ASSAM IN THE 1800 S Friends, most of us know ,-the heroes ,kings , senior BRITISH officers, but many of us do not know about the common people, their socio-economic conditions ,life style in the 1800 s. I am trying to share some of these in a nut-shell from what little I could collect from some old books From time unknown ,the method of cultivation of land by the ryots ( local inhabitants ) had remained unchanged. Agriculture was the only main source of income. In the earliest days, the BRITISH ADMINISTRATION used to collect revenue in the following way. Areas in each district were divided into blocks called MAUJAA or MOHOL and the revenues were collected by MAUJADARS , CHOUDHARIS or PATGIRIS—who were appointed by the DISTRICT COLLECTORS. The whole province was divided into the districts of KAMRUP.DURRUNG, NOWGONG, SIBPUR ( SIBSAGOR ) , LAKHIMPUR, MUTTOCK and SADIYA. FOR REVENUE PURPOSE, the land was classified into various categories like,-- A ) BASTI or homesteads assessed annually, according to the districts, at—rupees 3 to rupees 1.8 per acre ( 1 pura = 1.3 acres ) B ) RUPIT or where paddy was cultivated, assessed at rupee 1 per pura. C ) FARINGATI or land for cash crop assessed at 4 annas ( 25 paise ) per pura. It was calculated at that time that a man and wife with 2 children would consume 2 maunds ( one maund approx, 40 k.g. ) of rice per month with rice at 8 annas ( 8 annas = 50 paise) of rice per maund allowing 1 rupee a month for other necessaties. An income of rupees 3 per month was enough for existence. Though the land rate was so moderate, and the cost of living so low, yet because of the negligence and laziness ( ASSAMESE people are famous for this quality ), to cultivate the land properly and usefully or for any other reason, the majority of the people used to come under the crooked influence of the greedy MAHAJANS or the shopkeepers. Besides these, a bad harvest also sometime forced the poor people to approach the MAHAJANS for loans to pay their revenue due and for the minimum to sustain life .The people had to mortgage their crop also to the MAHAJANS. Once, in the grip of these crooked MAHAJANS, the peasants had no chance to come out of the clutch of the Mahajans .The Mahajan used to fix his rate of interest in such a way that the peasant, was never able to pay back the interest fully, for which the amount of capital money taken by him became more than double, making it impossible to pay back the capital money. Some ryots were better off, by selling at a better price-his crop in excess of his own requirement for the year, But the bad habits of showing off, i.e. to improve the image of his social status, he used to spend lavishly on marriage, festivals and funeral ceremonies etc. which was made by the customs of his society. Expenditure were made beyond his capacity resulting in bankruptcy and miseries and he ultimately landed up in the hands of these SHYLOCKS. At that time slavery system existed in ASSAM. Most of the domestics-both male and female were either slaves or bondsmen who for a few rupees mortgaged their bodies for want of means of accumulating the original sum increased by exorbitant interest—continued in bondage for life. When these slaves died, the cruel Mahajans caught hold of their descendants or their nearest kith and kin,-whom they kept as slaves and so from generation to generation. Mr. DAVID SCOTT, who was the AGENT and on the helm of power of the BRITISH ADMINISTRATION of ASSAM called for a census of all slaves in lower ASSAM as he was not happy with the slave system. Some 12000 individuals were released from their soul less slavery system This was a great step taken by Mr. SCOTT,-who also took many measures for the benefit of the people of ASSAM, at that time. In fact, many more slaves could have been released, but the Mahajans did not give a correct figure during the census. The govt. failed to abolish some zemandaris similar to BENGAL, in ASSAM. Under these Maujadars and Mahajans, the general improvement of the people and the country-both moral and physical in ASSAM, was described as- “.SUCH A WILD LAND, LONG MISGOVERNED AND SCANTILY POPULATED, “ For long term expansion and progress of the province the GOVERNMENT was prepared to sacrifice immediate gain of revenue. The GOVT, was aware of the rich fertile soil of the province. They offered very liberal terms to anybody willing to undertake cultivation of the wasteland of ASSAM. Any body who was not an indigeneous resident of the province was called a foreigner. The condition of holding land was same for all. But no one showed much interest to come to ASSAM—AN UNKNOWN JUNGLE COUNTRY. The agriculture and commercial possibilities of development of TEA was unknown to them and they were not interested. One very interesting point to be noted is that DAVID SCOTT—the AGENT of the BRITISH ADMINISTRATION of ASSAM, who was an gentleman tried his best to improve the condition of the ASSAMESE people sincerely. But see our own politicians, minister , leaders thinking of themselves only and for their own families only at the cost of the common people. Have we actually gained by getting independence ? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 03:03:03 +0000
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