SEBA Class 10 Social Science Chapter 3 in English Anti-British Rising and Peasant Revolts in Assam

SEBA Class 10 Social Science Chapter 3 in English Anti-British Rising and Peasant Revolts in Assam | Anti-British Rising and Peasant Revolts in Assam Class 10 Question Answer | Class 10 Social Science Question Answer in English Chapter 3 As Per New Syllabus to each Chapter is provided in the list of SCERT, NCERT, SEBA Class 10 Social History Part 1 Chapter 3 Question Answer in English/Class 10 Social Chapter 3 Question Answer in English Anti-British Rising and Peasant Revolts in Assam.

Join us Now

Class 10 Social Science Chapter 3 Anti-British Rising and Peasant Revolts in Assam

SEBA Class 10 Social Science Question Answer Chapter 3 Anti-British Rising and Peasant Revolts in Assam in English। Social Science Guide for Class 10th Chapter 3 in English | Also Same NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social In this post we have tried to explain to you that Class 10 Social Science Question Answer Chapter 3 in English. If you are a teacher or Student of English Medium, then this is for you. Notes for Class 10 Social Science In English Medium can be very beneficial। Ncert/Scert Social Class 10 Chapter 3 Please read this carefully. By studying this SEBA Class 10 Social Science Question Answer Chapter 3 carefully, you can get good marks in your upcoming examination.

Chapter 3 Anti-British Rising and Peasant Revolts in Assam

Part: I History

TEXTUAL EXERCISE & ANSWERS

Very Short Answer Type Questions:

1. After the establishment of the British rule in Assam how did the system of revenue collection change? 

Ans. After the establishment of British rule in Assam, revenue had not been collected through cash and payment of land revenue and other taxes had collected through cash. 

2. In which year did Moffat Mills come to Assam?

Ans. Moffat Milles came to Assam in 1853.

3. Who led the revolt of 1857 in Assam?

Ans. Maniram Dewan led the revolt of 1857 in Assam.

4. In the revolt of 1857 the rebels of Assam wanted to re-establish which Ahom Prince on the throne?

Ans. In the revolt of 1857 the rebels of Assam wanted to re-establish Kandarpeswar Singha Ahom Prince on the throne.

5. Who were the Kayas?

Ans. Kayas were the immigrant Marwaris who were known as Mahajans.

6. Who was the Bengal Muktiyar who helped Maniram Dewan?

Ans. Madhu Mallik was the Bengali Muktiyar who helped Maniram Dewan.

7. Who was hanged along with Maniram Dewan?

Ans. Piyoli Barua was hanged along with Maniram Dewan.

8. Who tried the case of Maniram Dewan?

Ans. Captain Charles Holroyd tried the case of Maniram Dewan.

9. Mention two causes of the failure of the revolt of 1857 in Assam. 

Ans. The two causes of the failure of the revolt of 1857 in Assam are:

(i) First of all the number of rebels in Assam was very small. Maniram Dewan’s supporters were confined to Jorhat and Sibsagar. He hardly gained any support in Nowaon, Kamrup and Gauhati.

(ii) Second, the leaders of the rebellion failed to understand the importance of time and so, even after completion of all preparation for the revolt, they failed to begin in time. As a result the British government gained a lot of valuable time for defence.

10. In which years were the stamp tax and Income tax implemented? 

Ans. The stamp tax was implemented in 1858 and income tax was implemented in 1860.

11. Write two causes of the pitiable condition of the peasants of Assam during the British rule.

Ans. The two causes of the pitiable condition of the peasants of Assam during the British rule were:

(i) the economic condition of the peasants had very pitiable and

(ii) burden of taxes fell on the Indian masses.

12. Who was Lieutenant Singer?

Ans. Lieutenant Singer was an assistant commissioner who came to Phulaguri with a force consisting of some policemen.

13. When did the Phulaguri Dhawa take place? 

Ans. The Phulaguri Dhawa took place on 17th September, 1861.

14. When did the peasant revolt of Rangia take place? 

Ans. The peasant revolt of Rangia took place on 24th December, 1893.

15. Where is Lachima Located?

Ans. Lachima is located in the Bajali region in the North Kamrup district.

16. When did the peasant revolt of Lachima take place?

Ans. The peasant revolt of Lachima took place on 21st January 1894.

17. When did the peasant revolt of Patharughat take place? 

Ans. The peasant revolt of Patharughat took place on January, 1894.

18. Who led the Jaintia revolt in 1861?

Ans. Ukiang Nonbah led the Jaintia revolt in 1861.

19. Who led the revolt of the ethinic tribes of North Cachar in 1881?

Ans. Sambudhan Kachari lede revolt of the ethnic tribes of North Cachar in 1881.

20. Who punished Tikendrajit with the death sentence?

Ans. The British force punished Tikendrajit on the charges of anti British activities and killing British officials.

21. In which year was J.W. Quinton murdered?

Ans. J.W. Quinton was murdered in 1891.

Long Answers Type Questions:

1. Discuss in brief the causes of the revolt of 1857-58.

Ans. The main causes of the revolts of 1857-58 were discuss below:

(a) The first was the introduction of land revenue and the system of money economy for collecting the land revenue and other taxes. Unaccus- tomed to the money economy the people of Assam were reduced almost to pauper. The new land policy and money economy gave birth to a sense of frustration and resentment in the minds of the people.

Because of limited market facility, natural economy and self-sufficiency of the villages, the people generally suffered heavily from the new system of money economy. The new money economy introduced by the British in the initial stage of their administration helped in the emergence of a class of moneylender. And they made the people of Assam dependent on this class of moneylender. Moneylenders were almost all outsiders- Kaya Marwari and Bengali people.

(b) Secondly, while this was the condition of the mass of the people, the condition of the aristocracy was not happy either. Though a section of the Ahom feudal nobility became involved in the British administration at the initial stage, a large segment of this class became jobless and unemployed. The practice of giving appointment to the educated Bengali people in the services of the Assam administration almost since the beginning rapidly brought the members of the Ahom nobility to the brink of losing employment.

On the other hand, the Bengali people serving in the government departments since earlier had been in the habit of bringing their relations to Assam for new recruitment.

Though the title-holders like Phukan, Baruah, Rajkhowa etc., had been appointed to the posts of Mauzadars earlier the district of Sibsagar, in several areas people hailing from Sylhet and Marwar were preferred. As a consequence, the members of the aristocracy were gradually deprived of these posts and were forced, as Manirarn had complained, to become the ryots of the foreigners.

(c) Thirdly, the abolition of slavery in 1843 in Assam also created a sense of resentment in the minds of a section of the people. Due to the abolition of slavery, the Brahmins and priests and the nobility had to lose their domestic helps and there had been a shortage of people for performing manual works in the agricultural fields.

(d) Fourthly, The Brahmins and priests and the religious pontiffs of the satras harbour strong resentment against the government for the conduct of an inquiry into the prevailing lakhiraj lands, ie, revenue-free lands under the possession of the Brahmins and priests and religious pontiffs of the satras. The inquiry resulted in the occupation of the excess lands under possession over the actual grants by the government and the assessment to revenue of the rest, caused resentment among the holders of such lands. Historian Dr. Herambakanta Barpujari mentions that due to the abolition of slavery and being deprived of the lakhiraj lands, many Brahmin priests made common cause with Maniram Dewan in 1857 against the British.

Thus it is seen that the thirty years of British rule could not satisfy a single segment of the Assamese society.

2. Discuss the role of Maniram Dewan in the revolt of 1857-58 in Assam.

Ans. The people who tried to instigate the sepoys against the British government were members of the erstwhile elite class of Assam who were dreaming of throwing out the British from Assam and reinstating the Ahom monarchy with the grandson of former Ahom King Purandar Singha, Kandarpeswar Singha, as the King. The person who planned this was Maniram Barbhandar Barua who was more popular as Maniram Dewan.

In Calcutta Maniram Dewan met Madhu Mallik, a Bengali Muktiyar and together they hatched a conspiracy to drive the British out of Assam. Bahadur Gaonburha, Phormud Ali, Piyoli Barua, Dutiram Barua, Mayaram Nazir etc. were some elites of Assam who responded to Maniram Dewan’s appeal.

The British government got a scent of this conspiracy in the middle of August 1857. Accordingly preparations were made to apprehend the rebels. Understanding the seriousness of the matter Chief Commissioner Jenkins .requested the government to send a force of trained European soldiers.

In the first part of September 1857 the Principal Assistant Captain Holroyd intercepted many letters written by Maniram Dewan where in the conspiracy against the British government was clearly mentioned. On the request of Holroyd Captain Louther arrived at Jorhat with a force and arrested Kandarpeswar Singha on September 7. He was sent off to Calcutta and kept in Alipur jail.

Immediately after this Maniram Dewan was arrested in Calcutta. He was the main leader of the conspiracy against the British. He was kept in the Alipur jail for about two and a half months and then sent to Jorhat in December. 

Captain Holroyd set up a special Court of Justice wherein Maniram Dewan and Piyoli Barua were sentenced to be hanged to death on being found guilty of charges of conspiring against the British government. And on 26 February 1858 both of them were hanged. Madhu Mallik, Kamala Barua, Dutiram Barua, Mayaram Nazir etc were sentenced to be imprisoned for life. Bahadur Gaonburha and Sheikh Formud Ali were sent away to the Andamands and all their properties were confiscated.

