN • Towards the close of 1857, Maniram and Peali Barua
were tried, found guilty o treason and sentenced to
• Maniram Dewan served the death.
British first as Tehsildar of • They were publicly hanged on 26th February, 1858 in
Upper Assam Jorhat.
• Purandar Singha vested him • In Calcutta, Kandarpeswar Singha appealed to the
with the supervision of government for his release. Realising that he was merely
several newly created a tool in the hands of the conspirators, Kandarpeswar
mauzas. was released from prison. Later he was allowed to return
• Joined Assam Tea Company to Assam and settle in Guwahati. He died in 1880.
at Nazira as its Dewan
• Then he started his own
gardens at Chenimara and
Chenglung.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
AGRARIAN REVOLTS

The Phulaguri uprising (1861)

Causes

• Ban on opium cultivation

• Increase in land revenue
• Rumours that cul va on of tamul (areca
nut) and pan (betel vine) would be made
taxable

• In September 1861, some 1500 ryots

marched to the Sadar Court at Nogaon to
protest against the ban on poppy
cultivation and the contemplated
imposition of tax on tamul and pan. Lt.
Hervert Sconce, the Dy. Commissioner of
Nogaon refused to hear their complaint.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
AGRARIAN REVOLTS

The Phulguri uprising (1861)

• The aggrieved ryots then convened a 5 days raij-

mel at Phulaguri from October 15. About one
thousand rayats assembled, five to six hundred
with lathis.
• On 17th, about three to four thousand peasants
assembled. Police tried and failed to break up the
assembly. They arrested some of the leaders, but
all of them were forcibly rescued by the people. Phulaguri uprising was neither a
• Next day Lt. Singer, Assistant Commissioner premeditated, organized peasant
himself appeared with a police party and ordered uprising nor an ordinary riot caused by
them to disperse and tried to seize their bamboo a few disgruntled peasants. it iwas the
lathis. culmination of a large number of deep
• In the scuffle that followed, Singer was beaten to rooted grievances. The uprising is of
death and his body was thrown into the river immense significance primarily
Kalang. because it inaugurated a new era of
• Sconce sent armed force to the spot, firing took peasant awakening in Assam and
place ans several persons lost their lives while paved the way for the later agrarian
many were injured. uprisings.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
AGRARIAN REVOLTS

Tha Assam Riots(1893-94)

• Sir William Ward, the Chief Commissioner of Assam increased land revenue to 70-80%
and in some cases even to 100 %
• The people of Rangia and Lachima in Kamrup and Patharughat in Darrang launched
thereupon a no-tax campaign declaring excommunication to be the penalty for any one
who disobeyed the raij (people).

Rangia
• On 24 December, 1893 Ragia Bazar was looted by the protestors.
• Several leaders were arrested.
• On January 10, 1894,a huge crowd armed with clubs assembled at the open field near
Rangia thanah. They shouted “We won’t pay the increased revenue”.
• In the evening they attempted to release the arrested leaders by forcing their way into
the thanah. The police open fired

Lachima
• On January 21, 1894, a mouzadar and a mandal were severely assaulted at a village near
Lacima. The mauzadar died a few days afterwards. 75 persons were arrested.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
AGRARIAN REVOLTS

Tha Assam Riots(1893-94)

Patharughat (1894)
• Anout 2000 rayats assembled in front of the
rest house of Anderson, the Dy. Commissioner
of Darrang, to lodge their protest against the
enhanced rates of assessment. (January 28)
• Anderson asked them to disperse.
• Rayats began to throw sticks and clods of
earth to Anderson.
• Police open fired, which brought death to and
severe injury to many rayats.

Assam's Jallianwala Bagh

 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
LOCAL POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS

A majority of the Assamese businessmen, who were so closely associated with the literary
and political activities of the day were integrally connected with the rural peasant community
at large. They therefore, took up the cause of the rayats and founded organizations, which
were to demand of the Government measures for various reforms, particularly those relating
to land revenue.

