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Class 12 History Chapter 5 A Concise History of Assam from the Prehistoric Period to the Present
Selected Questions & Answers
A. Very Short Answer Questions: Marks for each – 1
1. What was the ancient name of Assam? H. S. ’17
Ans: Pragjyotishpura.
2. Who was the first king of Pragjyotishpura?
Ans: Mahiranga Danava.
3. Who was the author of “Hargauri Sambad”?
Ans: Hem Saraswati.
4. What is meant by ‘Bhukti’?
Ans: In ancient Assam, the kingdom was divided into several administrative regions for smooth governance. Each such division was called a ‘Bhukti.’
5. Who was the king of Kamarupa contemporary to Emperor Harshavardhana of North India?
Ans: Kumar Bhaskar Varman.
6. Who was the greatest king of the Koch dynasty?
Ans: Maharaja Naranarayana.
7. Who was the author of “Fathiya-i-Ibriya”?
Ans: Shihabuddin Talish.
8. Where was “Berry White College” established?
Ans: At Dibrugarh.
9. In which year was Maniram Dewan hanged?
Ans: In 1858.
10. Where is the dargah of Ajan Pir located?
Ans: At Saraguri Chapori in Sivasagar district.
11. What was the old name of Hajo?
Ans: Koch Hajo.
12. What was the other name of Sukladhwaj?
Ans: Chilarai.
13. What was the name of the religion propagated by Sankardev? H. S. ’15
Ans: Bhagawati Vaishnavism.
14. Who was the successor of Sankardev?
Ans: Madhavdev.
15. Who constructed the mosque at Hajo?
Ans: Giyasuddin Auliya.
16. Who established the Ahom capital at Gargaon?
Ans: King Suklenmung (Gargaya Raja).
17. When did the Patharughat Peasant Revolt take place?
Ans: In 1892.
18. In which year was the Cunningham Circular issued?
Ans: In 1930.
19. What was the name of the student organization of the Surma Valley involved in the freedom struggle?
Ans: Surma Valley Students’ Association.
20. When did Jagannath Barua die?
Ans: In 1907.
21. From where was the newspaper “Arunodoi” published?
Ans: From Sivasagar.
22. Who was the author of “Chakrifeti Buranji”? H. S. ’15
Ans: Numali Borgohain.
23. In which year was the Inner Line Regulation Act recorded?
Ans: In 1873.
24. Why did Captain Welsh come to Assam?
Ans: To suppress the Moamoria Rebellion.
25. Who was the first Assamese to declare rebellion against the British?
Ans: Gomdhar Konwar.
26. In which year was the Treaty of Yandaboo signed?
Ans: In 1826.
27. Who was Banapur?
Ans: He was the king of Sonitpur.
28. On whose side did Bhagadatta fight in the Battle of Kurukshetra?
Ans: On the side of the Kauravas.
29. Who was the founder of the Varman dynasty?
Ans: Pushya Varman.
30. In which inscription was the name Kamarupa first mentioned?
Ans: In the Allahabad inscription of Samudragupta
31. Who established the Ahom capital at Charaideo?
Ans: Chudangpha or Bamuni Konwar.
32. Where did Sukapha establish the Ahom capital?
Ans: At Charaideo in Sivasagar.
33. To which ethnic group did the Ahoms belong?
Ans: The Tai or Thai group.
34. After how many years of rule did Sukapha die?
Ans: Forty years.
35. Who was the founder of the Salastambha dynasty?
Ans: King Salastambha.
36. Which king first granted land to Brahmins in North Bengal?
Ans: Ratnapala of the Pala dynasty.
37. With whom did Kumar Bhaskar Varman form an alliance?
Ans: With Emperor Harshavardhana of North India.
38. What was the name of the official who prepared land grant documents?
Ans: Karanika.
39. Which Ahom king was known as “Khora Raja”?
Ans: Sukhampha.
40. Who was the chronicler who came to Assam with Mir Jumla?
Ans: Shihabuddin Talish.