Those soldiers who took part in this revolt were also punished. For example, some soldiers of Dibrugarh regiment were imprisoned for life while some soldiers of Golaghat were dismissed from service.

The Ahom prince Kandarpeswar Singha was a minor and as such he was kept in the special jail in Bardhaman till 1860. Later on he was allowed to come back to Gauhati where he set up residence. He was not permitted by the British government to go back to Jorhat. He was given a pension of 500 rupees with effect from 1853. 

After the Queen’s Proclamation of 1858, Dutiram Barua, Sheikh Formud Ali, Bahadur Gaonburha etc were allowed to come back from the Andamands.

In this manner the attempt of Maniram Dewan in 1857 to overthrow the British in Assam and re-establish the Ahom Monarchy ended in failure.

3. Discuss reasons why the revolt of 1857-58 failed in Assam.

Ans. Discuss reasons of the failed revolt of 1857-58 in Assam are:

(i) First of all the number of rebels in Assam also very small. Maniram Dewan’s supporters were confined to Jorhat and Sibsagar 

(ii) Second the leaders of the rebellion failers to understand the important of time and so, even after completion of all preparations for the revolt, they failed to being in time.

(iii) Third, The chief organizer of the revolt, Maniram Dewan was far away from the scene of revolt. At that time Calcutta was very far away from Assam and to command a revolt from there, through letters, was quite impractical. Maniram Dewan should have arrived in Assam at the earliest. No doubt he had been an able administrator but he lacked the expertise to be the leader of a revolt. Maniram Dewan can be said to have been the best example of what happens when the leader of a revolt underestimates the strength of the opposition or fails to appreciate their ability and intelligence.

(iv) Fourth, Maniram Dewan and his associates never tried to involve all sections of the society in the revolt. The new Assamese middle class people of Nagaon and Gauhati were not at all sympathetic towards the revolt. At that time the newly emerging Assamese middle class intelligentsia was more attracted towards the Bengali middle class lifestyle. They had no wish to go back under the administration of the Ahom monarchy again. As such, this group of people of Assam neither supported nor showed any sympathy towards the revolt of 1857 Consequently, though there was some bubbling in the name of the revolt but there was no explosion as such.

(v) Fifth, the rebels of Assam failed to maintain the secret of their activities. As a result the British government came to know about their conspiracy and could successfully suppress the revolt.

(vi) Sixth, the rebels in Assam had no access to arms and ammunitions as was required. Though Maniram Dewan was supposed to bring arms and weapons, he was arrested before he could do so.

(vii) Last, the Indian soldiers of the British army posted in Assam did not form the backbone of the revolt in Assam. The rebels in Assam could not gain the support of these soldiers as in Meerut, Delhi and Lucknow.

4. Discuss the importance of the revolt of 1857 in Assam. 

Ans. The importance of the revolt of 1857 in Assam were:

(i) First, thought the revolt of 1857 was crushed by the British with an iron hand, this was for the first time in the history of Assam that Assam was associated with a historical Indian event. 

(ii) Second, the peasant revolt that began in 1861 in Assam got inspiration from the revolt of 1857. 

(iii) Third, in Assam too, the Hindu and Muslim communities were united to take part in the revolt and thus fulfiled the growth of Nationalism.

5. Write a note on the Phulaguri Dhawa.

Ans. The banner of revolt that was raised for the first time in Assam the exploited peasants against the British policy of economic exploitation was the Phulaguri Dhawa. Located near Nowgaon, Phulaguri was a village inhabited by the Tiwa ethnic community who survived on the commercial cultivation of Poppy.

When the British government began to sell opium (which was extracted from the Poppy seeds) these peasants were naturally infuriated. In 1861, the British government completely banned the cultivation of Poppy. This agitated the Tiwa ethnic community and more so, because the selling of opium by the British government continued. The British administration’s decision adversely impacted upon the economic condition of this community.

As soon as the news of banning Poppy cultivation spread, on 17th September 1861, more than 1500 peasants from the various adjoining areas gathered in Phulaguri and organized a Raij Mel to oppose this decision of the government. In the Mel it was decided to submit, a petition to the Deputy Commissioner requesting the removal of the ban on Poppy cultivation and not to fix any tax on Tamul-paan.

At that time the Deputy Commissioner of Nowgaon was Herbert Sconce. Instead of showing any sympathy towards the public, he misbehaved with them. To protest against this, the public held Raij Meals for five consecutive days from 15th October in Phulaguri. The 1000 strong peasants who gathered on the first day were mostly armed with bamboo sticks.

In the following days the number of gathered public increased and on 18th October about 4000 people had gathered.

Deputy Commissioner Sconce sent his Assistant Commissioner Lieutenant Singer to the meeting. When Singer inquired about the objectives of the meeting, one Jati Kalita explained on behalf of the public that since the local authorities had not shown any sympathy towards the demands of the peasants, namely to remove the ban on poppy cultivation and not to fix taxes on Tamul-paan, they were now planning to approach the highest authorities. Singer became very excited at this and ordered the people to leave.

Moreover, he also ordered his sepoys to snatch away the bamboo sticks carried by the peasants. While this tussle over the bamboo sticks broke out, one peasant struck Singer on the head with his stick and felled him to the ground. When the other peasants also joined in this attack, Singer died on the spot. His body was thrown into the Kollong river. The police force that had accompanied Singer fled the scene. This incident has been mentioned in the pages of history as the Phulaguri Dhawa.

After this incident many peasants were arrested by the authorities on the charge of the murder of Singer. Thousands were kept imprisoned in temporary jails in Raha and Phulaguri. As a result of the trial Lakkhan Deka, Songbor Lalung and Rongbor Deka were awarded death sentence. Some of the accused peasants were sent away to Koliyapani (Andamand and Nicobar Islands). 

6. Discuss the peasant revolt of North Kamrup in 1894.

Ans. In the month of June 1892, Sir William Erskine Ward, the then Chief Commissioner of Assam, submitted a proposal for the enhancement land revenue in the Brahmaputra valley to be effective from 1893-94 after a new classification of land. As the British-Indian government accorded approval to his proposal, the land revenue in the Brahmaputra valley increased to 35 in 1893-94 over the year 1892-93.

This time too the peasantry, as in the past, first submitted petitions to the government protesting against the enhancement. The number of petitions submitted to the government across the valley was 16,485. These petitions were submitted to the Assam administration several months before the submission of the final proposal for the enhancement of land revenue to the British-Indian government.

When the government of Assam began to collect the land revenue at enhanced rate with the approval of the British-Indian government, despite strong protest from the peasantry, the latter started to meet in raijmels instantly to register their voice of protest against the government action. In several places of North Kamrup hundreds of peasants met in raijmels and determined not to pay land revenue at the enhanced rate.

In the month of December 1893, several hundred peasants in and around Rangia and Tamulpur roughed-up Radhanath Baruah, the Tahsildar of Tamulpur for several times. Besides, they looted the land-mortgaged records from the houses of the Marwari moneylenders and traders of Rangia and damaged the houses at the hat.

As per the decision of the raijmel that had been held at Rajkadamtal near Nalbari, a raijmel of thousands of peasantry of North Kamrup was held at Rangia on 10th January 1894. One Kan Gossain, a leading man of the peasantry, presided over this raijmel.

R.B. MaCabe, the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup, and a police officer, Reily by name, had been taking position there since before 10 January with a view to putting obstruction in holding the raijmel. As a consequence, tussle between the government and the coming for the raijmel became inevitable. According to the government there had been no death or injury to any person. But as per tradition several persons had died in the scuffle and their bodies were buried in a place where now the Inspection Bunglow stands in front of the Haradutta-Biradutta Bhawan. The government collected land revenue in the area by suppressing the rebellion with a heavy hand with the help of the police.

In the Barama region, the raijmel was very much powerful; it raised its own striking troops (lathial), own messengers and spies. In the Bajali area thousands of peasantry met in raijmels in Lachima, Chaukhuti, Panagaon, Sarthebari and in Patacharkuchi. The greatest of these raijmels had its ses- sion in the chapori of Panagaon. The peasantry from Rangia, Nalbari, Dharmapur, Bajali etc., and from other parts of North Kamrup met there.

This raijmel, imposed a fine of Rs.5/- on Madhab Chandra Bardaloi, the Sub-divisional Officer of Barpeta, for his misbehaving the public, and was set free after he made the payment. In the Kapla village the people roughed-up Dasoram Chaudhury, the mauzadar and Haliram Misra, the mandal, for forcefully collecting the revenue there. Haliram Misra died a few days later due to the injury he had suffered from the beating. In the raijmel of Panagaon, Pushparam Kalita (a bell-metal worker), and Jogeswar Goswami, the satradhikar of Byashkuchi, took the leading part. Altogether 70 persons were arrested allegedly for their involvement in the incident of Kapla village and were brought before Madhab Chandra Bardaloi, the S.D.O., while the latter was staying at the government Rest Camp. As a large number of people from the neighbouring villages soon surrounded the Rest Camp, Madhab Chandra Bardaloi fled to Barpeta releasing all the arrested people.

