Political Life in Assam During the 19th Century

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

The present work is a critical analysis of the political life of the people of Nineteenth Century Assam which was then besides the Brahmaputra Valley and Barak Valley comprised of the areas now known as the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura and as such the work may also be said a study of the political life of the people of North Eastern Region of india. The period was replete with events and changes which were uneven in respect of the plain and hill people. The author, Dr. Hazarika, has presented in this volume a comprehensive and analytical study of the political evolution of North Eastern Region of India during the course of the Nineteenth Century.

Dr. Hazarika, has consulted several records and potential sources and made proper use of it to make this work a most penetrating analysis of Assam or to say that of frontier States of North East India. He has done a great service in reconstructing the history of North East scientifically and systematically with considerably updated historical interpretations.

The work may be considered in the contemporary situation to be one of the basic documents which will provide incentive to future researches and investigations for Assam and North East alike. The present volume will definitely serve as a good store-house of historical sources to future researchers.

Dr. Bijay Bhushan Hazarika, born in Cachar District, obtained his Degree of B.A. in 1958, M.A. in History in 1961 and D.Phil. in 1982 from the University of Gauhati for Political Life in Assam During Nineteenth Century in which he, himself a Historical Scientist by training, has made a deep and dispassionate study of the Political life of the people of the Nineteenth Century Assam. Earlier in 1957 he had obtained the Degree of Visharad in Hindi and the Degree of LL.B. in 1964. He joined the Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies, Assam, Gauhati as Research Officer in 1964 and became the Director of the Department in 1975 and till July 1986, he had been serving in that capacity contributing to a great extent to historical studies in the North Eastern Region of India. Presently Dr. Hazarika is serving the Government of Assam as the Editor-in-Chief Department of District Gazetteers; Assam, Guwahati.

Dr. Hazarika possesses long experience of more than two decades in the field of historical researches. The present work is the product of his long experience and painstaking research into the history and polity of the Nineteenth Century Assam.

IN THIS study an attempt has been made to analyse the political life of the people of Assam during the nineteenth century. The period was replete with events and changes. During the period under review, Assam was subjected to repeat-ed changes beginning with the Burmese invasion, then through the English East India Company and finally with the establish-ment of direct British Raj. These changes were uneven in respect of the plain and hill people. Our study aims at studying the political evolution of the province during the course of the nineteenth century.

The first quarter of the nineteenth century witnessed protrac-ted internecine feuds among the Ahom nobles offering, as they did, opportunities to the Burmese to invade Assam and begin their reign of terror. The unsettled conditions of the land pave the way to the British take-over of Assam eventually. The British came with a promise of rescuing Assam from the Burmese oppression but they turned out to be its masters, holding it as a prize of conquest. During the early period of the East India Company's rule, resistance movements sprang up in Assam for driving out the British and restoring the rule of the disposessed Ahom monarchy. In the middle of the century there broke out in the country the 'Sepoy Mutiny', regarded as the First War of Independence, and this had its echoes in Assam as well. The failure of the Rebellion marked the end of the Company Raj and the establishment of the sovereignty of the British Crown. This led to important changes in the administration. Popular movements in the new period chose economic issues for expression of grievances of the peo-ple. The organisational forms of the popular movements were mainly the 'Raij-Mels', 'Sarbajanik Sabhas', 'Ryot Sabhas', and 'Assam Association'. The popular movements were either smoothered or suppressed by the alien rulers. After suffering humiliations for about half a century or more, there developed the realisation, however hesitant, to win freedom from alien authority. Assam was decidedly drawn into the mainstream of the national events.

In the present study an endeavour has been made to describe chronologically the activities of a few Ahom princes in the early period of the British supremacy, establishment of the British administration in the province, popular reactions to it, and the impact of British administrative policies on the life and society in their varied aspects. An account of the origins, development and activities of various organs of popular and public opinion form important part of the present study.

Chapter 1 deals with the geo-political conditions that marked the beginning of the nineteenth century in Assam. It is considered to be a useful introduction for reasons of a study of this nature. It also covers the historical background that led the Moamoria Uprisings and their impact on the Ahom monarchy.

Chapter 2 is devoted to an analysis of the politics of the Ahom Raj; the internecine feuds among the Ahom nobles and the resultant consequences in the wake of the coming of the Burmese.

Chapter 3 is devoted to a study of the British role in expelling the Burmese from Ahom and their becoming the masters of the land under the Treaty of Yandaboo which con-cluded the Anglo-Burmese War. The effects of the Treaty on Assam and the kingdom of Cachar, Jayantia and Manipur have also been discussed.

Chapter 4 deals with the administration of the Company Raj and its policy of annexation. It shows how the Company Raj pursued its policy of annexation in Upper Assam, Cachar, Jayantia and the territories of the Mataks, Singphoes and the Khamptis.

Chapter 5 deals with the popular uprisings in the plains and the hills as forms of popular reactions to the Company's policy of annexation and penetration.

Chapter 6 is a study on the impact of the Rebellion of 1857 on Assam and its consequences for the Province.

THE OBVIOUS importance of a historical work in the contemporary situation is acknowledged. Dr. B.B. Hazarika has done a significant service in reconstructing the History of Assam scientifically and objectively. All sources, old one and newly available, have to the best of my knowledge been properly utilised.

The work further is deemed fit to motivate such suitably framed Research Projects and investigations into the field of History which is unexplored yet. This publication, therefore, is upheld. I feel that as a proper Doctoral Thesis, it should deserve the encouragement and support that it needs.

As Director of the Department of Historical and Anti-quarian Studies, Assam, Dr. Hazarika has consulted the records available at his diposal and other potential sources have also been used.

I again feel despite certain inaccuracies, it is a piece of authentic work being the exposition of certain hitherto unexplored themes, obsolete and nearly fading into the mist of obscurity.

I have always contended that History is not the record of the mere dead past but it is enlivening enough because upon the experiences of our forefathers, sufficient insight can be gained towards building the present and reshaping the destiny of an enchanting land, that is Assam. Hence the link between past and present is maintained.

I wish successes to such grand, vital endeavours for historical reconstruction as elaborately as possible.