41. Gadapani belonged to which clan?
Ans: The Tungkhungia clan.
42. When did the Battle of Saraighat take place?
Ans: In 1671.
43. When did the Battle of Itakhuli take place?
Ans: In 1681 A.D.
44. Who were the leaders of the Dandua Rebellion?
Ans: Two brothers named Hardatta and Biradatta.
45. Who was the author of “Asamiya Lorar Mitra”?
Ans: Anundaram Dhekiyal Phukan.
46. How many times did the Burmese invade Assam?
Ans: Three times.
47. Between whom was the Battle of Mahagarh fought?
Ans: Between the Ahoms and the Burmese.
48. Who was the president of the reception committee of the Pandu Congress Session?
Ans: Tarun Ram Phukan.
49. Which Ahom king was known as “Bamuni Konwar”?
Ans: Chudangpha.
50. In which year did Mahatma Gandhi come to Assam?
Ans: In 1921.
51. In which year was Cotton College established?
Ans: In 1901.
52. In which year did the Cripps Mission come to India?
Ans: In 1942.
53. In which year did Gomdhar Konwar revolt?
Ans: In 1828.
54. In which year did Maharaja Naranarayana rebuild the Kamakhya Temple?
Ans: In 1566.
55. Who was known as “Bor Raja”?
Ans: Queen Phuleswari.
56. Who discovered the tea plant in Assam?
Ans: Robert Bruce.
57. Who was the Mughal commander in the Battle of Saraighat?
Ans: Raja Ram Singh of Amber.
58. Who was the greatest king of the Ahom dynasty?
Ans: Swargadeo Rudra Singha.
59. In which year did Sir Sadullah form his last ministry?
Ans: In 1941.
60. During whose reign did Hiuen Tsang visit Assam?
Ans: During the reign of Kumar Bhaskar Varman.
61. Who was the first Chief Minister of independent Assam?
Ans: Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi.
62. To which clan did Sati Sadhani belong?
Ans: The Chutia clan.
63. Which Ahom king ascended the throne after climbing the Singari Ghar?
Ans: Chudangpha or Bamuni Konwar.
64. During whose reign were silver coins first introduced in the Ahom kingdom?
Ans: During the reign of Gargaya Raja.
65. Who was the Ahom commander in the Battle of Saraighat?
Ans: Lachit Borphukan.
66. Who succeeded David Scott?
Ans: Robertson.
67. In which year was Kanaklata martyred?
Ans: In 1942.
68. Which Ahom king constructed the Umananda Temple?
Ans: Gadadhar Singha.
69. During whose reign was the Sukreswar Temple built?
Ans: During the reign of Pramatta Singha.
70. In which year did the Lushai Hills come under British control?
Ans: In 1826.
71. Who appointed Maniram Dewan as Dewan?
Ans: Purandar Singha.
72. Tirot Sing was the leader of which state?
Ans: The Khasi state.
73. What is the meaning of “Pragjyotishpura”?
Ans: The city of eastern astrological learning.
74. What is the subject matter of Dali Purana?
Ans: It contains the account of the Patharughat Peasant Revolt.
75. Who became the king of Pragjyotishpura after Narakasura?
Ans: Bhagadatta.
76. What was the royal title of the king of Kamarupa-Kamta?
Ans: Kamateswar or Kameswar.
77. Which king of Kamata married his daughter Rajani to A homking Sukhangpha?
Ans: Pratapdhwaj.
78. Who was the first king of the Khen dynasty?
Ans: Niladhwaj.
79. When did Sukapha establish his capital at Charaideo?
Ans: In 1253 A.D.
80. Who succeeded Sukapha as Ahom king?
Ans: His son Suteupha.
81. Which Ahom king first adopted the title “Swargadeo”?
Ans: Suhungmung (Dihingia Raja).
82. Who was the founder of the Koch kingdom?
Ans: Biswa Singha.
