Class 10 Social History Chapter 4 India’s Freedom Movement and National Awakening in Assam
Are you searching for SEBA Class 10 Social History Chapter 4 India’s Freedom Movement and National Awakening in Assam? If yes, then you are in the right place. This article provides complete notes, textbook solutions, important questions and answers, and exam-focused study materials for Class 10 students.
This chapter explains the growth of India’s freedom movement and the rise of national consciousness in Assam. Students will learn about the participation of the people of Assam in the struggle for independence, the contributions of prominent Assamese leaders, and the impact of various national movements on the region. The chapter also highlights how the spirit of nationalism spread across Assam and encouraged people to join the fight against British rule.
All notes and solutions are written in simple and easy-to-understand English, helping students grasp the concepts quickly and revise effectively before examinations. These study materials are useful for unit tests, annual examinations, and the HSLC board examination.
Part-I: History
India’s Freedom Movement and National Awakening in Assam
Selected Questions &Answers
Very Short Answer Type Questions (Mark-1)
1. In which year did Mahatma Gandhi visit Assam?
Ans: In 1921.
2. In which year was the ‘Assam Chutiya Sammilan’ formed?
Ans: In 1925.
3. In which year was the Bodo-Kachari Mahasammilan formed among the Bodos?
Ans: In 1923.
4. What was the main objective of the Ryot Sabhas?
Ans: The main objectives were to stop grazing, reduce land revenue, and prevent migration from East Bengal.
5. When was the All Assam Ryot Sabha formed?
Ans: In 1933.
6. Who was the secretary of the Ahom Sabha?
Ans: Padmanath Gohain Baruah.
7. When and under whose leadership was the Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha formed?
Ans: In 1884, under the leadership of Jagannath Barua.
8. Who were the first president and secretary of the Assam Provincial Congress Committee?
Ans: The first president was Kuladhar Chaliha and the secretary was NabinChandra Bordoloi.
9. Who was the first formally elected president of the Assam Provincial Congress Committee?
Ans: Bishnuram Medhi.
10. In which year was the Koch-Rajbongshi Kshatriya Sammilan formed?
Ans: In 1912.
11. Which organization successfully attempted to establish a university in Assam?
Ans: The Assam Association.
12. In which session of the Assam Association was the demand for establishing a university first raised?
Ans: In the 1917 session held at Sivasagar.
13. In which year was the organization of the Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha formed?
Ans: In 1884.
14. Where was the first session of the Assam Association held in 1905?HSLC ’18
Ans: At Dibrugarh.
15. Who was the first editor of the journal ‘Jonaki’? HSLC ’19
Ans: Chandrakumar Agarwala.
16. Who were the president and secretary elected in the first session of the Assam Association? HSLC ’19
Ans: The president was Raja Prabhat Chandra Barua and the secretary was Manik Chandra Barua.
17. Who formed the Assam Association in 1903? (Choose the correct answer): HSLC ’20
(i) Padmanath Gohain Baruah
(ii) Hemchandra Goswami
(iii) Nabin Chandra Bordoloi
(iv) Manik Chandra Barua
Ans: Manik Chandra Barua.
18. When did the Treaty of Yandabo take place?
Ans: In 1826.
19. What period is referred to as the Company Rule?
Ans: From 1826 to 1858.
20. When was the Bengali language introduced in Assam?
Ans: From 1837.
21. When was Assamese reinstated in place of Bengali in Assam?
Ans: In 1873.
22. Who was the first editor of the journal ‘Orunodoi’?
Ans: Nathan Brown.
23. What was the mouthpiece of the Assam Students’ Conference?
Ans: Milan.
24. What was the first national institution established in Assam?
Ans: Tilak Memorial School.
25. For what crime was Kushal Konwar hanged?
Ans: He was hanged for the crime of derailing a train at Barpathar.
26. When was Gauhati University established?
Ans: On 26 January 1948.
27. When was Assam Medical College formally named?
Ans: On 3 November 1947.
28. When was Gauhati Medical College formally started?
Ans: On 20 September 1960.
Short Answer Type Questions (Marks-2)
1. Briefly write the stand of the Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha regarding the opium policy.
Ans: The Sarbajanik Sabha was formed in 1886 under the leadership of tea planter Jagannath Barua. The Sabha submitted a memorandum to the Royal Opium Commission through the Chief Secretary of Assam. In this memorandum, it described various benefits of opium and opposed the government’sproposal to change the opium policy or to ban it.