MaCabe, the Deputy Commissioner, accompanied by about 30 policemen and the personnel of the Gurkha Regiment, arrested 59 rebellious peasants. He himself tried these people and awarded various punishments. Nearly 16 persons were given various punishments for their alleged involvement in the rebellion as well as the murder of Haliram Misra. In the judgement of the Calcutta High Court later the punishments of these persons were reduced. Pushparam Kalita, Debidutta Sarma, Jayanti Bez, Nibharsha Kalita, Nausoko Kalita and Mangalu Kalita each was given 2 years rigorous imprisonment.

Hardly had the peasant uprising in North Kamrup come to an end then the peasantry of Patharughat rose in rebellion in the neighbouring district of Darrang. The actual occurrence of the rebellion was on 28th January 1894. Of course, the preparation for the rebellion had been going on there in the region for some time past. The peasantry of Kalaigaon, Mangaldoi, Sipajhar and Patharughat Tahsils of Mangaldoi Sub-division began the rebellion in protest against the enhancement of land revenue. Ransom, the Sub-divisional Officer of Mangaldoi, kept a strict vigil on the movement of the peas- antry and accordingly kept the district headquarters at Tezpur informed about the happenings. Anticipating trouble he had mustered military forces as per his capacity to face any eventuality. 

7. Give an account of the peasant revolt of Patharughat in 1894.

Ans. The peasant revolt of Patharughat began in Mangaldoi circle of Darrang District. The main causes of this revolt are the public had organized Raij Mel to oppose the increased revenue as well as its collection. The peasants of Kalaigaon, Mangaldoi, Sipajhar of Mangoldoi circle and Patharughat tehsil gathered in these Raij Mels.

After holding such public assemblies in their own areas, the peasants were planning a public assembly for three days, 26-28 January, in Patharughat. This travelled from the Tehsildars of that area to the Circle Officer who in turn informed the Deputy Commissioner, J. D Anderson, about this propose Raij Mel. 

In order to stop this huge public assembly, J. D Anderson, along with a force comprising of police and military personnel and the Police Superintendent J. R. Berington, arrived in Patharughat on 27th January. 

With the help of the police and military, the properties of those peasants who had refused to Pay revenue, were confiscated. This infuriated the peas- ants and about 200 of them surrounded Berington who had gone for the revenue extraction. He somehow managed to save himself from the clutches of the public and reaching the Rest Camp, described everything to the Deputy Commissioner. A few hours later around 2000 peasants marched towards the Rest Camp. Almost each one of them was armed with sticks.

When the peasants reached the Rest Camp, Anderson advised them to go home as soon as possible but they did not move. At this the Deputy Commissioner ordered the Police Superintendent to disperse the peasants by using force, if necessary.

Following this order when the Police Superintendent tried to forcefully chase away the peasants, they retaliated by brandishing their sticks, hurling stones- pebbles and moved in closer. The raining of stones and pebbles was such that the police-military and administrative officers, none could keep their eyes open. Under such conditions the Deputy Commissioner ordered the Police Superintendent to open fire. According to unofficial records, 140 peasants were killed and 150 peasants were injured as a result of the firing. On the other hand the official records showed 15 killed and 37 injured.

The peasant revolt of Patharughat was crushed by the British imperialist government with an iron hand. On account of participating in this revolt, according to official sources, 37peasants were arrested and tried. The Circle Officer of Mangaldoi, Mr. Ransom settled these cases. Aklu Sheikh and six others were punished and the rest were all released.

8. Write a note on the Jaintia revolt against the British in 1850.

Ans. The Jaintia Kingdom went into the hands of the British from the Jaintia King, Rajendra Singha in 1835. The freedom loving Jaintia people were infuriated by this act of incorporating the Jaintia Hills within the Company’s domain. More than the loss of land, it was the high handed attitude of the British that agitated the Jaintias or Syntengs. Under the British Political Agent, the Diwani and Faujdari responsibilities were vested in the Dolois but the foreign administration always tried to find their faults. The British made arrangements to extract revenue by banning community fishing and collection of firewood which was common among these people. Moreover, interference in the religious and traditional social practices and ban- ning the use of weapons that had been used for generations, turned this ethnic hill tribe completely against the British.

They organized village meetings with the Dolois and Sardars and began to prepare for revolt. On the other hand the British to establish their authority, began to impose taxes like House tax, Income Tax etc on these people who had never ever paid any tax in cash.

When the British implemented House tax the Jaintia’s raised the banner of revolt by removing the tehsildar of Jowai. As soon as the news spread, revolts were declared in Jayantipur, Mulagul, Jaflong, and Sera areas also.

The British administration adopted stem measures. In retaliation the Jaintia’s under the leadership of Ukiang Nonbah doubled the strength of the revolt. They met in a meeting near Jowai, where they swore to overthrow the British authority from the Jaintia Hills and re-establish their own rights. 

On 17th January 1862, the Jaintia’s made a sudden attack on the British Camp in Jowai. The rebels, had already blocked, the two roads connecting Jowai-Cherrapunji and Cherrapunji-Jayantipur. The 44th Native Infantry and 33rd Bengal Military Police forces deployed by the British administration had been torturing the people inhumanly. The rebels too, killed many of their opponents. In the midst of this violent conflict between the two sides, the British administration entrusted the military and civil authority of the entire Jaintia Hills with the Brigadier General of the Eastern Command, G D Showers. In addition B. W Morton was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills.

The continuous attacks from the government side was leading to the gradual erosion of the strength of the rebels. The British government promised a general amnesty if the rebels surrendered voluntarily and an award of 1000 rupees was announced for anyone who would capture and hand over to the British their leader, Ukiang Nongbah, alive. At last Ukiang Nongbah was captured by the British and in the presence of a huge crowd, he was hanged to death in Jowai.

This incident dampened the spirit of the rebels to a large extent and many of them surrendered voluntarily. In this manner by 1863 the Jaintia Revolt came to an end.

10. Write about the anti-British revolt of 1891 in Manipur under the leadership of Tikendrajit? 

Ans. The kingdom of Manipur was outside the administration of Assam. Since many years Manipur was recognized as a native Kingdom under the protection of the British. In 1890, an internal quarrel broke out in the Manipuri royal family for the Throne. In this struggle among the successors, the Chief Commissioner of Assam interfered unnecessarily.

Taking advantage of the presence of the British, the Crown Prince Kulachandra, dethroned the king, Surachandra and sat on the throne himself on 21st September 1890. Though the King Surachandra appealed for help to the British, the later recognized Kulachandra as the king of Manipur. There- after the British began to put pressure on Kulachandra to banish his Commander-in-Chief (Senapati) Tikendrajit, who was the main leader of the anti-British revolt which was secretly going on, from the kingdom.

But to banish the popular leader who was working to protect the freedom of the Kingdom, on the direction of the British, was not an easy task for Kulachandra. When the Chief Commissioner of Assam, J. W. Quinton and four other European officers came to Manipur themselves to capture Tikendrajit, the freedom seeking Manipuris killed all of them.

To avenge this incident a strong military contingent was sent to Manipur.

Tikendrajit was successfully captured by the British force and on the charges of anti-British activities and killing British Officials, he was hanged. King Kulachandra was exiled and a minor Manipuri prince, Churachandra was declared to be the King in September 1891 The Political Agent of the British government was given all responsibilities of the administration of Manipur since the King was a minor. Manipur had to pay Rs. 2.50 Lakh to the British government as compensation for the losses incurred during the revolt. In addition, a sum of Rs. 50,000 had to be paid annually by Manipur to the British. In this way, the British established their domination in the Kingdom of Manipur.

11. Write short notes:

(a) The Revenue system implemented by the British in Assam.

Ans. The Revenue system implemented by the British in Assam: Like other states of India, the East India Company also established a powerful rule in Assam. The British has introduced a new system of revenue in Assam, In this revenue system the foreign govt attached more importance to collection of taxes. They took no measures to erase the sorrows and difficulties of the peasants and poverty ridden subject. In Assam, in the administrative system prior to that of the British revenue was not collected through cash. But the introduction of payment of land revenue as well as other taxes by means of cash by the British further improvised. The new land revenue policy and the money economy of the British govt created deep resetment among the people. This money economy led to the conation of the Mahajans whose were the immigrant Marwari and Bengali businessman. 

(b) Maniram Dewan.

Ans. Maniram Dewan: Maniram Borbhandar Barua came to be known as Maniram Dewan. He had not only been a witness to the Burmese invasion of Assam and how the Assamese people had suffered but also to how the British came to lord over Assam in 1826.

Initially he was not opposed to the British rule. In fact in 1828 he had been appointed as Shirastadar (Revenue Book keeper) by the British in Jorhat While working in this position he brought in many reforms in the Revenue department and proved his capacity.

When King Purandar Singha was re-established in Upper Assam, Maniram Barua joined his service as the Dewan. But for reasons unknown, he resigned from this post and joined in the Assam Tea Company, which was owned by the British and established in 1839. In 1844 he resigned from there as well and set up his own tea garden in Jorhat. The fact that he could not gain any exemption from revenue payment like the British tea growers agitated him.

Moreover, Captain Holroyd who joined as the Chief Officer of Sibsagar district in 1851, deprived Maniram’s family of the revenue that they had been enjoying since generations. Although the career of Maniram Dewan as an authoritative officer began under the British government but it was also under the same government that he was reduced to a common man devoid of post, position, wealth and prestige.