83. Which Ahom king was known as “Burha Raja”?
Ans: Susenpha or Pratap Singha.
84. What was the Ahom name of King Sutamla?
Ans: Jayadhwaj Singha.
85. Which Ahom king was known as “Nariya Raja”?
Ans: Sutyinpha.
86. Which Ahom king was known as “Bhaga Raja”?
Ans: Churampha.
87. Who constructed the Dhodar Ali?
Ans: Gadadhar Singha.
88. Which Ahom king patronized Kaviraj Chakravarti?
Ans: Rudra Singha.
89. Which Ahom king constructed the Namdang stone bridge?
Ans: Rudra Singha.
90. Who constructed the Fakua Dol?
Ans: Ahom king Rudra Singha.
91. During whose reign did Mughal influence appear in Assamese dress?
Ans: During the reign of Rudra Singha.
92. Which Ahom king constructed the Dimou stone bridge?
Ans: Rudra Singha.
93. What was the earlier name of Bor Raja Phuleswari?
Ans: Phulmati Nachani.
94. Who established a toll named “Bor Rajar Pora Xali” at Rangpur?
Ans: Bor Raja Phuleswari.
95. Who constructed the Sivadol?
Ans: Queen Ambika (during the reign of Siva Singha).
96. Who constructed the stone gateway at Gargaon?
Ans: Pramatta Singha.
97. Who constructed the Sukreswar Temple at Guwahati?
Ans: Pramatta Singha.
98. During whose reign did Kirti Chandra Barbarua burn the Buranjis?
Ans: During the reign of Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha.
99. Who was called “Nakal Ahom” (Jalam Bata) in the Ahom chronicles?
Ans: Kirti Chandra Barbarua.
100. During whose reign was the Talatal Ghar constructed?
Ans: During the reign of Rajeswar Singha.
101. During whose reign was Jorhat made the permanent capital of Assam?
Ans: During the reign of Kamaleswar Singha.
102. When did Captain Welsh come to Assam?
Ans: In 1792.
103. In which year did the first Burmese invasion of Assam take place?
Ans: In 1817.
104. When did the second Burmese invasion occur?
Ans: In 1819.
105. When did the third Burmese invasion occur?
Ans: In 1821.
106. When did Bakhtiyar Khilji invade Assam?
Ans: In 1205 A.D.
107. In which year did Turbak invade Assam?
Ans: In 1532 A.D.
108. When was the Treaty of Ghilajharighat concluded?
Ans: In 1663 A.D.
109. When did the English traveler Ralph Fitch visit Koch Behar?
Ans: During the reign of Koch king Maharaja Naranarayana.
110. When did the Portuguese missionary Stephen Cacella come to Assam?
Ans: In 1626 A.D.
111. When did the Dutch traveler Glanius come to Assam?
Ans: In 1662 A.D.
112. Who was the author of “A History of Assam”?
Ans: Edward Gait.
113. When did the Phulaguri Peasant Revolt take place?
Ans: In 1861.
114. When was the Assam Association established?
Ans: In 1903.
115. Where did the first peasant revolt in Assam take place? H. S.’17
Ans: At Phulaguri in Nagaon.
116. Who was regarded as the greatest ruler of the Satavahana dynasty? H. S. ’19
Ans: Satakarni.
117. Name any one of the Tripitaka. H. S. ’19
Ans: Sutta Pitaka.
118. Who was the first British Commissioner of Assam? H. S. ’19
Ans: David Scott.
119. What was the third major movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi against the British? H. S. ’19
Ans: The Quit India Movement.
120. By what name was Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan known? H. S.’19
Ans: Frontier Gandhi.
B. Short Answer Questions: Marks for each – 2
1. Name the four divisions of ancient Kamarupa.
Ans: The four divisions of ancient Kamarupa were Kampitha, Ratnapitha, Swarnapitha, and Soumarapitha.
2. Name the two illustrators of the manuscript “Hastividyarnava.”
Ans: Dilwar and Dosai.