2. Who formed the Ahom Sabha? What was one of its most important objectives? HSLC ’20
Ans: The Ahom Sabha was established in 1893 under the leadership of Padmanath Gohain Baruah. Its political demand was that the Ahoms should be given recognition as a minority community by the government, and seats should be reserved for them in the Legislative Assembly along with the formation of separate constituencies.
3. What issues were raised by the Assam Association before the British Government?
Ans: The issues raised were:
(a) Demand for democratization of local bodies.
(b) Opposition to increased taxes, government tariff system, and opium consumption.
(c) Opposition to the dominance of tea planters in municipalities and local boards.
(d) In the field of education, it demanded appointment of Assamese teachers in Cotton College and establishment of technical institutions in Assam.
Essay-type Question-Answers
1. Discuss the role and activities of the Assamese Language Improvement Society. HSLC ’22
Ans: The Assamese Language Improvement Society was established in1888 by a group of Assamese students studying in Kolkata. The pioneers of this society included Hemchandra Barua, Lakshminath Bezbaroa, Chandrakumar Agarwala, Kanaklal Barua, Ramakanta Barkakati and others. The main objectives of this society were:
(a) To give Assamese language the status of an independent language.
(b) To promote Assamese literature.
(c) To prepare a scientific grammar of Assamese language.
(d) To compile a dictionary of the Assamese language.
(e) To promote nationalism in Assam.
Under the initiative of this society, Hemchandra Barua compiled the first scientific dictionary of Assamese language, ‘Hemkosh’. Similarly, Satyanaath Bora composed ‘Bohol Byakaran’, establishing that Assamese is not a derivative of Bengali in terms of script, sentence formation, etc. The members behind this society also published the journal ‘Jonaki’ in 1889, ushering in a golden age in Assamese literature.
Through its efforts, many branches of the society were established across Assam. Many Assamese youths, after completing their education in Kolkata, returned to Assam and played a leading role in establishing branches in places like Kohima, Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Nagaon, Jorhat, Barpeta, Goalpara, and Guwahati, thereby promoting Assamese as an independent language.
2. Write about the contributions of the Assam Association towards social reform in colonial Assam. HSLC ’17
Ans: From the nineteenth century onwards, new types of socio-political Organizations emerged in Assam. Among them, the Assam Association was one of the most important. This organization was formed in 1867 in a public meeting held at the Government English Seminary premises in Guwahati. Its president was Raja Kandarpeswar Singha and the secretary was Gangagobinda Phukan.
The second conference of this association was held in 1880 and the third in 1882. Both were presided over by Dinanath Bezbaroa. After this, the association remained inactive for many years.
It was revived again in 1903. The Assam Association was developed as a loyalist organization to the British. It focused on establishing local self-government, improving municipalities, creating more employment opportunities for educated youth in government departments, establishing modern educational institutions, encouraging youth participation in trade and commerce, and promoting Assamese language and literature.
In the 1917 session held at Sivasagar, President Satyanaath Bora raised, for the first time, the demand for establishing a university in Assam.
3. Give a brief account of Assam’s role in the Swadeshi Movement. HSLC ’20
Ans: The movement began in 1905 in protest against the partition of Bengal by the Viceroy Lord Curzon. Protest meetings supporting the boycott of foreign goods were held in various places of Assam such as Tezpur, Dhubri, and Barpeta. People from different communities participated in these meetings. Boycott of foreign goods, establishment of national educational institutions, and use of indigenous products were the main features of the movement. In the Brahmaputra Valley, the movement had distinct characteristics compared to Bengal. At that time, people in Assam used local substitutes suchas alkali instead of salt, Banaras sugar instead of foreign sugar, and indigenous cloth instead of imported textiles.
4. How did the Non-Cooperation Movement spread in Assam?
Or
Discuss how the programmes of the Non-Cooperation Movement were implemented in Assam. HSLC ’16
Ans: The decision to launch the Non-Cooperation Movement was taken in1920 at the Nagpur session of the Indian National Congress. The main objective of this movement was to make the government ineffective by refusing to cooperate with it. The movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi, rapidly spread throughout India.
The Assam Students’ Conference actively participated in this movement. The prominent leaders of Assam who took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement included Gopinath Bordoloi, Tarun Ram Phukan, Nabin Chandra Bordoloi, Muhammad Tayebulla, Bishnuram Medhi, Nidhiram Das, Kuladhar Chaliha and many others.
