Assam's Contribution to India's Freedom Struggle: 1905-1922

Assam's Role in the Swadeshi Movement

The Swadeshi Movement, which began in 1905 as a response to the Partition of Bengal, soon spread to other parts of India, including Assam. The people of Assam actively participated in the movement, promoting the use of Indian-made goods and boycotting British products.

Key Organizations Promoting Swadeshi in Assam

Various associations and organizations were formed in Assam to promote the Swadeshi Movement. Some of these included:

• The Assam Association
• The Asomiya Bhasar Unnati Sadhini Sabha
• The Utkal Sammilani

Welfare Activities and Indirect Benefits

To achieve their objectives, these organizations undertook several welfare activities, which resulted in indirect benefits from the Swadeshi Movement. These activities included:

1. Introducing Assamese language and literature into the syllabus of the entrance examination of Calcutta (Kolkata) University.
2. Opening bachelor degrees in all departments at Cotton College to revamp the institution as a center of excellence.
3. Reintroducing the Mouzadary system in the Brahmaputra Valley.
4. Introducing a 20-point settlement of land.

Swadeshi Movement in the Surma Valley

The movement became much more popular in the Surma Valley under the leadership of the Surma Valley Association. National Schools were established in numerous locations, including Sylhet, Habiganj, Srimangal, Lakhai, Baniachange, Karimganj, and Silchar.

Assam and the Non-Cooperation Movement

The Non-Cooperation Movement, launched under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, was a massive success in the colonial province of Assam. This success was made possible by the participation of the people en masse, especially students from different schools and colleges.

Student Participation and Leadership

Students played a crucial role. In the Sonitpur district (part of the Darrang district in the 1920s), the movement was led by figures such as Omeo Kumar Das, Lakshmidhar Sarma, and Chandranath Sarma. Many students from Assam participated in the All India Students’ Conference held in Nagpur in 1920, where the future course of action for the Movement was discussed. Upon their return, the students initiated the Non-Cooperation Movement in Assam with the boycott of government educational institutions in January 1921.

Key Impacts and Constructive Work in Assam

One of the most significant effects of the movement in Assam was a notable decrease in opium consumption. Another important constructive work involved popularizing Khadi and increasing its production.

Support from Tea Garden Labourers

Tea garden laborers provided unprecedented support to the movement. The large population of tea garden laborers took advantage of this opportunity to speak out against the colonial exploitation they faced.