Jorhat Sarvajanik Sabha

Jagannath Barua took the initiative ti found the Jorhat Sarvajanik Sabha, reportedly in 1875,
though it was from the year 1884 that the Sabha became a real entity. The Sabha held a
series of meetings to protest against the enhancement of land-revenue.

Tezpur Rayat Sabha

In 1884, Tezpur Rayat Sabha was established at the initiative of Haribilas Agarwala, his saw-
mill manager Lakhmikanta Barkakati and Lambodar Bora. Though formed primarily to
protest against the enhancement of land revenue, it had a comparatively broader base.

By 1886, the Shillong Association, the Nagaon Rayat Sabha and the Upper Assam
Association came into being.

However, these associations were mostly local.

 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
ASSAM ASSOCIATION

When Indian National Congress was formed in 1885, the political consciousness of the
Assamese intellectuals received a definite orientation. Delegates from Assam – like
Devicharan Barua, Gopinath Bordoloi etc. - attended the second session of the Congress
held at Calcutta. Thus Assamese intellectuals established their links with the All India
political organization.

Assam Association was formed by a group of intellectuals led by Manik Chandra Barua. The
first session of the Association was held at Dibrugarh in 1905. the president was Raja
Prabhat Chandra Barua , Jagannath Barua was the Vice-President and Manik Chandra Barua
was the general secretary.

Like almost all associations of that period,

• Assam Association represented mainly the interest of the rising middle class
• Stood for constitutional agitation

• The Assocation became defunct with the formation of the Assam Provincial Congress
1921.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
THE LITERARY ASSOCIATIONS

• In 1857 – Anandaram Dhekial Phukan and Gunabhiram barua organized the Gyan
Pradayini Sabha at Nagaon with the object of spreading advanced knowledge among the
people
• In 1885 – Asam DeshH itasini Sabha was fomed at Sibsagar through the efforts of Priyalal
Barua.
These associations were short-lived and were confined only to a few members of the
intelligintsia in each locality.

It was in August 1888 that the Assamese youths studying at Calcutta made a serious attempt
to form a new society called Asamiya Bhasar Unnati Sadhini Sabha. Prominent among its
members were Lakshminath Bezbarua, Chandra Kumar Agauwala, Padmanath Gohain Barua,
Lakheswar Sarma, Hem Chandra Goswami, and Kamala Kanta Bhattacharyya.

It also took up the publica on of a monthly journal called Jonaki, the first issue of which was
released in February 1889. This journal brought a new era in Assamese literature. The first
editor of the magazine was Chandra Kumar Agarwala
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
JONAKI ERA

Jonaki marked the dawn of romanticism in Assamese literature. The

first romantic poem, Bon Kunwori (The Wood Nymph), by Chandra
Kumar Agarwala, and the first Assamese sonnet, Priyotomar
Sithi (Letter from the beloved), by Hemchandra Goswami, were Chandra Kr. Agarwala
published in the magazine. Hemchandra Goswami’s Kaku Aru Hiya
Nibilau (No More of my Heart to Anybody) was a unique poem of its
kind. A regular humorous column titled Kripabor Boruar Kakotor
Topola, by Lakshminath Bezbaroa, was also included. Kamalakanta
Bhattacharjya’s Pahoroni (Oblivion) and Chandrakumar
Agarwala’s Niyor (Dew-drops) were two great poems published in the
first year of the magazine. The joint efforts of these pioneers
established a new era in Assamese literature: The Jonaki Era, or the Hemchandra Goswami
romantic age. The writers of Orunodoi chose the medium of prose,
but the poetic grandeur in Assamese literature was achieved by the
poets of the Jonaki group and their contemporaries.