3. Who established the Koch kingdom and when? Who was its greatest king?
Ans: A person named Bisu established the Koch kingdom in 1515 A.D. Its greatest king was Maharaja Naranarayana.
4. Who wrote the drama “Kichak Badh”? What title was conferred upon him for this?
Ans: The drama “Kichak Badh” was written by Ahom king RajeswarSingha. For this, he was given the title “Kavi Chudamani.”
5. Who were called “Mayamara” or “Moamoria”?
Ans: In the later part of the sixteenth century, a person named Aniruddhadev, related to Srimanta Sankardev, established the Mayamara Satra. The disciples of this satra were called Mayamara or Moamoria.
6. Mention the names of two Ahom kings who patronized Assamese literature.
Ans: Rudra Singha and Siva Singha.
7. Name any two persons in Assam who received letters from Calcutta regarding the Revolt of 1857.
Ans: Piyali Barua and Kandarpeswar Singha.
8. When was the first issue of the journal “Jonaki” published? Who was its first editor?
Ans: The first issue of ‘Jonaki’ was published in 1889. Its first editor was Chandrakumar Agarwala.
9. Who established the first English-medium school in Assam, and when?
Ans: The British established the first English-medium school, the English Seminary, at Guwahati in 1835.
10. Name two women martyrs of Assam in the Quit India Movement.
Ans: Kanaklata and Bhogeswari Phukanani.
11. Name the four river-based divisions of ancient Kamarupa. H.S. ’16
Ans: Kampitha, Ratnapitha, Swarnapitha, and Soumarapitha.
12. Who were known as ‘Devaliya Paik’? Who appointed them?
Ans: The Paiks appointed by the Ahom kings for service in temples were known as ‘Devaliya Paik.’ They were appointed by the Ahom kings.
13. Who wrote ‘Chakrifeti Buranji’? Why did Kirti ChandraBarbarua destroy these chronicles? H. S. ’15
Ans: Numali Borgohain wrote the ‘Chakrifeti Buranji.’ Since the chronicle described Kirti Chandra Barbarua as ‘Jalam Bata’ (Nakal Ahom), he destroyed the Buranjis.
14. Name two Assamese rebels who were hanged by the British in 1858. H. S. ’18
Ans: Maniram Dewan and Piyali Barua.
15. What is a Buranji? Name one Buranji written during the Ahom period. H. S. ’18
Ans: The practice of recording events in chronological order is called’Buranji.’ One Buranji written during the Ahom period is the ‘Tungkhungia Buranji.’
16. Who was Gomdhar Konwar? Name one of his associates. H. S.’20
Ans: Gomdhar Konwar was the first leader of the anti-British movement in Assam. One of his associates was Dhananjay Borgohain.
17. Mention two peasant revolts that took place in Assam in the nineteenth century. H. S. ’19
Ans: The Lachima Peasant Revolt and the Patharughat Peasant Revolt.
C. Medium Answer Type Questions:
1. Write four results of the Bengal Partition Movement.
Ans: The four results of the Bengal Partition Movement are as follows:
(a) As a result of this movement, the British Government was compelled to withdraw the Bengal Partition scheme.
(b) This movement aroused national consciousness among the people of India.
(c) As a consequence of the movement, communal unity in India, especially between Hindus and Muslims, was strengthened, and a sense of cooperation developed.
(d) The British realized through this movement that the demands of the general public could not be ignored.
2. When was the Treaty of Ghilajhari concluded? Mention four conditions of this treaty.
Ans: The Treaty of Ghilajhari was concluded in 1663 A.D. between the Mughal General Mir Jumla and the Ahom King Jayadhwaj Singha. The four conditions of this treaty were:
(a) The region west of the Bharali River on the north bank of the Brahmaputra and west of the Kolong River on the south bank was annexed to the Mughal Empire.
(b) The Ahom King agreed to pay 20,000 tolas of gold, 1,20,000 tolas of silver, and 40 elephants to the Mughals as immediate indemnity.
