SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This thesis is concerned with British economic, administrative and social policy in Assam. Assam came under British occupation in 1826. The British Government abolished the old revenue system and made every cultivator the proprietor of his land. The Government released the slaves in 1843. As a result, the native aristocracy was reduced to great distress. The Government also abolished the system of allowing the hill tribes to levy tribute from the lowlanders, as a result of which the discontented tribes began to raid the plains. The Government adopted both the policies of conciliation and coercion. Again, a new judicial system was introduced based upon the Bengal Regulations, but as the people were mostly illiterate, the system appeared too complex. Measures, therefore, had to be adopted to simplify it. Further, schools were established and the Christian missionaries began their activities in Assam. As a result, ideasof social mobility were becoming popular, and the conservative sections of the people looked askance at these developments. This vas the situation of Assam in 1857. When the Sepoy Mutiny broke out, the Assamese aristocracy made a bid to recapture their lost powers. But it ended in failure. This study has been based both upon the official records of the East India Company and also upon Assamese sources.