Maniram Dewan realized one thing that his fortunes would not change for the better under the British domination. For that to happen the Ahom Monar- chy had to be restored. Like the Ahom Prince Kameswar Singha, Maniram Dewan too, refused to accept the pension of 1000 rupees from the British. When Kameswar Singha expired in 1851, Maniram Dewan fully supported the idea of establishing his son, Kandarpeswar Singha on the royal throne.

In 1853, when the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Moffat Mills came to Assam to investigate the administrative situation, Maniram Dewan presented two applications before him. In one of these, he gave an account of his services rendered to the British company and requested the government for some suitable remuneration. In the other, he requested that Ahom Prince Kandarpeswar Singha be reinstated on the Ahom royal throne and also the details of the sufferings and miseries of the aristocratic class. In this application though he mentioned about some positive effects of the British rule in Assam like-the end of severe punishment like-body mutilation during the Ahom rule, he also pointed out some negative effects like- awarding pension to undeserving people, reducing the elite high officials to the standard of the common people by depriving them of all their privileges.

Though on the basis of his applications, Mills critically examined all aspects of the English government, he did not sympathize with Maniram’s applications. In fact, he declared Maniram to be a conspirator.

The report of Mills deshed all hopes of Maniram Dewan and he completely turned against the British. As he understood his own limitations, he decided to avoid a direct confrontation with the British government and in early part of 1857 went to Calcutta to appeal to the British government to restore Kandarpeswar Singha on the throne of Assam. But he never got an opportunity to meet the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal. 

At that time he came to know about the revolt of the Indian soldiers in the British army in Northern India and began to dream of overthrowing the British rule in Assam with the help of the Indian soldiers in the British army posted in Assam through a revolt. He sent some secret letters from Calcutta to Kandarpeswar Singha in Jorhat and some other trusted people. In these letters he advised that the Indian soldiers in Dibrugarh and Golaghat be contacted and a revolt raised. Maniram Dewan planned to come to Upper Assam with arms and ammunitions during the time of Durga puja and join in the revolt. Unfortunately, many of these conspiratory letters fell into the hands of the officer of Sibsagar district, Captain Holroyd and Maniram Dewan was immediately arrested in Calcutta. His supporters in Jorhat and Sibsagar like Piyoli Barua, Kandarpeswar Singha and others were arrested. Maniram Dewan and Piyoli Barua were kept in Jorhat Jail and hanged on 26 February 1858.

(c) Phulaguri Dhawa.

Ans. Phulaguri Dhawa: The banner of revolt that was raised for the first time in Assam by the exploited peasants against the British policy of eco- nomic exploitation was the Phulaguri Dhawa. Located near Nowgaon, Phulaguri was a village inhabited by the Tiwa ethnic community who sur- vived on the commercial cultivation of Poppy.

When the British government began to sell opium (which was extracted from the Poppy seeds) these peasants were naturally infuriated. In 1861, the British government completely banned the cultivation of Poppy. This agi- tated the Tiwa ethnic community and more so, because the selling of opium by the British government continued. The British administration’s decision adversely impacted upon the economic condition of this community.

As soon as the news of banning Poppy cultivation spread, on 17th September 1861, more than 1500 peasants from the various adjoining areas gathered in Phulaguri and organized a Raij Mel to oppose this decision of the government. In the Mel it was decided to submit, a petition to the Deputy Commissioner requesting the removal of the ban on Poppy cultivation and not to fix any tax on Tamul-paan. 

At that time the Deputy Commissioner of Nowgaon was Herbert Sconce Instead of showing any sympathy towards the public, he misbehaved with them. To protest against this, the public held Raij Mels for five consecutive days from 15th October in Phulaguri. The 1000 strong peasants who gathered on the first day were mostly armed with bamboo sticks.

In the following days the number of gathered public increased and on 18th October about 4000 people had gathered.

Deputy Commissioner Sconce sent his Assistant Commissioner Lieutenant Singer to the meeting. When Singer inquired about the objectives of the meeting, one Jati Kalita explained on behalf of the public that since the local authorities had not shown any sympathy towards the demands of the peasants, namely to remove the ban on poppy cultivation and not to fix taxes on Tamul-paan, they were now planning to approach the highest authorities. Singer became very excited at this and ordered the people to leave.

Moreover, he also ordered his sepoys to snatch away the bamboo sticks carried by the peasants. While this tussle over the bamboo sticks broke out, one peasant struck Singer on the head with his stick and felled him to the ground. When the other peasants also joined in this attack, Singer died on the spot. His body was thrown into the Kollong river. The police force that had accompanied Singer fled the scene. This incident has been mentioned in the pages of history as the Phulaguri Dhawa. 

After this incident many peasants were arrested by the authorities on the charge of the murder of Singer. Thousands were kept imprisoned in temporary jails in Raha and Phulaguri. As a result of the trial Lakkhan Deka, Songbor Lalung and Rongbor Deka were awarded death sentence. Some of the accused peasants were sent away to Koliyapani (Andamand and Nicobar Islands).

(d) Peasant revolt of Lachima.

Ans. Peasant revolt of Lachima: The severe repression of the peasant revolt of Rangia by the British government could not stop it from spreading to other regions. The Raij Mels in Barama were very strong and here they created a force armed with stout sticks. In addition, for better communication they appointed postmen who not only carried messages but also acted as spies.

In the Bajali region, comprising Lachima, Choukhuti, Panagaon, Sarthebari, Patacharkuchi etc, thousands of peasants participated in the Raij Mels, The largest Raij Mel in this entire region was held in Panagaon sapori. In this assembly peasants from various places like Rangia, Nalbari, Dharmapur, Bajali etc of North Kamrup took part.

On 21st January 1894, when Dasuram Choudhury, the Moujadar of Kapla village near Lachima in Sarukhetri Mouja, and his Mondol Holiram Mishra went out to collect revenue, they were very badly beaten up by the people. After some days the Moujadar died. Arriving at the scene, the Circle Officer of Barpeta, Madhab Chandra Bordoloi arrested 75 persons and took them to his rest camp in Lachima. When, about 3000 people surrounded the rest camp and threatened to burn it down, he was compelled to release the ar- rested persons.

The next day, Deputy Commissioner McCabe arrived there with about 30 policemen and soldiers from the Gorkha regiment. He arrested 59 rebel peasants and locked them up in a temporary jail. On 25th, around 6000 people signed a document ‘demanding the release of the imprisoned persons and submitted it in the Deputy Commissioner’s camp. McCabe showed no sym- pathy; instead by applying force, he chased away the crowd. Among those arrested were many leaders like Gosain Doley.

These people were tied to the yokes like bullocks and paraded before the public as a lesson, so that no one might revolt in the future. 16 people were given various kinds of punishments for committing the crime of organizing the peasant revolt in Lachima and assaulting Holiram Mishra Mondal. Later, on the orders of the Calcutta High Court, the punishment sentenced for these people was reduced.

Two years of rigorous imprisonment was awarded to Pushparam Kalita, Debi Dutta Sarma, Jayanti Bez, Nirbhasa Kalita and Monglu Kalita for organizing and leading the revolt.

(e) Battle of Patharughat.

Ans. Battle of Patharughat: The peasant revolt of Patharughat began in Mangaldoi circle of Darrang District. The main causes of this revolt are the public had organized Raij Mel to oppose the increased revenue as well as its collection. The peasants of Kalaigaon, Mangaldoi, Sipajhar of Mangoldoi circle and Patharughat tehsil gathered in these Raij Mels.

After holding such public assemblies in their own areas, the peasants were planning a public assembly for three days, 26-28 January, in Patharughat. This travelled from the Tehsildars of that area to the Circle Officer who in turn informed the Dputy Commissioner, J. D Anderson, about this propose Raij Mel.

In order to stop this huge public assembly, J. D Anderson, along with a force comprising of police and military personnel and the Police Superinten- dent J. R. Berington, arrived in Patharughat on 27th January.

With the help of the police and military, the properties of those peasants who had refused to Pay revenue, were confiscated. This infuriated the peasants and about 200 of them surrounded Berington who had gone for the revenue extraction. He somehow managed to save himself from the clutches of the public and reaching the Rest Camp, described everything to the Deputy Commissioner. A few hours later around 2000 peasants marched towards the Rest Camp. Almost each one of them was armed with sticks.

When the peasants reached the Rest Camp, Anderson advised them to go home as soon as possible but they did not move. At this the Deputy Commissioner ordered the Police Superintendent to disperse the peasants by using force, if necessary.

Following this order when the Police Superintendent tried to forcefully chase away the peasants, they retaliated by brandishing their sticks, hurling stones- pebbles and moved in closer. The raining of stones and pebbles was such that the police-military and administrative officers, none could keep their eyes open. Under such conditions the Deputy Commissioner ordered the Police Superintendent to open fire. According to unofficial records, 140 peasants were killed and 150 peasants were injured as a result of the firing. On the other hand the official records showed 15 killed and 37 injured.

The peasant revolt of Patharughat was crushed by the British imperialist government with an iron hand. On account of participating in this revolt, according to official sources, 37peasants were arrested and tried. The Circle Officer of Mangaldoi, Mr. Ransom settled these cases. Aklu Sheikh and six others were punished and the rest were all released.