(c) An annual tribute of 20 elephants was fixed for the Ahom King.
(d) Ramani Gabharu, the daughter of Swargadeo Jayadhwaj Singha, was to be sent to the Mughal harem.
3. When and on which day was the Battle of Saraighat fought? Who was victorious in this battle? Who was the commander of the Ahoms at that time?
Ans: The Battle of Saraighat was fought in 1671 A.D. between the A homKing Udayaditya Singha and the Mughals. In this battle, the Ahoms were victorious against the Mughals.
The commander of the Ahom forces in this battle was Lachit Borphukan.
4. Write about the characteristics of the Paik system. H. S. ’20
Ans: In Assam, during the reign of Ahom King Swargadeo Pratap Singha, Momai Tamuli Borbarua first introduced the Paik system in an organized form. According to this system, except the nobles, Brahmins, priests, higher-class people and their servants, all male subjects between the ages of fifteen and fifty had to render service to the king either as laborers or soldiers. Those who rendered such service were known as ‘Paiks’. Three or four Paiks formed a group called a ‘Got’. From each group, one member had to remain present at the royal household at all times. In a group of three, the first Paik was called ‘Mul’, the second ‘Dewal’, and the third ‘Tebal’. When one member of the group went to serve the king, the remaining two members had to cultivate his land and take responsibility for maintaining his family.
D. Essay-Type Questions: (Marks for each – 6)
1. Briefly discuss what Hiuen Tsang wrote about Kamarupa in histravel account.
Ans: During the reign of the North Indian ruler Harshavardhana, in 630A.D., the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang came to India. He studied Buddhist scriptures at Nalanda University for a long time. On hearing about his scholarship and reputation, King Kumar Bhaskar Varman of Kamarupa invited him to visit his kingdom. In response to this invitation, Hiuen Tsang visited Kamarupa in 643 A.D. He recorded detailed accounts of his visit in his book Si-Yu-Ki. In this book, he provided realistic descriptions of the social, political, and cultural conditions of Assam at that time. Hiuen Tsang wrote that the kingdom of Kamarupa extended about 1700miles in circumference and that its capital city had a circumference of about
6 miles. The land was fertile and suitable for cultivation throughout the year. Coconut, jackfruit, and pineapple were produced in abundance. The people were honest and simple, short in stature, and had a yellowish complexion. Their language was different from that of Middle India. They possessed sharp memory and were devoted to learning. Elephants were used in warfare. Regarding religion, he mentioned that the people worshipped various gods and goddesses and that there were numerous temples. Buddhism had very little influence there.
About King Bhaskar Varman, Hiuen Tsang wrote that he was a great patron of learning. The subjects followed him in this respect. Scholars from distant regions came to Kamarupa in search of employment. He also beautifully described the natural features of the kingdom, mentioning that it was surrounded on three sides by hills, which extended towards the borders of south-west China. The hill regions were inhabited by the Maan and Lao tribes.
2. Give an account of Shihabuddin Talish’s notes. H. S. ’16, ’18
Ans: During the Mughal General Mir Jumla’s invasion of Assam in 1662–63, a scholar named Shihabuddin Talish accompanied him. His original name was Ibn Muhammad Ali Ahmad. He recorded valuable notes about MirJumla’s expedition to Assam and about Assam itself in a book titled Fathiyai-Ibriya. He described Assam as a land full of dense forests and fearful terrain. From Kaliabar to Garhgaon, the land was full of houses and fruit-bearing trees. Tall bamboo groves and shady trees lined the roads. Fragrant substances and wildflowers were found in the region. The climate was difficult for outsiders to endure, as it rained for about eight months of the year. Excessive humidity troubled foreigners. However, he noted that diseases such as leprosy and skin diseases were not prevalent. About the capital Garhgaon, he wrote that the house where the king granted audience was called the ‘Holong Ghar’. It was 120 cubits long and 30 cubits wide, supported by 66 pillars within four walls. The pillars were so finely carved that they appeared as if turned on a lathe. The wood carvings and craftsmanship of the royal palace were beyond description. Such artistic wooden structures were rare in the world. The palace walls bore various designs and had wooden ceilings whose reflection dazzled the eyes.
