Phulaguri Uprising

Historical Background

The Treaty of Yandaboo was official marked the
end of the Ahom Monarchy and established the
British Sovereignty in Assam. After the
occupation of the British, Assam was divided into
two division- Lower Assam and Upper Assam,
head quarter Guwahati and Rangpur respectively.
David Scott who was appointed as the Senior
Commissioner of Lower Assam and Upper
Assam was given under the direct military rule of
Colonel Richard who was also appointed as the
Junior Commissioner. David Scott was not only
appointed as Commissioner, but also Civil and
Criminal Justice and charged him collection of
revenue too. The British was gradually expended
their sovereignty to Raha and Kaliabar though;
Sovereign Gobha was ruled independently by the
Lalung (Tiwa) king up to 1835. Finally, on the
15th March, 1835, the British forcefully occupied
and ruled under leadership of Captain Lister.
However, the Tiwas were fought and against the
British unjust imperialism continuously.

Phulaguri Dhawa, 18 October, 1861

According to Hemkosh Dhawa means battle.
Ganesh Senapati a Tiwa researcher states that the
word “Dhawa” owes it origin from Tiwa word
“Tawa” meaning encounter, battle. Phulaguri
Dhawa, 1861 of Nowgong district in Assam was
one such local tribal (Lalung) led agrarian
uprising. India came under the direct control of
the British after end of East India Company Rule
in 1858. But the British rulers continued their
policy of peasant exploitation and resources. The
well-to-do middle-class peasant proprietors and
government servants were not actively cooperated who were no less affected by recent
taxes on income, trade and profession. It was the
1860 ban on poppy cultivation, the increase in
land revenue on dry crop lands in 1861 was much
represented in Nowgong that affected the peasant
economy the most. In September 1861 about
1,500 peasants marched to district head quarter
peacefully. It was fact that the Magistrate always
dealt with riots in a high-handed and provocative
manner, and did not allow them to even enter his
office compound. The Phulaguri locality of 18
October, 1861 was the first occurrence of
determined resistance by the riots of Assam
through organization of Raij Mel (people’s
assembly). The British policy of 1860 banned the
cultivation of poppy, thereby making totally
dependent on Government opium and this
prohibition order shattered the traditional
domestic economy of the tribal areas where
consumption of opium was estimated highest in
the province. Definitely, it had also effects on
tribal habit, social custom and economy at the
same time, introduction of the licence tax which
was unexpected to the local tribal and alarmed at
the prospect of another impending tax. Again a
rumour spread that a new tax was to be levied
upon their houses, barriers and betel leaf
cultivation.

Method, Participation & Nature of the
Revolt
Approximately 1,000 riots assembled by 15th
October (1861) 500-600 of whom were armed
with bamboo lathis. A police party that came to
spread over a wide area the assembly was driven
out, save one policeman who was taken into
custody by the people. By 17 October, 3,000 to
4,000 people was gathered. The police
incidentally made yet another attempt to break up
the assembly and arrested the leaders the same
day. However, all of them forcibly rescued by the
people, the police had to leave the spot but the
situation remained unchanged. The next day, on
18 October a British officer, Lieutenant Singer
came with a people party and met the leading
members of the assembly. The riots restate,
through a spokesman their complaints about the
ban on opium cultivation and their unpleasant
will about the income and pan taxes. They added
that as the District Magistrate had not interested
and attended to their grievances, they were
examining means of carrying their complaints to
the higher authorities in the mel. But Singer
ordered them to scatter and tried seize their bamboo lathis. Accidently the British officer
Singer got killed in the revolt. The panicky
Nowgong District Magistrate came himself at
treasury and sent armed force to the trouble-spot.
He fired on the crowed, leading to several deaths.
By 23rd October all was quiet again fresh military
forces arrived from Tezpur and Gauhati.
Narsingh Lalung and eight other tribal peasant
leaders were punished with long-term
imprisonment.
It is need to mention here that
Panchaoraja (Five Kings viz- Sararaja,
Khaigharia, Topakuchia, Barpujia and Mikir raja)
and Satoraja (Seven kings viz- Tetelia, Mayang,
Baghara, Ghagua, Sukhnagog, Tarani Kalbari
and Damal) of the then Lalung (Tiwa) kings
under their jurisdiction were also participated and
support in the revolt against the British
government administration as they had also their
grievances. However, the Phulaguri Dhawa tribal
uprising was not a proper organized revolt; it was
the climax of a large number of deep rooted
grievances of Lalung peasants against the British
Government. Unfortunate that this uprising was
degraded the good reputation by colonial
journalists as an uprising of some opium eater
against the ban of poppy cultivation.

The
Phulaguri tribal uprising has an immense significance primarily because it inaugurated a
new era of peasant awakening in Assam, later
such as peasant uprising in Rangiya, Lachima and
Pathorighat Ron. And, however Phulaguri
uprising was basically a tribal led peasant
uprising, the rebellious received support and
sympathy of other segment of peasant. It was an
evidence of people’s desire to liberate them from
the slavery of imperialistic exploitation. The
decision of the tribal peasant of the Phulaguri
locality not to pay taxes and refused to
government policies in 1861 must be considered
as the early beginning part of non-cooperation
movement in India.