By the end of the century, a new wave of liberal and nationalist

ideas reached Assam and gave momentum to the political and
economic movements marking the dawn of a new era.
Lakshminath Bezbarua
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
BENGAL PARTITION

Extremists came to the

mainstream politics of
India after December
1903 when Lord Curzon
announced partition of
Bengal in- East Bengal
with capital at Dhaka and
BENGAL Bengal
- Lord Curzon(1899-1905)

1905, October 16
Partition of Bengal
BENGAL EASTERN BENGAL & ASSAM

Hindus Partition based on religion Muslim

Hindi Speaking Partition based on language Bengali Speaking

 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
BENGAL PARTITION

• Initially Assam was made a

part of the Bengal
Presidency.
• The Assam territory was
first separated from
Bengal in 1874 as the
‘North-East Frontier’ non-
regulation province, also
known as the Assam Chief-
Commissionership
• In 1905, it was
incorporated into the new
province of ‘Eastern
Bengal and Assam’
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
SWADESHI MOVEMENT

“Assam proper will secure only a small fraction of the Chief Commissioner’s attention, his
very seat will be removed and the people will have to meet a keen and unequal
competition of highly educated, enterprising and advantageously situated districts, which
they are not yet prepared for. the Assamese language will suffer and the removal of the
seat of the government to a place outside Assam proper and further away from the
geographical centre will necessarily make her lose the amount of care and attention which
she at present received from the government.”
- Assam Association
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
SWADESHI MOVEMENT

In Assam, some educated yougnmen like Ambikagiri Raychoudhury,

Raktim Bora, Triguna Barua and others came under the spell of
extremism for sometime. Ambikagiri, who is believed to have contacts
with some revolutionary leaders of Bengal, started a voluntary
association called Seva Sangha, which is said to have developed into a
terrorist one, in line with the Anusilan Samiti of Dacca.

Ambikagiri Raychaudhuri wrote a patriotic drama, Bandini Bharat, the

manuscript of which was intercepted by the police in 1906. he was then
kept under police vigilance for about eight years till 1915.

The Bengal partition was annuled in 1911. In 1912, Assam

got a provincial Council of its own.

The restoration of the status quo was a welcome relief to

the diverse sections of the Assamese intelligentsia, but the
leading intelligentsia of the Surma valley, particularly those
of Sylhet considered that a deep injury and a deep wound
had been inflicted on the Bengali speaking population by
tagging them to Assam.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
NON COOPERATION MOVEMENT IN ASSAM

Soon against Jallianwala massacre and under the influence of Gandhiji, Assam saw
mobilization of youth for Hindu – Muslim unity. Slowly youth of Assam also participated in
Khilafat – Non Cooperation movement. And Assam also got welded in to Indian National
Movement. First time Assamese people saw resonance between situation in Assam and
rest of India. All were suffering because of exploitative economic policies of Britishers.
Thus by participating in Indian National Movement Assam became inseparable part of India.

• The Assam Association held district-level meetings at

Nagaon, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Dibrugarh throughout
October,1920 and discussed the non-co-operation
issue.
• N.C. Bordoloi, the general secretary of the Assam
Association,C.N. Sarma and Tarunram Phukan moved
from one corner of the province to the other to
mobilize public opinion.
• Almost all the district level Associations took decision
to boycott Council elections and raised objection to
take titles, honour and honorary posts from British
Government.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
NON COOPERATION MOVEMENT IN ASSAM

In August 1921 Gandhiji visited Assam to

promote Non- Cooperation movement. He
then set up Assam Pradesh Congress
Committee or Assam Provincial Congress
Committee. The participation of Assam in
Non Cooperation Movement was at its peak
in 1921. Top leaders of Assam like N.C.
Bordoloi, C.N. Sarma and Tarunram Phukan
were arrested on 30th November 1921.

In 1922, after the Chouri Choura riots in

Uttar Pradesh, Mahatma Gandhi called off
the movement. Since then, the leaders of
Assam began to stress on the constructive
rogrammes such as Hindu-Muslim
unity,spinning ofyarns and weaving of
khaddar, being prosecuted withdrawal.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
What to do after NCM?