(f) Importance of peasant revolt in Assam.

Ans. Importance of peasant revolt in Assam: After the suppresion of the Revolt of 1857 all powers of the East India Company were transferred to the Queen of England through the Queen’s Proclamation of 1858.

The Revolt had led to a pitiable economic condition of the British government. Since a huge amount had to be spent in the suppressing the Revolt, the deficit budget of 1857-58 rose to 14 million pounds.

So in the years following the revolt the British government was most concerned about how to stabilize their economic condition and make up the deficit. As a result the burden of taxes fell on the Indian masses.

In Assam also the same policy was adopted and this led to several additional taxes over and above those already there. Between 1854 and 1870 there was a hundred percent rise in taxes.

Stamp Duties in 1858, Income Tax, License Tax (for using forest products like wood, bamboo etc) and Grazing Tax (for grazing cattle in the fields and meadows) in 1860 were introduced. 

In Kamrup, Darrang and Nowgong excise duties were imposed. Rivers in which gold was found and fishing was done were now auctioned.

All these measures of the British government to collect more and more revenue badly affected the common people and peasants. Though taxes were collected from the peasants, no steps were taken by the government for the development of agriculture and the agriculturists.

The foreign government did not exempt the peasants from payment of taxes even during natural disasters, epidemics or famines. As a result of all this, the common people of Assam were totally disgusted with the British government and this led to a series of peasant revolts in Assam from the middle of the 19th century. 

(g) Tikendrajit.

Ans. Tikendrajit: In 1890, an internal quarrel broke out in the Manipuri royal family for the Throne. Though the king Jurachandra appealed for help to the British the latter recognised Kulahandra, as the king of Manipur. Thereafter the British began to put presence on king to banish his commander-in-chief. Tikendrajit, who was the main leader of the anti-British revolt which was separatly going on, from the kingdom. But to Banish the popular leader who was working to protect the freedom of the kingdom, on the direction of the British was not on easy task for king Kulahandra. When the chief commissioner of Assam, JW Quinton and four other European officers come to Manipur themselves to capture Tikendrajit the freedom seeking Manipurs killed all of them. Tikendrajit was successfully captured by the British force and on the charges of anti-British activities and killing British officials he was hanged till death.

Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer:

1. Govinda Chandra was a King of-

(a) Mattaks.

(b) Khamties. 

(c) Kacharis. 

(d) Singphows. 

Ans. (c) Kacharis. 

2. Rajendra Singha was a King of-

(a) Jaintia Kingdom. 

(b) Kachari Kingdom. 

(c) Ahom Kingdom. 

(d) Manipur Kingdom. 

Ans. (a) Jaintia Kingdom. 

3. Income Tax was introduced in the year in Assam-

(a) 1870. 

(b) 1840. 

(c) 1890. 

(d) 1860. 

Ans. (d) 1860. 

4. Stamp Duties was introduced in the year _______ in Assam.

(a) 1858. 

(b) 1885. 

(c) 1875. 

(d) 1857. 

Ans. (a) 1858. 

5. Licence Tax was introduced in the year _______ in Assam.

(a) 1870. 

(b) 1848. 

(c) 1860. 

(d) 1960. 

Ans. (c) 1860. 

6. When did the British Parliament pass the Indian Independence Act?

(a) February, 1947. 

(b) July, 1947. 

(c) June, 1947. 

(d) March, 1947. 

Ans. (b) July, 1947. 

7. Who wrote the application to Moffat Mills against fixation of high land revenue from the Assamese peasants?

(a) Maniram Dewan. 

(b) Piyali Barua. 

(c) Mahatma Gandhi. 

(d) Anandaram Dhekial Phukan. 

Ans. (d) Anandaram Dhekial Phukan. 

8. When was the ‘Cabinet Mission’ sent to India by the british government?

(a) August, 1935. 

(b) July, 1945. 

(c) March, 1946. 

(d) August 1947. 

Ans. (c) March, 1946.  

Very Short Questions and Answers:

1. When did the British established tea gardens in upper Assam?

Ans. In the early part of the 19th century the British had established tea gardens in upper Assam. 

2. In which year British stopped the slavery in Assam?

Ans. British stopped slavery in Assam in 1843.

3. Who was appointed as the first political officers of Khasi Hills during British rule?

Ans. David scott was appointed as the first political officer. 

4. Who arrested bahadur Gaonburha and Formud Ali for Anti-British activities?

Ans. By the captain Holroyd of the British Govt. and deported to Andaman Island Jail.

5. Who led the peasant revolts in Assam in the 19th century?

Ans. The Raij Mels led the peasant revolts in Assam in the 19th century.

6. When was the Phulaguri Dhawa broken out? 

Ans. The Phulaguri Dhawa broken out in 1861.

7. When did the British completely ban the cultivation of Poppy? 

Ans. The British completely banned the cultivation of poppy in 1861.

8. Which ethnic community led the protest at Phulaguri?

Ans. The Tiwa ethnic community led the protest at Phulaguri. 

9. Who was the Deputy Commissioner of Nawgaon in 1861?

Ans. Herbert Sconce.

10. Name the Assistant commissioner who was killed in the Phulaguri peasants revolts?

Ans. Lieutenant Singer, the Assistant commissioner was killed in the Phulaguri peasants revolt.

11. When did the peasants revolt at Rangia break out?

Ans. The peasants revolt at Rangia break out on 24th December, 1893.

12. Name the Tehsildar of Rangia and Tamulpur who was humiliated by the peasants during the revolt of 1893.

Ans. Radhanath Barua was the Tehsildar of Rangia and Tamulpur who was humiliated by the peasants during the revolt of 1893.

13. Who was the Deputy Commissioner of Rangia in 1893? 

Ans. McCabe was the Deputy commissioner of Rangia in 1893.

14. How many peasants died during the police firing the patharughat revolt unofficially? 

Ans. According to unofficial records 140 peasants were killed and 150 peasants were injured as a result of the firing.

15. How many peasants died during the police firing in the patharughat revolt officially? 

Ans. According to official records 15 peasants were killed and 37 peasants were injured as a result of the firing.

16. When was the Jaintia Kingdom came into the hands of the British from the Jainta king?

Ans. The Jaintia Kingdom went into the hands of the British from the Jaintia king in 1835.

17. When the Jaintia’s made a sudden attack on the British camp in Jowal.

Ans. On 17th January 1862, the Jaintia’s made a sudden attack on the British camp in Jowai.

18. Who were the British administration had been torturing the Jointlya people.

Ans. The 44th Native Infantry and 33rd Bengal Military police force de- ployed by the British administration had been torturing the jointiya people inhumanly.

19. Who was the GD. Showers?

Ans. GD. Showers was the Brigradier General of the Eastern Command.

20. Who was the B. W. Morton?

Ans. B. W. Morton was the Deputy Commissioner of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills.

21. When did the Jaintiya Revolt end? 

Ans. In 1863, the Jainatiya Revolt came to an end.

22. In the 19th century, name the revolt raised by the ethnic hill tribes during the British rule.

Ans. North Cachar Revolt.

23. Which was the centre of the North Cachar Revolt?

Ans. Maibang was the centre of the North Cachar Revolt.

24. Who crushed the revolt of the Angami Nagas with an iron hand? 

Ans. The Angami Nagas was crushed within an iron hand by Colonel Johnson.

 25. Who was the Damante?

Ans. Damante was the British officer in 1878.

26. In which year did an internal quarrel break out in Manipur Royal family for the Throne?

Ans. In 1890, an internal quarrel broke out in Manipur Royal family for the Throne.

27. Who was Kulachandra?

Ans. Kulachandra was the king of Manipur.

28. Who was Churachandra?

Ans. Churachandra was a minor Manipuri Prince who was declared as king of Manipur in September, 1891 after king Kulachandra was exit.

29. Who was Tikendrajit?

Ans. Tikendrajit was the commander-in-chief in the Revolt in Manipur.

30. When was Churachandra declared as king of Manipur? 

Ans. Churachandra was declared as king of Manipur in September, 1891.

31. Who was J.W. Quinton?

Ans. J.W. Quinton was the chief commissioner of Assam.

32. In which year, was the stamp duties implemented?

Ans. The stamp duties was implemented in 1858.

33. In which year was the Income Tax implemented?

Ans. The Income Tax was implemented in 1860.

34. In which year, was the licence Tax implemented?

Ans. The License Tax was implemented in 1860. 

35. In which year, was the Grezing Tax implemented?

Ans. The Grazing Tax was implemented in 1860.

36. Where was Maniram Dewan and Piyoli Barua hanged?

Ans. Maniran Dewan and Piyoli Barua was hanged in Jorhat Jail. 

37. Who arrived in Jorhat with a force and arrested Kandarpeswar Singha on September, 1857. 

Ans. Captain Louther arrived in Jorhat within a force and arrested Kandarpeswar Singha on September, 1857.

38. How much amount had Manipur to pay the British government during the revolt?

Ans. Manipur had to pay Rupees-2.50 lakh as compensation for the losses incurred during the revolt and in addition Rupees 50,000 to be paid annualy to the British.

39. Who was appointed as the Deupty Commissioner of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills?

Ans. B. W. Morton was appointed as the Deputy commissioner of the Khasi Jaintia Hills.

