Khamti and Singpho Resistance against the British Aggression

 [4]  UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE MOVEMENT IN ASSAM FROM 1921 TO 1947: Khamti and Singpho Resistance 

The Khamtis of Sadia also could not tolerate British interference in their areas. The East India Company Government, in the interest of the British tea planters, confiscated, lands suitable for tea cultivation, which was under the jurisdiction of the Khamti chiefs and were declared as Government land. Besides this, the annexation of Upper Assam and establishment of Assam Light Infantry to Sadiya etc. under the Commandant of Major white were constructed by the Khamtis as preparation to bring them under the effective control of the Government or to drive them out of Assam[1]. They also suspected the Government of a design to tax them and to lower their status to that of the ordinary Assamese[2].

The result was that “on 28 January 1838 the Khamtis, numbering about six hundred, armed with Daos, spears, and muskets attacked the commandant, seized the Magazine and set fire to the military lines killing everyone on the way – men, women and children. After a feeble resistance, Major White also fell into the assassins[3].”  The British force arrived and defeated the Khamtis. In addition to hundreds of rebels, one of the rebel chiefs Ranua Gohain was also killed. Many were arrested and many Khamti villages and granaries were burnt to ashes. Indescribable oppressions of the Khamtis followed[4]

Revolt of Singphos – 

The Singphos under the leadership of WookumKhoomiyan, a chief of Hukwang , made elaborate preparations and acted in concert with the disaffected nobles of Assam. The situation appeared to be a serious one, but the timely arrival of Captain Neufville with a party of troops at Lattora on the Noadihing in the middle of 27 February 1830 prevented the combined mob of the enemy[5].

         But the Singphos became suspicious when the British established military camps at Jaipur, Saikhowa, Dali etc.  This measure dealt a severe blow to their prosperity and the resulting measures of anger led to a series of rebellions that went against the interests [6]” On 10^th January 1843 the Singphos made simultaneous attacks at,  Beesa and Ningroo. The rebels were beaten off at the later outpost, but the detachment at Beesa surrendered after two days when their ammunitions ran short; both the Jamader and the Havilda, were tied up in a tree and hacked to pieces and most of the sepoys were sold out as slaves[7].  The raid was done by “all the Singphos on the Assam border, and by others from the direction of Burma, but also by a certain number of Shans and Burmese. It was believed to have been formatted by the Tipam Raja, a scion of the Ahom royal family, whose sister had married the king of Burma, and who had been appointed by the monarch to the Governor of Hukong with, it was said instructions to take advantage of any opportunity that might arise for invading Assam[8]. Lieutenant Raid, the Commander of the Local Artillery, Dibrugarh, and Captain Vetch, Lieutenant Lockett, and Reynold succeeded in driving the Singphos from their stocked position at Beesa and Kerempani. The Singphos beat a hasty retreat abandoning their stock and slaves.  But the Singphos did not abandon their resistance movement against the British. This finds corroboration in a letter that Serro-la-ten and other gums addressed to the local authorities.     :

This land is ours and Vetch Sahib has taken it from us. Formally Scott Sahib gave to the Tengi Mayo (as the Singphos were called ) from Dihingmookh, from Namsangmookh from Tipam Hill, and in consequence of Vetch Sahib having taken it away we have made war and on that account, we have fought also. Vetch Sahib has seized and carried off our Singphos. Further, we have received an order from the Tipam Rajah to make war…..[9]

Likewise, at the same time the northern hill tribes of Assam – the Bhutias, and a little later, the Akas, the Daflas, the Abors, and the Misimis also raised the standard of revolt against British authority for interfering in their rights and privileges[10].

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[1] Dambarudhar Nthe , Asom Buranji 

[2]  ^{Gait, Page 294}

[3].  IPC, 1839,; 20 February, Nos. 105-10; 27 February, Nos. 159 – 62.)( H.P. Barpujari Vol. I  

[4]. Freedom Struggle in North –East India, P.C.Biswas, p-23

[5]. Poltical History of Assam, vol. – 1, H.K. Borpujari&athers. P- 25, ASPC., 1830; 30 April, No. 5A. ;  5 March, No.3; May, Nos. 46-8:  28  May, Nos. 74-5

[6]  A History of Assam , E. Gait, chapter – xvI , p – 308

[7]. FC (Foreign Consultations) 1843, 1 February, Nos. 94-100) H.K. Barpujari , Vol. 1 ; p- 79

[8].  A History of Assam , E. Gait, chapter – xvI , p – 308   

[9].  Pol. Hist. of Assam,  H.K. Barpujari , Vol. 1 ; p- 80

[10].   Mani. & Con. Ass. Society, A. Dutta, P- 57