Colonial Assam

The political institutions and social relations that were established or severed during this period continue to have a direct effect on contemporary events.

The legislature and political alignments that evolved by the end of the British rule continued in the post Independence period.

The immigration of farmers from East Bengal and tea plantation workers from Central India continue to affect contemporary politics, most notably that which led to the Assam Movement and its aftermath.

[2] The Burmese occupiers retreated from the Ahom capital of Rangpur in January 1825 and nearly the whole of Brahmaputra Valley fell into the British hands.

[citation needed] In 1830 Dhananjoy Burhagohain, Piyali Phukan and Jiuram Medhi rose in revolt, and they were sentenced to death.

[citation needed] In the Indian rebellion of 1857, the people of Assam offered resistance in the form of non-cooperation, and Maniram Dewan and Piyali Baruah were executed for their roles.

[citation needed] In 1861 peasants of Nagaon gathered at Phulaguri for a raiz mel (peoples' assembly) to protest against taxes on betel-nut and paan.

[7] In February 1874 Assam proper, Cachar, Goalpara and the Hill districts were instituted as a separate province,[8] primarily on a long-standing demand from the tea planters.

In this period Nagaon witnessed starvation deaths, and there was a decrease in the indigenous population, which was more than adequately compensated by the immigrant labor.

Colonialism was well entrenched, and the tea, oil and coal-mining industries were putting increasing pressure on the agricultural sector which was lagging behind.

Opposition to partition was co-ordinated by Indian National Congress, whose President was then Sir Henry John Stedman Cotton who had been Chief Commissioner of Assam until he retired in 1902.

Beginning 1905 peasants from East Bengal began settling down in the riverine tracts (char) of the Brahmaputra valley encouraged by the colonial government to increase agricultural production.

[17] Under the Government of India Act 1919 the Assam Legislative Council membership was increased to 53, of which 33 were elected by special constituencies.