40. Who was written an application about the British Land Revenue system to the Maffat Mill in 1853?

Ans. Anandaram Dhekial Phukan.

41. What amount of rupees was announced by the British Government in order to capture the Jaintia leader Ukiang Nonbah?

Ans. The amount of rupees was announced by the British Government in order to capture the Jaintia leader Ukiang Nonbah was 1000 rupees.

42. Who tried the case of Maniram Dewan?

Ans. Captain Louther tried the case of Maniram Dewan.

43. Who was Lieutenant Singer?

Ans. Lieutenant Singer was the Assistent Commissioner of Nagaon. He was killed in Phulaguri Revolt in 1861.

44. Where is Lachima located?

Ans. Lachima is located in Sarukhetri Mouza in Bajali region.

45. Who led the revolt of the ethnic tribels of North Cachar in 1881 ?

Ans. Sanbudhan Kachari.

46. Where is Lachima located?

Ans. Lachima is located in Sarukhetri Mouza in Bajali region.

47. In which year, was the licence Tax implemented? 

Ans. The licence Tax was implementes in 1860. 

48. Who was the Deputy Commissioner of Rangia in 1893? 

Ans. Mc Cabe was the Deputy Commissioner of Rangia in 1893.

49. Who was the Deputy Commissioner of Nawgaon in 1861?

Ans. Herbert Sconce.

50. Who led the peasant revolts in Assam in the 19th century?

Ans. The Raij Mels led the peasant revolts in Assam in the 19th century.

Short Questions and Answers:

1. What many petty kingdoms were there in the Khasi hills according to Gait?

Ans. There were 25 petty kingdoms in Khasi hills.

2. What was the ancient Khasi name of Shillong? Who was the first British political administrator of Khasi Hills? 

Ans. The Khasi name of Shillong was Yeddo. David Scotts was the British Political administrator of Khasi Hills.

3. After the establishment of the British rule in Assam how did the system of revenue collection change?

Ans. During the rule of Ahoms king in Assam the revenue was collected through labour of Paik system. But in the British rule revenue was collected by money in cash and other taxes also collected by money. 

4. How did the land revenue policy and the money economy affected the Assamese common people?

Ans. The new land revenue policy and the money economy of the British government created deep resentment among the Assamese common people who were completed to take loans on interest from Mahajans in order to clear their land revenue to the Government.

5. Who were the ‘Mahajans’ created by the money economy?

Ans. The Mahajans were the immigrant Marwari (keya) and Bengali Businessman who gave loans in interest and they were created by the money economy. 

6. What did Anandaram Dhekial Phukan write in his application to Maffat Mills?

Ans. Anandaram Dhekial Phukan in his application to Maffat Mills mentioned that in 1851 the conditions in some areas of Kamrup and Darrang were so pitiable that some parents were compelled to sell their own children for a handful of grains and in the upper Assam, cholera and Measles took an epidemic form which led to annihilation of several villages in Assam. 

7. In which years epidemics led to the annihilation of several villages in Assam?

Ans. Such epidemics led to the annihilation of several villages in Assam in 1839, 1847, and 1852.

8. How did the cottage industry affected by the policy of British administry?

Ans. The cottage industry in Assam where the Paat and Muga silk was a great demand was affected by the important of foreign cloth materials under the British administration. 

9. Who were the Assamese aristocrafts made Maujadars with the responsibility to collect taxes earlier? 

Ans. The Assamese aristocrats holding posts like- Phukan, Barua Rajkhowa were made Maujadars with the responsibility to collect taxes.

10. Who were the outsiders vested with the responsibility to collect taxes?

Ans. The Bengalis from Srihatta in Bengal or Marwaris from western India were vested with the responsibility to collect taxes.

11. How did the Assamese aristrocrats suffer when the British stopped slavery in Assam?

Ans. During the Ahom rule, the Assamese aristrocrats had a luxurious life with servants galore to cater to their whims and fancies. But after the British stopped slavery in Assam these class suffered from the death of labours to work in their estates and fields.

12. Why did several Brahmin Purohits of Upper Assam joined in the revolt of 1857?

Ans. Several Brahmin Purohits of Upper Assam joined in the revolts of 1857 because the British government took away the excess of the Lakherj and untaxed lands which they were occupying since ages. 

13. What did Historian HK Borpujari write in his oppinion about the Anti-British Uprising in Assam?

Ans. According to eminent Historian HK Borpujari several Brahmin Purohits pf Upper Assam joined in the revolt of 1857 against the British rule because the government took away the excess of the Lakheraj and untaxed lands which they had been occuping and enjoying since ages and also fixed revenue on the remaining lands. It was natural that this class of people went against the British rule.” 

14. Name the imperialist policies of the British?

Ans. The imperialist policies of the British like:

(i) the subsidiary Alliance of Lord Wellesly. 

(ii) Doctrine of Lapse of Lord Dalhousie etc. led to the incorporation of many Indian Kingdoms into the British Empire. 

15. Name the Indian rules who led the revolt of 1857?

Ans. The Indian rules like:

(i) Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II,

(ii) Nana Sahab of Kanpur.

(iii) Maratha leader Tantia Tope.  

(iv) Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi Rani etc. the led to the Revolt of 1857.

16. Name the two British army regiments posted in Assam when the revolt of 1857 broken out. 

Ans. The two British army regiments posted in Assam were:

(i) the First Assam Light Infantry in Dibrugarh. 

(ii) the second Assam Light Infantry in Gauhati.

17. Who hatched a conspiracy to drive out the British from Assam?

Ans. Maniran Dewan and Madhu Mallik a Bengal Muktiyar together in Calcutta hatched a conspiracy to drive out the British from Assam.

18. Name some elites of Assam who responded to Maniram Dewans’s appeal?

Ans. Bahadur Gaonburaha, Formud Ali, Piyoli Barua, Dutiram Barua, Mayaram Nazir, Mahbir Muktiyar etc were some elites of Assam who responded to Maniram Dewan’s appeal.

19. Who would lead the soldiers in Assam in revolt against the British and who would bring arms and weapons from Calcutta to support the revolt? 

Ans. Ahom prince Kandarpeswar Singha would lead the soldiers in Assam and Maniram Dewan would bring arms and weapons from Calcutta to support the revolt against the British. 

20. Name the leaders who were sentenced for life imprisonment?

Ans. The leaders like- Madhu Malik, Kamala Barua, Dutiram Barua, Mayaram Nazir etc were sentenced for life time imprisonment. 

21. Name the arrested leaders who were sent away to Andamans.

Ans. Bahadur Gaonburha and Seikh Formud Ali were sent to the Andamans.

22. What did the British do with Kandarpeswar Singha? 

Ans. The Ahom Prince Kandarpeswar Singha was a minor and as such he was kept in the special jail in Bardhaman till 1860. Later on he was allowed to come back to Gauhati where he setup residence. He was not permitted by the British government to go back to Jorhat. He was given a pension of 500 rupees with effect from 1853.

23. Name the imprisoned leaders allowed to come back to Assam from Andamans after the Queen’s proclamation of 1858.

Ans. After the Queen’s Proclamation of 1858, Dutiram Barua, Seikh Formud Ali, Bahadur Gaonburha etc were allowed to come back to Assam form the Andamands.

 24. Who was appointed as Shirastadar by the British in 1828?

Ans. Maniram Dewan in 1828 was appointed as shirastadar by the British in Jorhat where working in that position he brought in many reforms in the Revenue department and proved his capacity.

25. Define Raij Mels?

Ans. The Raij Mels were an intimate part of the Assamese rural life particularly in solving various problems right from the days of the Ahom Mon- archy down to the British rule. It was the Raij Mels that awakened the peasants in various places of Nowgaon, Kamrup and Darrang against the British policy of exploitation which led to the British local administration being paralysed.

26. What is Phulaguri Dhawa? 

Ans. The banner of revolt that was raised for the first time in Assam by the exploited peasants against the British policy of economical exploitation was the Phulaguri Dhawa. 

27. Name the leaders who were awarded death sentence.

Ans. Lakkhan Deka, Songbor Lalung and Rongbor Deka were awarded death sentence.

28. Which ethnic communities played a decisive role in the revolt of Phulaguri Dhawa, 1861?

Ans. The Lalung ethnic community and the kaibartta community played a decisive role in the revolt of Phulaguri Dhawa, 1861.

29. What is Assam Riot?

Ans. In 1868-69 land revenue had increased between 25 to 50%. When in 1892, the Chief Commissioner of Assam, Sir William Ward increased the land revenue by 100% and arranged strict measures for its collection, the peas- ants lost control over their patience. The consequent series of peasant revolts that began in Assam in the last decade of the 19th century, December 1893 to be precise, came to be known as the Assam Riots.

30. Name the two persons who were beaten by the people then they went, out to collect revenue? What happened there after?

Ans. On 21st January 1894, when Dasuram Choudhury the Moujadar of Kapla village near Lachima in Sarukhetri Mouja and his Mondal Holiram Mishra went out to collect revenue, they were very badly beaten up by the people. After some days the Moujadar died.

31. Which leaders were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment in the peasant revolt of Lachima? 

Ans. The leaders like – Pushparam Kalita, Debi Dutta sarma, Jayanta Bez, Nirbhasa Kalita and Monglu Kalita were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for organizing and leading the peasant revolt in Lachima.