The tea garden labourers and tribal communities of Assam also participated in the movement. The Bodo-Kachari peasants of Baksa in North Kamrup and Boko in South Kamrup started a no-tax campaign along with the Non-Cooperation Movement.
However, during the course of the movement, in the context of the violent incident at Chauri Chaura incident in Uttar Pradesh, Mahatma Gandhi called off the movement on 12 February.
5. Give an account of Assam’s role in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Or
Write how the people of Assam participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi. HSLC ’17
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement on 12 March 1930 by breaking the Salt Law. Within a short time, the movement
spread throughout India.
The students of Assam actively participated in the movement. On 26 January 1930, along with the rest of India, Independence Day or Swaraj Day was observed in Assam. At Jubilee Park in Guwahati, students joined leaders like Tarun Ram Phukan, Nabin Chandra Bordoloi and Siddhinath Sharma in participating in the programmes of the movement. Leaders such as SiddhinathSharma and Amiya Kumar Das spread the movement throughout Assam. Women also took part in the movement, and Chandraprabha Saikiani played a leading role in mobilizing them.
On 5 May 1930, in protest against the arrest of Mahatma Gandhi, the movement intensified. Observing the participation of students, the Director of Public Instruction of Assam, Cunningham, issued a circular. According to this order, he demanded a written undertaking from the guardians of students stating that their children would not participate in the movement and would abide by the rules of the Education Department. In protest against this order, students joined the movement with renewed enthusiasm.
Thus, Assam played a significant role in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
6. Give an account of the activities and impact of the Quit India Movement in Assam.
Or
Discuss the role of the people of Assam in the Quit India Movement. HSLC ’15, ’19, ’23
Ans: On 8 August 1942, at the Bombay session of the Indian National Congress, the historic Quit India Resolution was adopted. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, the Quit India Movement spread across the country. The government, alarmed by the movement, arrested major leaders such asGandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Abul Kalam Azad and imprisoned them. With the central leaders imprisoned, the general public intensified the movement. Like the rest of India, the movement spread widely in Assam.
In Assam, Gopinath Bordoloi and Siddhinath Sharma were arrested by the police. However, some leaders such as Mahendra Mohan Choudhury, Sankar Barua, Bimala Prasad Chaliha and Braj Sharma went underground and secretly expanded the movement.
The agitators disrupted telephone communication systems in places like Kamrup, Darrang, Nagaon and Sivasagar, and uprooted railway tracks in many places. They also set fire to military camps and carried out looting in several areas. To suppress the movement, the government adopted repressive measures such as lathi charges, firing, arrests and killings. Thus, Assam played a strong role in the Quit India Movement.
7. Give a brief account of the educational institutions established in Assam under the leadership of the Bordoloi Ministry. HSLC ’18
Ans: In the general elections of 1946, the Congress party won and its leader Gopinath Bordoloi became the first Prime Minister (Chief Minister) of Assam. During his tenure, several institutions of higher education were established in Assam. Some of the important ones are discussed below.
Assam Agricultural University: Agricultural research centres were established at Karimganj in 1913 and at Titabar in 1923, marking the beginning of agricultural education in Assam. Although these centres carried out research and training, there was a need for separate colleges. Therefore, in 1948, the Assam Veterinary College was established at Nagaon and the Assam Agricultural College at Jorhat. Combining these institutions, Assam Agricultural University was established in 1969.
Assam Medical College: The first medical college in Northeast India was established at Dibrugarh. In 1900, the Berry White Medical School was established with a donation of Rs. 50,000 by Dr. John Berry White, who was the Civil Surgeon of Lakhimpur district. In 1910, two X-ray machines were imported from England, leading to the introduction of the Radiology Department. After independence, on 3 November 1947, it was officially named Assam Medical College.
Gauhati University: In December 1917, at the annual session of the Assam Association held at Sivasagar, a public demand for establishing a university in Assam was raised. As a result, Gauhati University was established in 1948.
8. Write a short note on the aims and objectives of the Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha. HSLC ’18
Ans: The Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha was formed in 1884 at Jorhat under the leadership of Jagannath Barua. The main objectives of this Sabha were:
(a) To maintain good relations between the rulers and the ruled.
(b) To establish communication with the government and bring the wishes and aspirations of the people to its notice.
(c) To strive for the fulfillment of public demands.
(d) To propagate government policies and objectives among the people.
(e) To try to alleviate the difficulties and sufferings of the people.
In fact, the Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha was a representative organization of indigenous tea planters, lawyers, Marwari traders and Bengali merchants.
