1. Choose the correct answer (M.C.Q.):

(i) Who wrote the application to Moffat Mills against fixation of high land revenue from the Assamese peassants? hslc-2022

(a) Maniram Dewan

(b) Piyali Barua

(c) Mahatma Gandhi 

(d) Anandaram Dhekial Phukan

Ans:- (d) Anandaram Dhekial Phukan

(ii) Who was hanged along with Maniram Dewan? hslc-2018, 2020

(a) Jeuram Duliya Barua 

(b) Piyali Barua 

(c) Gomadhar Kanwar 

(d) Dutiram Barua 

Ans:- (b) Piyali Barua 

(iii) In which of the following years, the British stopped slavery in Assam? hslc-2019

(a) 1843

(c) 1860

(b) 1857

(d) 1863

Ans:-(a) 1843

(iv) The British introduced stamp duties in Assam in 1875

(a) 1901 

(b) 1858 

(c) 1950 

(d) 1875

Ans:- (b) 1858 

(v) The tax imposed in Grazing of Cattles was- 

(a) License 

(b) Grazing tax 

(c) Stamp 

(d) Excise duty

Ans:- (b) Grazing tax 

(vi) Who was the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court in 1835?

(a) Moffat Mills 

(b) Captain Holroid 

(c) Sir Francis 

(d) Campbell

Ans:- (a) Moffat Mills

(vii) The first peasant uprising against the British was known as

(a) Rangiya Raijmel 

(b) Lachima Raijmel 

(c) Phulaguri Dhawa 

(d) Patharughat Raijmel 

Ans:- (c) Phulaguri Dhawa 

(viii) Govinda Chandra was a king of 

(a) Kacharis 

(b) Mattaks

(c) Kacharis 

(d) Singphows

Ans:- (a) Kacharis

(ix) Rajendra Singh was a king of

(a) Kingdom of Manipur 

(b) Jaintia Kingdom

(c) Ahom Kingdom

(d) Kachari Kingdom

Ans:- (b) Jaintia Kingdom

(x) What created interest mongering Mahajans in Assam

(a) Peasants

(b) Increase of revenue

(c) Land policy 

(d) Money economy

Ans:- (d) Money economy

2. Very Short Answers:-

(i) The British officer who died at the hands of public in the phulaguri Dhava Revolt was _____. hslc-2023

Ans:- Lieutenant Singer.

(ii) The Jaiantia Revolt of 1861 was led by _____. hslc-2023

Ans:- Ukiang Nongbah

(iii) Who was Lieutenant Singer?

Ans:- Lieutenant Singer was the Assistant Commissioner of Nagaon.

(iv) Who were the Keyas?

Ans:- Businessmen Keya or Marwari Mahajans were the immigrants from Rajasthan during the British period.

(v) Who led the revolt of 1857 in Assam? 

Ans:- Maniram Dewan. 

(vi) In the revolt of 1857 the rebels of Assam wanted to re-establish which Ahom Prince on the throne? 

Ans:- Kandarpeswar Singha. 

(vii) After the establishment of the British rule in Assam how did the system of revenue collection change?

Ans:- After the establishment of the British rule in Assam the system of revenue collection was changed by means of cash.

(viii) Who was Moffat Mills?

Or

In which year did Moffat Mills come to Assam? 

Ans:- In 1853, the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Moffat Mills came to Assam. 

(ix) Who tried the case of Maniram Dewan?

Ans:- Captain Holroid.

(x) Who helped Maniram Dewan?

Ans:- Madhu Mallik helped Maniram Dewan. 

(xi) Who led the revolt of the ethnic tribes of North Cachar in 1881?

Ans:- Sambudhan Kachari.

(xii) Who punished Tikendrajit with the death sentence?

Ans:- The British punished Tikendrajit with the death senten

(xiii) Who was Bengali Muktyar?

Ans:- Madhu Mallik.

(xiv) In which year was J. W. Quinton murdered?

Ans:- J. W. Quinton was murdered in 1890. 

(xv) When was Maniram Dewan and Piyoli Barua hanged?

Ans:- On 26th February, 1858.

(xvi) 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.

(xvii) In which year, was the Income Tax implemented? 

Ans:- In 1860.  

(xviii) When was the Phulaguri Dhawa broken out?

Ans:- In 1861 the Phulaguri Dhawa broke out. 

(xix) When did the peasant’s revolts at Rangia break out?

Ans:- On 24th December, 1893 the peasant’s revolts at Rangia broke out.

(xx) Where is Lachima located?

Ans:- Lachima is located in Sarukhetri Mouza in Barpeta District.

(xxi) In which year was J.W Quinton murdered?

Ans:- J.W. Quinton was murdered in 1890. 

(xxii) When did the peasant revolt of Patharughat take place?

Ans:- On January 1894.

3. In which years were the Stamp tax and Income tax implemented?

Ans:- The stamp tax and the income tax were implemented in the years 1858 and 1860 respectively. 

4. Write one cause of the pitiable condition of the peasants of Assam during the British rule. 

Ans:- British took no measures to erase the sorrows and difficulties of the peasants and poverty ridden subjects.