CR Das, Motilal Nehru, Ajmal Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel, M

Khan wanted to end boycott of A Ansari, etc. suggested no
election to the legislative change and continue boycott of
council and contest election. council and do constructive
(PRO -CHANGERS) work. (NO CHANGERS)

Gaya Session 1922 (C.R. Das)

CR Das and Motilal Nehru

formed Swarajist Party within
congress on 1st January, 1923
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
Swaraj Party in Assam

The Assam branch of the Swarajya Party was formed at the

initiative of Tarun Ram Phukan in July 1923, with himself as
the President, R,K. Choudhury as the Secretary and
Gopinath Bordoloi as the Assistant Secretary. Swarajist INC SESSION, 1926
won 13 seats out of 39 in Assam provincial election of
1923. So Swarajists formed a coalition government (Assam The 41st Session of the Congress
Nationalistic Party) in Assam with help of independent was held at Pandu (Gauhati) in
candidates. Then Swarajists forced for political reforms in 1926. the session was presided
Assam. over by Srinivas Ayenger and
attemded by Gandhiji and other
Major achievements of Swaraj Party in Assam – prominent leaders like Motilal
• The abolition of the unpopular grazing tax. Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel,
• The prohibition of Opium. Rajendra Prasad, Madan Mohan
•The reduction of land revenue. Malaviya, Sarojini Naidu, etc.
•Restriction of migrants from East Bengal.

But split occurred in the Coalition party in March 1925 last,

and the Swarajists realized that they could no longer
command a majority. Finally Swarajist party decided to
withdraw from Assam government in 1926.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT

Gandhi along with his 78 followers Bishnu Ram Medhi took the responsibility of
started his march from sabarmati on 12th launching CDM in Assam. Sri Bishnuram Medhi
march and reached dandi on 5th april. helped by Tyagbir Hemchandra Barua, Dr.
Bhubaneswar Barua, Omeo Kr. Das, Sidhinath
Gandhi launched civil disobedience Sarma, Pitambar Goswami, Gormur
movement by breaking the salt law on Satradhikar, Lakhidhar Sharma and others
6th April 1930 conducted the movement very successfully.
Then the Director of Public Information, JR
Cunningham issued Cunningham circular in
Assam. This circular demanded from the students
and guardians an undertaking to abstain from
joining politics. This led to even more stronger
protests from the students. Some public high
schools like Kamrup Academy, Barpeta Bidyapith,
etc.,were established by the Nationalists.
The movement had its repercussions in the hills
as well. Rani Gaidilieu led the movement in the
hill area. But she was captured and put in jail.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Sadulla Ministry

According to the Government of India Act, 1935, provincial election was held in 1937. INC
got 33 out of 108 seats in Assam. But INC decided not to form a coalition government. Thus
a coalition government was formed with Sir Sadaullah as its Chief Minister. In 1938 Sir
Sadaullah resigned due to internal issues and Gopinath Bordoloi became the Chief
Minister.

But the Congress ministers tendered their resignation in 1939 and Md. Sadulla again
formed a coalition government.

In a bid to open up fallow waste lands in Assam for cultivation, influxes

of landless peasants from East Bengal were being invited to Assam by the then Assam
Ministry headed by Sir Md. Saadullah, and because flow of innumerable jobseekers
continued to migrate to Assam,a section of Assamese nationalists got alarmed and Ambika
Giri Roy Choudhury, founded ''Assam Sangrakshini Sobha'‘ . Assam Sangrakshini Sobha was
later renamed as Assam Jatiya Mahasabha.

Soon Sadulla’s ministry faced a crisis. Md. Sadulla submitted his resignation in December
1941. Then, the then Governor sir Robert Reid, took over the administration of the
province.
 ADDRESS

Prachya Bharati College Building,

Nayanpur Road, Ganeshguri,
Guwahati

Email id- [email protected]

Contact- 6901259799 / 9864174653
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
WORLD WAR – II, 1939

British announced India’s participation in the war from British side. This led to protest among
INC ministers and they resigned from the ministry in 1939. Muslim league celebrated “Day of
Deliverance”

Gandhi: SC Bose : Nehru :

Britain was fighting against Both Germany and He was in favor of
Germany. Germany was a Nazi Britain are imperialist. supporting Britain but
state(anti- democratic). So to No one is fighting for on one condition that
protect democracy in the world INC democracy. So we must India is set free by
must give unconditional support to launch CDM against Britain.
Britain. British now.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT

