This article re-examines the social history of a widely discussed peasant uprising in colonial Assam. Drawing on extensive archival sources, the article examines how peasants who came under increasing taxation reacted to the revenue enhancement. The article explores the role played by the Assamese landlords in giving leadership to the peasant dissatisfaction. It shows how the landlords’ specific interest has been masked by the existing historiography. The article unfolds the complex layers of social interests which came to play their critical role in creating the events of 1894.
Allen, B.C. (1905), Assam District Gazetteers, vol. 5 Darrang, Allahabad.
2.
Anonymous (2001), ‘Kamrupir Patra’ in N. Saikia compiled and ed. Jonaki, Vol. 4: 8, 1892.
3.
ASP, Revenue and Agriculture, January 1885.
4.
ASA (14 December 1892), in Reassessment of Assam Valley Districts 1893, ASP, Revenue-A, July, nos. 131–312 and 191.
5.
ASA (1893), in Reassessment of Assam valley districts, ASP, Revenue A, January–August, nos. 131–312 and 366–67.
6.
ASA (14 December 1892), in Reassessment of Assam Valley Districts 1893, ASP, Revenue-A, July, nos. 131–312 and 191. (1894), in ASP, Home A, Rangia, January–September, nos. 220–344 and 252.
7.
ASA (14 December 1892), in Reassessment of Assam Valley Districts 1893, ASP, Revenue-A, July, nos. 131–312 and 191. (1895), ASP, Home, B, March–May, nos. 699–710, 361–68 and 125–84.
8.
Baden-Powell, B.H. (1892), The Land-systems of British India, Oxford.
9.
Barman, Santo (2005), The Raijmel: A Study of the Mel system in Assam, Guwahati.
10.
Barpujari, H.K. (1993), The Comprehensive History of Assam, Vol. 5, Guwahati.
Pandit, Najar Ali (2000), Mor Jibonor Kichu Katha, Delhi.
31.
Patowary, M.M., ed. (1994), Raij-Mel, Barpeta.
32.
Rajbanshi, P. (1987), Nangal, Mati aru Manuh¸ Guwahati.
33.
Saikia, A. (2002), Agrarian Society, Economy and Peasant Unrest: A Study of Brahmaputra Valley Districts 1945–52, University of Delhi, unpublished thesis.
34.
Saikia, A. (2008a), ‘Shiekh Bordom: 1894 Krishak Bidrohor Ek Ajana Kahini’, Dainik Janambhumi.
35.
Saikia, A. (2008b), Patharughator Ran: Itihash Charcha aru Upanibeshik Samal, Katha.
36.
Saikia, A. (2008c), ‘Remembering Peasant Uprising: From Oral Tradition to a Printed Text Dynamics of Assamese Social History 1894–1957’ ECMSAS Conference, University of Manchester (UK), July 2008.
37.
McSwiney, J. (1910), Report on the Land Revenue Settlement of the Darrang District of Eastern Bengal and Assam during the years 1905 to 1909, Shillong.
38.
Saikia, Rajen (2002), Social and Economic History of Assam, Delhi.
