The Peasant Revolt in Assam

 

[9] UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE

MOVEMENT IN ASSAM FROM 1921 TO 1947:  The Peasant Revolt in Assam

The British faced resistance at every step when they introduced colonial rule in Assam. The farmer in Assam had revolted from time to time against the increase in land revenue made by the British administration while the same administration gave the European tea planters thousands and thousands of acres of land free from any revenue [1] and in many cases evicting cultivators from their cultivable land[2].  Opium-selling shops were established in many places for earning more revenue for the British Raj[3]“The popular uprising, the ‘Assam riots’ as it was called by the official circle’’[4]of the British Government. But for the local people, it was Ron means ‘battle’ against the British Raj viz. battle of Phulaguri, battle of Patharughat etc. With the conception of battle the Raij, of Phulguri killed a British Assistance Commissioner of Police , Mr. Singer, and threw his body in the river Kallong and declared triumph against their enemy. The Raij Mel of that period played an important role in the resistance movement of the peasant against the British administration.

Police tortures continued in such places where meetings were held protesting against the increase of land revenue and taxes and as a result of such tortures causing fear, people gradually became quiet and many of them mortgaged their hands and houses to pay the land revenue. But the peasant rebellion in Assam assumed the character of an anti-British movement in which common people also participated. Suppression of such movement paved the way for those having a greater dimension in the future.

The notable farmer's revolts were – Phulaguri in Nagaon District (1861) where more than thirty people were killed, hundreds were injured and many were sent to jail for the long term and their properties were confiscated. Patharughat in Darrang District (1894) where more than one hundred and forty farmers were killed and hundreds were badly injured in police firing. Rangia in Kamrup District (1894) where about twenty persons were killed besides injuring many others in police firing on the protesting farmers. Gorkha Forces were let loose to terrorise the villagers at Nalbari, Bajali, Barpeta, and many more places in Kamrup District at close intervals during the period[5]. 

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[1]   Barpujari, H.K. Vol. V, Chapter, Wasteland Grants, page – 38

[2]  Assam Secretariat, Revenue – A, 1898, November, Nos. 128-38

[3]. Kalita Benudhar, The Uprising of Phulguri, Nagaon, 2006, Chapter Six, Page 60.

[4]  Agrarian Revolts, Chaper six, H.K.Barpujari, Vol. 1; p-101”