• 1942 – Cripps Mission failed

DO OR DIE
• INC took up “Quit India” Resolution on 8th August 1942

• All important leaders were arrested. The police and the army jointly undertook
• In Assam Md, Tayebullah, G.N Bardoloi, operations in Kamrup, Nagaon and Darrang
Siddhi Nath Sarma, Pitambar Dev Goswami, districts. The unfortunate villagers had to
Krishna Dev Goswami all are arrested. undergo the most harrowing experience of
• Like their counterparts in other parts of brutal assaults, arrests or seizure and
India, the people of Assam also defied the confiscation of their humble belongings. The
creed of non-violence by taking to sabotage demonstrating crowds were lathi-charged,
activities. whipped or fired at.

On 10 October 1942, hidden in the thick fog of early morning, some people
removed few sleepers of the railway line near Sarupathar in Golaghat
district. A Military train passing by derailed and many British and American
soldiers lost their lives. Accusing Kushal Konwar as the chief conspirator of
the train sabotage, the British police arrested him. An ardent follower of
Gandhiji and his principle of nonviolence, Kushal was ignorant about the
sabotage plan and action. At dawn on 15 June 1943 at 4:30 am, Kushal
Konwar was hanged in Jorhat Jail.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
POST WAR EVENTS

• War ended in 1945 and election CABINET MISSION PLAN, 1946

was held in 1946 •It rejected the demand of Pakistan outrightly.
• Congress secured 58 seats in a •It divided the provinces in three groupings-
House of 108 in Assam. Among Sec A- Hindu majority provinces
with a few independent Sec B- Muslim majority provinces
members, Gopinath Bardoloi Sec C- Assam and Bengal
formed a government. •The princely states could join either group A, B, C or
• The new ministry faced join Britain.
numerous problems of
reconstruction after the war but Protest in Assam
one of its first tasks was to deal
with the problem of immigration. • The APCC immediately lodged an emphatic protest
• The Congress ministry’s land against it.
policy and decision to evict the • The Asam Jatiya Mahasabha collected some secret
migrants evoked strong protests papers showing the designs o the League in Assam
from the Muslim League which • Hundreds of protest meetings were held all over
organized a civil disobedience Assam. The Assam Legislative Assembly also
program against it. This led to adopted a resolution expressing strong disapproval
clash in various places. of the Cabinet Mission plan.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা

Mountbatten Plan

•India will be set independent on 15th August 1947.

•Hindu and Muslim members of legislative assemblies
of Bengal, Punjab will meet separately and vote. If any
of the group votes “yes” in majority then Pakistan will
be created in that province by partition.
•Referendum will be conducted in Sindh, NWFP, Sylhet.
If they vote yes then they will join Pakistan.
•Princely states will either join India or Pakistan.
All provinces decided to join Pakistan. Hence two
independent states India and Pakistan was created by
Indian Independence Act of 1947.

With the acceptance o the Mountbatten Plan, the

anti grouping movement in Assam came to an
end. The referendum results of Sylhet were as
expected. Of the valid votes cast, 56% were in
favour of Sylhet’s inclusion in Pakistan and 43.4%
for an undivided Asaam withtin India.
 অসমৰ গৗৰৱ গাথা
INDIAN INDEPENDENCE ACT OF 1947
1. It ended the British rule in India and declared India as an independent and sovereign
state from August 15,1947.
2. It provided for the partition of India and creation of two independent dominions of India
and Pakistan with the right to secede from the British Commonwealth.
3. It abolished the office of viceroy and provided, for each dominion, a governor-general,
who was to be appointed by the British King on the advice of the dominion cabinet. His
Majesty Government in Britain was to have no responsibility with respect to the
Government of India or Pakistan.
4. It empowered the Constituent Assemblies of the two dominions to frame and adopt any
constitution for their respective nations and to repeal any act of the British Parliament,
including the Independence act itself.