32. How many peasants were killed and injured in Patharughat peasant movement? 

Ans. According to unofficial records 140 peasants were killed and 150 peasants were injured as a result of the firing. On the other hand the official records showed 15 killed and 37 injured. 

33. In which ship was Maniram brough to Assam after being arrested and kept in the Alipur Jail?

Ans. Maniram Dewan was brought to Assam by the ship named ‘Koladyne’.

34. Throw light on the revenue system introduced by the East India Company in Assam.

Ans. Three major systems of land revenue collection existed in India. They were-Zamindari, Ryotwari and Mahalwari.

Essay type Questions and Answers:

1. What were the causes of the failure of the rebellion of 1857-58 in Assam? 

Ans. There are several causes for the failure of the rebellion of 1857-58 in Assam.

(a) First, the leaders did not have any consciousness about time. They should have acted soon after the preparations were complete. By taking much time in executing the plan they unnecessarily left enough scope for counter preparation by the government for defence. By so doing they invited trouble for themselves.

(b) Secondly, Maniram should have returned from Calcutta as soon as possible. Though bestowed with administrative qualities and experience, Maniram did not have the acumen required of a revolutionary. It is dangerous to be little or ignore the power and strength of the opponent by a person professing to lead a rebellion. Maniram Dewan is a star and distressing example.

(c) Third, the associates of Maniram remained confined to Jorhat and Sibsagar. He did not have any supporters and sympathizers in Nowgong, Kamrup or in Guwahati.

(d) Fourth, the members of the rising Assamese middle class in Nowgong and Guwahati were not sympathetic to the rebellion of 1857 Another powerful member of the then Assamese middle class society, Anandaram Dhekial Phukan was a very influential government official of Nowgong at that time. He was against the revolt. Harakanta Sadaramin, Keyafatullah Sadaramin and Kalu Munchi were trusted government officials and supporters of the British in Guwahati. In Sibsagar and Jorhat Malbhug Baruah, Gangagovinda Phukan and Haranath Parbatia Daroga were something like the main pillars of the British government. Due these causes, there did not erupt the rebellion of 1857 in Assam, only there had been strong repercussions of the great Indian rebellion.

2. Write in brief about the importance of Phulaguri Dhawa in history?

Ans. Though the British authorities tried to dismiss the Phulaguri Dhawa as an ordinary revolt of the opium addicted peasants against the government’s banning of Poppy cultivation in Assam, in reality this revolt had fat reaching consequences.

(a) First, the voluntary participation of the Lalung (Tiwa) ethnic community and the Kaibartta (fishing) community in this revolt gave it a mass character. The peasants were successful in getting the support of other classes of people- the educated elite Assamese middle class, exploited by the increase in land revenue, businessmen and some Maujadars- though indirectly, extended their support to the rebels. The then Commissioner of Assam, Major Henry Hopkinson admitted that if 50 soldiers from the 2nd Light Infantry in Tezpur and 80 soldiers from Gauhati had not been brought to suppress the revolt, it would have kept on spreading. Then it would have been very difficult to control it. Altogether it can be said that this revolt had been successful because after this the government never imposed any taxes on Tamul-paan. 

(b) Second, the Phulaguri revolt was an example of the common people’s attempt to free themselves from the clutches of the British imperialism. The aristocratic class of the Ahom Monarchy (who lost their power and privileges under the British and had already taken part in the revolt of 1857-58) also joined in this revolt. 

(c) Third, the Phulaguri peasant revolt was an inspiration for the peasants of other parts of Assam to think about their miseries in an organized manner As a result, a few years later the peasants of various areas of Darrang and Kamrup district raised the banner of a series of revolt against the oppression and deprivation by the British government.

3. Discuss the peasant revolt of Rangia in 1893. 

Ans. On 24th December 1893 the peasant revolt began with the looting and vandaliring of the Rangia bazar On 30th December hundreds of peasants from and around Rangia humiliated the Tehsildaar of Rangia and Tamulpur, Radhanath Barua and destroyed shops, houses etc of Rangia Haat. They also looted the land mortgage papers of the peasants from the interest-mongering Marwari Mahajans.

The peasants felt that the presence of the Marwaris had led to the increase in land revenue. The government had to send an armed force to control the situation but the police Superintendent Riley could not muster the courage to arrest any of the peasant leaders because the protestors were very well organised. On 8th January 1894, the Police arrested 15 peasants from a Raij Mel which had been called to discuss how they would place their, problems and miseries before the Deputy Commissioner.

On the 10th of January about 3000 peasants from various mouja gathered in front of the Rangia Police Station. When the Deputy Commissioner McCabe ordered them to leave, they refused to budge. By evening, the peasants began to move closer to the Police Station hoping that the Deputy Commissioner might give some notice regarding reduction of land revenue.

They also began to demand the release of their associates who had been arrested. When the Deputy Commissioner asked for a peasant representtive to discuss the issues, the peasants shouted in a chorus that they would not pay the revenue at the increased rate.

The peasants then, tried to forcefully enter the Police Station and McCabe ordered the Police to open fire. This compelled the peasants to retreat. On 10th January McCabe ordered through a notification that henceforth no public meetings will be allowed to be held without the permission of the Deputy Commissioner.

Deputy Commissioner then selected some leaders from the peasants and appointed them as Police constables. These people were then used not only to establish peace among the peasants but also to convince them to pay revenue to the government. These measures of the Deputy Commissioner must be said to have been successful because out of the 90,000/- Rupees that the peasants of Rangia had to pay to the government, 60,000/- Rupees was paid as the first instalment.

Even then the repressive policy of the British could not stop the peasants from holding public meetings. Peasants in Nalbari, Barama, Bajali etc continued to be as active as earlier and did their best to set up all hurdles for the government in revenue collection.

4. Mention the impacts of Revolt of 1857 in Assam. 

Ans. 1957 is a year that needs special mention in the history of modern India. It was in this year that the Indian soldiers recruited into the British army declared mutiny and shock the foundation of the British rule in India. The imperialist policies of the British like the subsidiary alliance of Lord Wellesley, doctrine of lapse of Lord Dalhousie etc led to the incorporation of many Indian Kingdoms into the British Empire. 

The deprived rules of these Kingdoms and their supporters have full supports to the mutiny of the Indian soldiers which broke out on 10 May, 1857 in protest of their various miseries and strengthened the revolt.

In that time the Assamese common people were rising against the domination and exploitation of the British. The revolt of 1857 gave a golden opportunity to the elite class of Assam to throw off the yoke of British rule and reestablished the Ahom monarchy. That is why the revolt of 1857 led to reactions in Assam.

Some people of the Brahmaputra valley tried to instigate the Indian soldiers in the British army based in Assam to ban the fires of the revolt here and with their help close away the British and install a prince from the Ahom royal family as the king of Assam. In the Barak valley also some soldiers from elillagony revolted against the British.

When the revolt broke out in North India there were two British army regiments posted in Assam:

(a) The first Assam Light Infantry in Dibrugarh, and 

(b) The second Assam Light Infantry in Gauhati. 

Though at first the sepoys of both these regiments were indifferent, the means of the sepoy mutiny in Bihar resulted in some amount of dissatisfaction spreading among the Dibrugarh Gauhati regiments and also in the sepoy barracks of Sivasagar and Saikhowa.

5. Write short notes:

(a) Peasant Revolt of Lower Assam.

Ans. Peasant Revolt of Lower Assam: Even after the Phulaguri peasant revolt the British government did not take any measures to wipe away the miseries of the peasants nor did they learn any lesson from this incident. 

In 1868-69 land revenue had increased between 25 to 50%. When in 1892. the Chief Commissioner of Assam, Sir William Ward, increased the land revenue by 100% and arranged strict measures for its collection, the peasants lost control over their patience.

The consequent series of peasant revolts that began in Assam in the last decade of the 19th century December 1893 to be precise, came to be known as the Assam Riots. The peasants of Rangia and Lasima in Kamrup district. and Patharughat in Darrang district decided not to pay taxes (no tax campaign) to the British government.

The peasants who organized themselves through the Raij Mels even went on to declare that those peasants who opposed this decision would be socially ostracized. It may be mentioned here that this revolt was not only against the British rule but also against the Marwari (keya) Mahajans who exploited the peasants by mortgaging their lands against financial loans. 

(b) North Cachar Revolt.

Ans. North Cachar Revolt: Among the revolts raised by the ethnic hill tribes during the British rule towards the end of the 19th century, the revolt in North Cachar hills under the leadership of Sambhudhan Kachari must be mentioned. The centre of this revolt was Maibang. This revolt went on for one year between 1881-82. In 1880, the British government formed a kuki force of 100 Kuki men to counter an attack on North Cachar by the Angami Nagas. In addition, an English Officer was also appointed to control the ethnic people of this area. These were the reasons that led to this revolt under the leadership of Sambudhan Kachari.

In this revolt, the rebels destroyed the houses built by the British by burning them down. In Gunjung they killed the orderlies of two British Officers and a Police Officer After this, the rebels suddenly attacked the govern- ment forces in Maibang. In the violent conflict between the two sides, many of the rebels lost their lives. Major Boyd, a British Officer, who was seriously injured, later died. There is no information as to what happened to the leader of this revolt, Sambudhan Kachari.