9. How were the Ryot Sabhas formed in different parts of Assam against the British? HSLC ’17, ’19
Ans: Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Ryot Sabhas were formed in different places to address the problems of peasants in Assam, such as:
Tezpur Ryot Sabha: In 1884–85, the Tezpur Ryot Sabha was formed in Darrang. The middle-class people played a leading role in its formation. Its main objective was to protest against the increased land revenue imposed by the government.
Nagaon Ryot Sabha: In 1886–87, the Nagaon Ryot Sabha was formed in Nagaon. Its main objective was also to oppose the increased land revenue imposed by the government.
Assam Ryot Sabha: To provide leadership to all the Ryot Sabhas of the Brahmaputra Valley, the Assam Ryot Sabha was formed. In terms of authority and programme formulation, it was the apex organization.
Ahom Sabha: With the aim of improving the political, social, economic, educational and cultural conditions of the Ahom community, the Ahom Sabha(Ahom Association) was formed in 1893 through the efforts of Padmanath Gohain Baruah and some educated persons. The first secretary of this Sabhawas Padmanath Gohain Baruah. Under his leadership, the Sabha continued till 1945. It also attempted to eradicate the practice of opium consumption among the Ahom community.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
Q. Where was the first session of the Assam Association held in 1905?
(a) Sivasagar
(c) Dibrugarh
(b) Jorhat
(d) Golaghat
Ans: (c)
Q. From when was the Bengali language introduced in Assam?
(a) From 1835
(b) From 1837
(c) From 1872
(d) From 1873
Ans: (b)
Q. When was Assamese reinstated in place of Bengali in Assam?
(a) 1871
(c) 1875
(b) 1873
(d) 1876
Ans: (b)
Q. What was the name of the organization formed in 1872 for literary activities?
(a) Jnan Pradayini Sabha
(b) Assamese Literary Society
(c) Assamese Language Improvement Society
(d) Assam Sahitya Sabha
Ans: (b)
Q. Who among the following was the first editor of ‘Jonaki’?
(a) Hemchandra Barua
(b) Hemchandra Goswami
(c) Jagannath Barua
(d) Chandrakumar Agarwala
Ans: (d)
Q. Who formed the Assam Association in 1903?
(a) Padmanath Gohain Baruah
(b) Hemchandra Goswami
(c) Nabin Chandra Bordoloi
(d) Manik Chandra Barua
Ans: (d)
Q. Who was the president of the temporary committee of the Assam Provincial Congress formed in June 1921?
(a) Kuladhar Chaliha
(b) Bishnu Rabha
(c) Gopinath
(d) Bishnuram Medhi
Ans: (a)
Q. When was the ‘Jnan Pradayini Sabha’ established?
(a) 1851
(b) 1857
(c) 1758
(d) 1859
Ans: (b)
Q. When was the ‘Assamese Language Improvement Society’ formed?
(a) 1881
(b) 1881
(c) 1888
(d) 1889
Ans: (c)
Q. In which organization did Padmanath Gohain Baruah serve as secretary for about 40 years?
(a) All Assam Ryot Sabha
(b) Assam Students’ Conference
(c) Assamese Language Improvement Society
(d) Ahom Sabha
Ans: (d)
Q. What was the name of the mouthpiece of the Assam Students’ Conference?
(a) Milan
(b) Bagmi
(c) Swadesh
(d) Bahi
Ans: (a)
Q. Where was the first session of the Assam Association held in 1905?
(a) Sivasagar
(c) Dibrugarh
(b) Jorhat
(d) Golaghat
Ans: (c)
Q. Who was elected as the first Prime Minister (Chief Minister) of Assam?
(a) Akbar Hydari
(b) Gopinath Bordoloi
(c) Nabin Chandra Bordoloi
(d) Anowara Taimur
Ans: (b)
Q. When was the Assam Students’ Conference formed? HSLC ’24
(a) 1911
(b) 1913
(c) 1816
(d) 1921
Ans: (c).
Q. In which year was the All Assam Ryot Sabha formed?
(a) 1925
(b) 1933
(d) 1936
(c) 1935
Ans: (b)
Q. Under whose leadership was the Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha formed?
(a) Padmanath Gohain Baruah
(b) Jagannath Barua
(c) Manik Chandra Barua
(d) Chandrakumar Agarwala
Ans: (b)
Q. Where was the first medical college of Northeast India established? HSLC ’24
(a) Guwahati
(b) Silchar
(c) Jorhat
(d) Dibrugarh
Ans: (d)