5. What is Doli Ron?

Ans:- During the Patharughat incident, helpless peasants used doli to defend themselves from gun carrying British soldiers. So, this battle is known as Doli Ron.

6. Briefly discuss the importance of the Revolt of 1857 in Assam. hslc-2023, 2019

Ans:- Importance of the Revolt of 1857 in Assam are:-

(i) It was for the first time in the history of Assam that Assam was associated with a historical Indian event. The peasant revolt that began in 1861 in Assam got inspiration from the revolt of 1857.

(ii) The Hindu and Muslim communities were united to take part in the revolt and to throw out the British from Indian soil.

(iii) In the Indian National Movement, the freedom fighters were immensely inspired from the activities of Maniram Dewan, Piyoli Phukan etc. in the revolt of 1857 in Assam.

7. Write four reasons for the failure of the revolt of 1857 in Assam. HSLC-2017

Or

Discuss the reasons why the revolt of 1857-58 failed in Assam.  hslc-2022

Ans:- The Revolt of 1857-58 failed in Assam due to a variety of reasons:-

(a) Lack Of Supporters:- The associates of Maniram Dewan remain confined to Sivasagar and Jorhat. He did not have any support in Nowgaon, Kamrup and Guwahati.

(b) Lack Of Correspondence:- It was practically impossible for Maniram Dewan, the organizer of the Revolt to communicate every aspect for conducting the revolt through letters. 

(c) Lack Of Secrecy:- The rebels failed to keep the secrecy of their activities. As a result the British came to know about the their entire conspiracy and could successfully suppress the revolt.

(d) No Access To Arms And Ammunitions: – The rebels in Assam had no access to arms and ammunitions as was required. Though Maniram Dewan was supposed to bring arms and ammunitions he was arrested before he could do so.

8. Write a brief note on the importance of Phulaguri Dhawa in history. hslc-2019, 2017

Ans:- The Phulaguri Dhawa plays a vital role in the history of Assam. Phulaguri Dhawa incident took place in October 1861. Though the revolt was tried to be dismissed as an ordinary revolt of the opium addicted peasants, it had far reaching consequences in reality. 

Firstly, the voluntary participation of the Lalung ethnic community and the Kaibartta it a community in this revolt gave 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, businessman and some maujadars though indirectly extended their support to the rebels.

Secondly, 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 also joined in this revolt.

Thirdly, the Phulaguri revolt was an inspiration for the peasants of other parts of Assam to think about their miseries in an organized manner.

9. Write a brief note on the Peasants’ Revolt of Rangia. HSLC-2018

Ans:- The peasants’ revolt of Rangia began in the last part of 1893 as an outburst against the atrocities of the British Monarcky (Govt.)

On 24th December, the peasant revolt began with the looting of the Rangia Bazaar. On 30th December, hundreds of peasants from Rangia humiliated Radhanath Barua, the Tehsildar of Rangia and Tamulpur. They also looted the land mortgage papers of the peasants from the Marwari money lenders.

On 8th January 1894, the police arrested 15 peasants from a Raij Mel which had gathered to discuss how they would place their problems to the Deputy Commissioner. On 10th January, 1894, about 3000 peasants gathered in front of the Rangia police station. When the Deputy Commissioner, McCabe asked them to leave, they refused to budge. By evening, the rebels closed in towards the Police station and demanded for the release of the arrested associates. They also demanded the Deputy Commissioner to reduce the land revenue. When McCabe asked for a peasants representative to discuss the issues, the peasants shouted in chorus that they would not pay the revenue at the increased price. When the peasants forcefully tried to enter the police station, McCabe ordered the police to open fire. This compelled the rebels to retreat.

On 10th January 1894, McCabe issued a notice that henceforth, no public meeting would be held in future without the permission of the Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner then appointed some police constables from among the peasants who were used to establish peace and help to collect revenue from the peasants.

10. Write about the causes of the pitiable condition of the peasants and the people who were engaged in cottage industries during the British rule in Assam. HSLC-2018

Ans:- There were a number of factors that led to the pitiable condition of the peasants of Assam: 

(i) Change of mode of payment of taxes from kind to cash: Earlier the peasants used to pay taxes through goods. But according to the new government policy, the peasants now had to pay high taxes via cash.

(ii) Creation of Mahajans:- The Keya Marwari and Bengali money lenders gave out loans to the peasants at a very high rate of interest. Therefore, the common peasants had to face many hardships while repaying these loans. 

(iii) Increased land introduction of other taxes: During the British revenue and rule, the taxes were increased by manifold creating misery for the peasants.

For e.g. Stamp duties in 1858, Income tax, License tax, Grazing Tax in 1860 were introduced.

Between 1868-69, land revenue was increased from 25% to 50% and in 1892, land revenue was increased by 100%.

(iv) Establishment of Tea Gardens: To encourage the establishment of tea gardens, tea gardeners were excused from paying land taxes. Instead these taxes had to be paid extra by the peasants.