3. Briefly discuss the causes of the downfall of the Ahom Kingdom.
Ans: In 1228 A.D., Sukapha, a leader of the Tai people, migrated to Assam and founded the Ahom dynasty. This dynasty ruled Assam for nearly six hundred years, from 1228 A.D. to 1826 A.D. However, in 1826, the Ahom Kingdom passed into the hands of the British, marking the end of Ahom rule and the decline of Assam’s independence. The causes of the downfall of the A hom kingdom were many:
(1) The first cause was the organizational weakness of its administrative system. According to Ahom tradition, physically disabled princes were deprived of succession to the throne. Taking advantage of this rule, in later times even capable princes were deliberately mutilated and deprived of kingship. As a result, the kingdom was deprived of competent leadership.
(2) Another cause was the power struggle among the three chief ministers,
which led to internal conflicts and weakened the administration.
(3) In the later period, many Ahom kings became weak, inefficient, and autocratic. For example, kings like Siva Singha, Rajeswar Singha, and Gaurinath Singha weakened the royal authority through their weak personalities and despotism.
(4) The Moamoria Rebellion was a significant cause. The prolonged rebellion of the Moamorias for nearly twenty years shattered the foundation of the Ahom monarchy.
(5) During the reign of Kamaleswar Singha, the Prime Minister Purnananda Burhagohain, became extremely ambitious and oppressive. Histyranny reduced public respect and faith in the monarchy.
(6) Badan Chandra Borphukan’s invitation to the Burmese and the subsequent atrocities committed by them led to the British intervention in 1826, resulting in the complete downfall of the Ahom kingdom.
4. Mention the peasant uprising that took place in North Kamrupin 1894.
Ans: In 1892, the then Chief Commissioner of Assam, William ErskineWard, reclassified the lands of the Brahmaputra Valley and increased land revenue by 35 percent. Protesting against this enhanced assessment, the peasants assembled and submitted written petitions to the government. Despite their strong opposition, the government enforced the revised rates and began revenue collection, which led the peasants to initiate a revolt against the authorities. The uprising gradually spread to various parts of Assam, first manifesting in North Kamrup. Hundreds of peasants of the region gathered in Raijmels and resolved not to pay revenue at the enhanced rates.
In December 1893, several peasants assembled at Rangia and Tamulpur and insulted the British official Radhanath Barua at Tamulpur. The peasants also damaged houses and shops at Rangia market and looted mortgage deeds of land from Marwari moneylenders. In 1894, thousands of peasants assembled at Nalbari and held a Raijmel against the government. The authorities were already prepared to suppress the gathering, leading to clashes between both sides. Several peasants were killed in the confrontation. A strong protest Raijmel was also held at Baramain Nalbari district. Under its leadership, a lathial force was organized, and even an intelligence network was formed. The largest Raijmel of the Nalbari region was held at Panigaon Chapori, where peasants from Sarthebari, Patasarkuchi, Dharmapur, Bajali, and other places gathered. Pushparam Kalita played a leading role in this assembly.
The government suppressed all these peasant revolts with severity. Many peasants were killed, and several others were imprisoned.
5. Discuss the peasant uprising that took place at Patharughat in Darrang district in 1894.
Ans: In 1894, a powerful peasant uprising took place at Patharughat in Darrang district. Like other peasant revolts, it arose against the enhanced land revenue rates and the exploitative policies of the government. From 26 February to 28 February 1894, peasants gathered at Patharughat. At that time, J. Anderson was the Sub-Divisional Officer of Darrang district. He sent
military forces to confront the peasants, resulting in a violent clash. Ultimately, the District Magistrate ordered firing upon the thousands of assembled peasants. About 140 peasants died on the spot, and nearly 750 were injured. A detailed account of the Patharughat peasant uprising is found in the book Doli Puran, written by Narottam Das.