(c) Revolt of the Nagas.

Ans. Revolt of the Nagas: The British political control was not acceptable to the Nagas also. As a result, in the British dominated Naga territories, winds of dissatisfaction began to blow from the very beginning. The Nagas proved, their love of independence when, in 1878 they killed a British Officer Damante and his security. Kohima was blocked by the rebels for several days. This revolt of the Angami Nagas was crushed with an iron hand by Colonel Johnson. 

Divided into several ethnic groups and sub-groups, the Nagas did not like British political authority being established over them. In consequence, there had been simmering discontent in the minds of the British dominated Naga tribes from the beginning. In the month of October 1878, the Nagas murdered Damant, the Political Officer along with some of his associates and bodyguards and thereby exhibited their natural leaning for freedom and independence. Even they kept under seize Kohima for several days. Nearly 2,000 soldiers under Colonel Johnsone, crushed the rebellion of the Angami Nagas. The British government completely destroyed nearly 13 Angami villages for being involved in the rebellion. Being unable to withstand the atrocities committed by the British officials the Angami Nagas at last surrendered.

(d) Revolt of Sambodhan Kachari.

Ans. Revolt of Sambodhan Kachari: Of all the tribal rebellions of the later half of the nineteenth century, the revolt of Sambodhan Kachari was one of the most important Political-military movements. The centre of the rebellion, which continued for more than a year during 1881-82, was Maibong in North Cachar Hills. The government raised a militia, called the Kuki Militia, consisting of 100 Kuki people in 1880 with a view to resisting the attacks of the Angami Nagas on North Cachar At the same time the government appointed an English official to keep the tribal people of the region under complete submission. It is surmised that the rebellion of Sambodban Kachari originated out of these reasons. 

The rebels set fire to the buildings constructed by the British at Maibong. Major Boyd, the Deputy Commissioner of North Cachar Hills went to Maibong from the new district headquarters at Gunjung accompanied by a European officer and with nearly 25 policemen to crush the rebellion. But he did not find a single rebel at Maibong because the rebels had already started for Gunjung. After arrival at Gunjung the rebels killed two servants and a police-man besides setting fire to all the government houses. Thence the rebels

rapidly marched to Maibong and after arrival suddenly attacked the government party there. There ensued fierce fighting between the two camps. Several rebels died fighting while Major Boyd also got seriously wounded. He later succumbed to his injuries. The leader of the rebellion, Sambodhan Kachari, was at large for several days till the end of 1882, and hereafter nothing is known about him.

(e) Gamdhar Konwar, (Kandarpeswar Singha,

Ans. Gamdhar Konwar: Under the initiative of Dhananjoy Bargohain, a section of the Ahom nobility tried to restore Ahom monarchy by installing Gomdhar Konwar for the throne. Gomdhar Konwar was a royal blood Ahom placed as the king of a place named Bassa. He tried to liberate Rongpur from the British rule with well equipped armed force. But British had suppressed the movement by arresting the leaders of rebellion. Gamdhar Konwar also surrendered. The British Govt. put on trial the rebels holding the Borponchayat at Jorhat. And the Panchayat awarded Gomdhar Konwar death sentence.

(f) Kandarpeswar Singha.

Ans. Kandarpeswar Singha: Kandarpeswar Singha was a king during Sepoy Mutiny against British rule. Maniram Dewan with his followers who tried to hatch a conspiracy to drive the British out of Assam. They had decided that Ahom prince Kandarpeswar Singha would had the soldiers of Assam in revolt and Maniram Dewan would bring arms and weapons from Calcutta to help them. Moniram Dewan wrote letters to Kandarpeswar Singha and others to get ready for the rebellion. Receiving these letters the leaders prepared a blue print for the rebellion under the instruction from prince Kandarpeswar Singha. Piyalli Baruah and Nirmal Hazari held discession with the sepoys statement at Golaghat from the preparation of the rebellion.

The British Govt got a letter of this conspiracy in the middle of August, 1857. Captain Holroyd intercepted many letters written by Maniram Dewan and with a force arrested Kandarpeswar Singha on Sept, 7. He was sent off to Calcutta and kept in Alipur Jail. Those soldiers who took part in this report were also punished along with Maniram Dewan and Piyoli Barua. The Ahom Prince Kandarpeswar Singha was a minor and as such he was kept in the special jail Bordhaman till 1860. Later on he was allowed to come back to Guwahati where he set up residence. He was not permitted by the British Govt to go back to Jorhat. He was given a pension of 500 rupees with effect from 1853.

(g) Ukiang Nonghch.

Ans. Ukiang Nongbah: Ukiang Nongbah was a leader of Jaintia Revolt. When the British implemented House tax the Jaintia raised the banner of revolt by removing the tehsildar of jorhat. As soon as the news spread, revolt were declared in Jaintipur, Mulagul, Jaflong and Sera areas also. The British administration adopted stern measures. In retailation the Jaintia’s under the leadership of Ukiang Nonbah doubled the strength of the revolt. They met in a meeting near Jowai, where they swore to overthrow the British authority from the Jaintia Hills and re-establish their own rights. On 17th January 1862, the Jaintia’s made a sudden attack on the British Camp in Jowai. The rebels had already blocked the two roads connecting Jowai-Cherrapunji and Cherrapunji- Jayantipur. The 44th Native Infantry and 33rd Bengali Military Police forces deployed by the British administration had been torturing the people inhumanity. The rebels too, liked many of their opponents. 

In the midst of this violent conflict between the two sides, the British administration entrusted the military and civil authority of the entire Jaintia Hills with the Brigadier General of the Eastern Command, G D Showers. In addition B. W Morton was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills. The continuous attacks from the government side was leading to the gradual erosion of the strength of the rebels. The British government promised a general amnesty if the rebels surrendered voluntarily and an award of 1000/- rupees was announced for anyone who would capture and hand over to the British their leader, Ukiang Nongbah alive. At last Ukiang. Nongbah was captured by the British and in the presence of a huge crowd, he was hanged to death in Jowai.

(h) J.W. Quinton.

Ans. J.W. Quinton: J.W. Quinton was the Chief Commissioner of Assam during the Revolt in Manipur In 1890, our internal quarrel broke out in Manipur for the throne. In this struggle among the successor, the chief Commissioner of Assam interfered unnecessarily. Tikendrajit was the main leader of Manipur revolt. As a Chief Commissioner of Assam that time, J.W. Quinton and four other European officers came to Manipur themselves to capture Tikendrajit. Tikendrajit was successfully captured by the British force and on the chases of anti-British activities, he was hanged. Under the Assam administration J.W. Quinton was a very faithfull to British. He tried best to keep the people of Assam faithfull to British Govt. 

(i) Madhuram Koch.

Ans. Madhuram Koch: Madhuram Koch was one of the leader among the leaders arrested by the British Govt during the revolt of Jorhat. He was a contractor of the Assam tea company of Nazira. He was declared 7 years imprisonment by British Govt for supporting anti-British activities in Jorhat.

(j) Doli-Pruan.

Ans. Doli-Pruan: The story of the rebellion of Patharughat has been vividly narrated by Narottam Das (a pen-name) in his ‘Doli-Puran’. This is a History book of the peasant Revolt of Patharughat, Darrang.

(k) Revolt of Manipur in 1891.

Ans. Revolt of Manipur in 1891: The kingdom of Manipur was outside the administration of Assam. Since many years Manipur was recognized as a native Kingdom under the protection of the British. In 1890, an internal quarrel broke out in the Manipuri royal family for the Throne. In this struggle among the successors, the Chief Commissioner of Assam interfered unnecessarily. Taking advantage of the presence of the British, the Crown Prince Kulachandra, dethroned the king, Surachandra and sat on the throne himself on 21st September 1890. Though the King Surachandra appealed for help to the British, the latter recognized Kulachandra as the king of Manipur. 

Thereafter the British began to put pressure on Kulachandra to banish his Commander-in-Chief (Senapati) Tikendrajit, who was the main leader of the anti-British revolt which was secretly going on, from the kingdom. But to banish the popular leader who was working to protect the freedom of the Kingdom, on the direction of the British, was not an easy task for Kulachandra. When the Chief Commissioner of Assam, J. W. Quinton and four other European officers came to Manipur themselves to capture Tikendrajit, the freedom seeking Manipuris killed all of them. To avenge this incident a strong military contingent was sent to Manipur. Tikendrajit was successfully captured by the British force and on the charges of anti-British activities and killing British Officials, he was hanged. King “Kulachandr was exiled and a minor Manipuri prince, Churachandra was de- clared to be the King in September 1891. The Political Agent of the British government was given all responsibilities of the administration of Manipur since the King was a minor. Manipur had to pay Rs. 2.50 Lakh to the British government as compensation for the losses incurred during the revolt.

In addition, a sum of Rs. 50,000 had to be paid annually by Manipur to the British.

Notes of Class 10 Social Science in English Medium | English Medium Class 10 Social Notes In this post we have tried to explain to you that English Medium Class 10 Social Science Question Answer | SEBA Class 10 Social Science Question Answer In English Chapter 3 If you are a English Medium Teacher or Student then it can be beneficial for you.

Note: If you find any Mistakes in this chapter, please tell us or correct yourself and read. Thank you.

Leave a Reply

error: Content is protected !!
Scroll to Top