Pitiable condition of the people engaged in cottage industries were due to the following reasons After the arrival of the British, they began importing machine made clothes from Britain and sold them in the Indian market. Being finer and having better quality, the common people of Assam opted for the foreign clothes.

Hence the indigenous silk lost their position in the markets of Assam. Consequently, the condition of cottage industry declined. 

11. Discuss in brief the causes of the Revolt of 1857-58 in India and its impact on Assam. HSLC-2019

Ans:- The causes of the revolt of 1857-58 in Indian are:-

(i) Dissatisfaction among the Indian rulers : The imperialist policies of the British like the Subsidiary Alliance of Lord Wallesly, Doctrine of Lapse of Lord Dalhousie etc. led many Indian rulers to handover their kingdom to the British. Thus, greatly dissatisfied with the British, the deprived rulers fully supported the sepoy mutiny which broke out on 10 May 1857.

(ii) Dissatisfaction among common people:- In the revenue system, the British Government mainly concentrated on collection of taxes on crops rather than development on agriculture. As a result, the farmers had to face tremendous struggle when their crops fail due to unfavourable climate. Even some farmers had to sell their own children for a handful of grain.

(iii) Deprivation of educated Indians:- Majority of posts were given to the Bengali Babus. Due to lack of modern education, the educated class of Indians didnot get posts in the new administration. The deprieved educated Indians also joined in the revolt of 1857-1858, standing against the British Government. 

Its impact on Assam Are:-

(i) The Revolt of 1857-58 inspired the leaders of Assam like Maniram Dewan to raise against the British. With the dream of throwing out the British from Assam, Maniram Dewan started the revolt of 1857-58 in Assam that was for the first time in the history of Assam where Assam was associated with a historical Indian event. 

(ii) The Revolt of 1857-58 was the main source of inspiration for all the peasant Revolts that took place in Assam.

(iii) Infact, the sepoy mutiny of 1857-58 united Hindus and Muslims to take part in the revolt and fuel the growth of Nationalism to throw out the roots of British from India.

13. Mention the impacts of Revolt of 1851 in Assam.  HSLC-2020

Ans:- Although the revolt of 1857 in Assam was crushed by the British with an iron hand, it had far reaching impacts and consequences. 

i) The revolt of 1857 in Assam marked for the first time the association of Assam with a historical Indian event.

ii) The peasant revolts that began in 1861 (from the starting of Phulaguri revolt) in Assam got inspiration from the revolt of 1857.

iii) Like in other parts of India, in Assam also, the Hindu and Muslim communities were united to take part in the revolt and this fuelled the growth of nationalism. 

iv) During the Indian National Movement, the freedom fighters of Assam were inspired by the activities of Maniram Dewan and his associates in the revolt of 1857.

14. Write a note on the “Peasant Revolt of Patharughat”.  HSLC-2020

Ans:- PEASANT REVOLT OF PATHARUGHAT : The Peasant revolt began in Patharughat in the Mangaldoi circle of Darrang district from the middle of January 1894.

1) BEGINNING OF THE REVOLT: Right from the middle of January, 1894, the public organized Raiz Mels to oppose the increased revenue as well as its collection. The peasants of Kalaigaon, Mangaldoi etc. gathered in these Raij Mels. The peasants planned a huge public assembly for three days 26-28 January, in Patharughat. This news reached the Deputy Commissioner, J.D. Anderson who, along with a force comprising of police and military personnel and the police superintendent J. R Berington, arrived in Patharughat on 27th January. 

2) ACTIVITIES OF THE REVOLT: 

1) With the help of the police and military, the properties of those peasants who refused to pay revenue were confiscated.

2) Around 200 infuriated peasants surrounded Berington who had gone for the revenue extraction. Berington managed to save himself and reached the rest camp.

3) After a few hours, around 2000 peasants marched towards the rest camp armed with sticks.

4) As the peasants did not return home. Deputy Commissioner Anderson ordered the Police superintendent to disperse the peasants by using force.

5) However, the peasants retaliated by brandishing their sticks, hurling stones and pebbles, moving in closer.

6) Under such conditions, the Deputy Commissioner ordered the, police superintendent to open fire.

7) As per unofficial records, 140 peasants were killed and 150 were injured but as per official records 15 were killed and 37 injured. 

3) IMPACTS OF REVOLT: 

a) According to official sources, 37 peasants were arrested and tried for participating in the revolt. 

b) The Circle officer of Mangaldoi, Mr Ransom settled these cases and, Aklu Sheikh and six others were punished and rest were all released.

15. Throw light on the revenue system introduced by the East India Company in Assam. HSLC-2022

Ans:- The British introduced the payment of the land revenue as well as other taxes. They introduced revenue collection policies to ex ploit the economy of the state. Their new land revenue policy and the money economy created deep resentment among the Assamese middle class people. This money economy led to the creation of Mahajans, who were the immigrants from the Marwar region of Rajasthan and Bengal. The land revenue measure struck the backbone of the Assamese common people as well as the peasantry class. The revenue fixed by the British was much more than what the peasants could pay.

Imposition of various taxes from time to time disturbed the social and economic state of the masses greatly for which there was an anti British uprising.