6. Give an account of the revolt of the Jaintias against the British in 1860.
Ans: In 1835, the British annexed the Jaintia Hills to the British Empire, which caused dissatisfaction among the Jaintias. Furthermore, in 1861 the British government imposed the House Tax and Income Tax upon them. Opposing these taxes, the Jaintias initiated a revolt under the leadership of UKiang Nongbah. On 17 January 1862, under his leadership, the Jaintias attacked the British outpost at Jowai. In the clash between the rebels and the government forces, several rebels were killed, and the rebels also killed some policemen. Gradually, the strength of the rebellion declined due to government suppression. U Kiang Nongbah was eventually captured by the British and executed by hanging. Thus, the Jaintia revolt came to an end.
7. Write short notes:
(a) Goalpara
Ans: Goalpara is a district situated in the western part of Assam. In 1765, when the British obtained the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, it formed part of Rangpur district of Bengal. After the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826, Goalpara was separated from Bengal and annexed to Assam.
(b) David Scott
Ans: David Scott was the first British administrative officer in Assam. Before coming to Assam, he served in administrative positions in parts of North India, Bengal, and Bihar. In 1822, he was appointed by the British government as the Agent to the Governor-General for the North-East Frontier. He played a significant role in reorganizing the administration of Assam.
(c) Lakhiraj Land
Ans: Tax-free land was known as Lakhiraj land. During the Ahom period, such lands were granted to Brahmins and priests for religious purposes. Under British rule, measures were taken to impose taxes on such lands. The British administrator Jenkins conducted extensive investigations and classified Lakhiraj lands into three categories:
(i) Brahmottar land: Granted to monasteries and temples, exempted from tax.
(ii) Dharmottar land: Granted for religious or charitable purposes, taxed at half rate.
(iii) Devottar land: Granted to Brahmins or priests, taxed at half rate.
(d) Gomdhar Konwar
Ans: Gomdhar Konwar was the son of Phena Konwar, a descendant of Swargadeo Suhungmung. Declaring himself king to restore Assam’s independence, he led a revolt against the British in 1828. However, he was defeated by Lieutenant Rutherford. Later, he surrendered and was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, bringing his rebellion to an end.
(e) Madhuram Koch
Ans: Madhuram Koch was a contractor of the Assam Tea Company at Nazira and a collaborator in the revolt led by Maniram Dewan against the British. After suppression of the revolt, he was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.
(f) Kandarpeswar Singha
Ans: Kandarpeswar Singha was the son of Ahom king Kameswar Singha. After his father’s death, the British refused to recognize him as king, which caused resentment. Influenced by the Revolt of 1857, Maniram Dewan planned to establish himself as king. However, the plan failed; Maniram Dewanand Piyali Phukan was executed in 1858, and Kandarpeswar was imprisoned in Alipore Jail and later granted a pension. He died in Guwahati in 1880.
(g) Sambudhan Kachari Revolt
Ans: Sambudhan Kachari led a revolt in North Cachar in 1881 against British oppression. Rebels destroyed government establishments. In the clash, Major Boyd was fatally injured. Sambudhan escaped, and his later fate remains unknown.
(h) Doli Puran
Ans: Doli Puran, written by Narottam Das in the late nineteenth century, provides a detailed account of the historic Patharughat peasant uprising.
(i) U Kiang Nongbah
Ans: U Kiang Nongbah led the Jaintia revolt against British taxation policies in the early 1860s and was executed after being captured.
(j) J. W. Quinton
Ans: J. W. Quinton was the Chief Commissioner of Assam who went to Manipur to suppress the rebellion of Prince Tikendrajit. In the ensuing conflict, many of his forces were killed and he himself was beheaded. Later, Tikendrajit was tried and executed by the British.
