Notes, textbook solutions, questions, answers, extras, pdf, mcqs for history chapter 4 Indian Freedom Movement and National Awakening in Assam of class 10 (HSLC) for students studying under the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA). These notes/answers, however, should only be used for references and modifications/changes can be made wherever possible.
INTRODUCTION: By the mid-nineteenth century, Assam, like the rest of India, had seen the rise of an English-educated middle class. The middle class’s exposure to western education caused them to look back on their society. On the one hand, the class worked to reform their society; on the other, they banded together to speak out against colonial exploitation. As a result, a slew of new associations and organisations sprouted up. By 1920 Assam had fully integrated into national politics thanks to a strong link with the National Congress, which was formed in response to the regional aspirations of various organisations. As a result, Assam contributed to the national movement for independence.
On the eve of independence, Assam faced not only the issue of immigrants but also the issue of economic and infrastructural backwardness. Gopinath Bordoloi and his ministry were confronted with such pressing issues and made a concerted effort to bring about the region’s inclusive development.
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Very short answer type questions of Indian Freedom Movement and National Awakening in Assam
1. When was the Treaty of Yandaboo signed?
Answer: The Yandaboo Treaty was signed on 24th February 1826.
2. Which period is known as Company Raj in Assam?
Answer: The period from 1826 to 1858 is known as Company Raj in Assam.
3. When was the Bengali Language introduced in Assam?
Answer: The Bengali Language was introduced in Assam in 1836.
4. When was the Bengali language replaced by the Assamese language?
Answer: the Bengali Language was replaced by the Assamese language in 1873.
5. What was the mouthpiece of Assam Chatra Sanmilan?
Answer: MILAN was the mouthpiece of Assam Chatra Sanmilan.
6. What was the main objective of the Ryot Sabha?
Answer: The main objective of the Ryot Sabha was to resolve the problems faced by the peasants.
7. When was All Assam Ryot Sabha established?
Answer: All Assam Ryot Sabha was established on April 8, 1933.
8. Who was the Secretary of Ahom Sabha?
Answer: Sarat Chandra Goswami was the Secretary of Ahom Sabha.
9. When and under whose leadership was Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha constituted?
Answer: The Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha was founded in 1884 by Jagannath Barua at Jorhat.
10. Who were the first President and Secretary of the Assam Provincial Congress Committee?
Answer: Kuladhar Chaliha and Nabin Chandra Bordoloi were elected as President and Secretary of the Assam Provincial Congress Committee, respectively.
11. Who was the first formally elected president of APCC?
Answer: Bishnuram Medhi was the first formally elected president of APCC.
12. Who was the first Prime Minister of Assam and when was he elected?
Answer: Gopinath Bordoloi was the first Prime Minister of Assam. He was elected in 1946.
13. On what crime Kushal Konwar was hanged?
Answer: Kushal Konwar was hanged in connection with the derailment of a train at Sarupathar.
14. When was Gauhati University established?
Answer: It was established on January 26, 1948.
15. When the name Assam Medical College was formally introduced?
Answer: On 3rd November 1947 the name of Assam Medical College was formally introduced.
16. When was Gauhati Medical College formally started?
Answer: On 20 September 1960, the Gauhati Medical College was formally inaugurated.
Short answer type question of Indian Freedom Movement and National Awakening in Assam
1. Write a brief note on Assamese Literary Society.
Answer: The Assamese Literary Society, founded in 1872 by Devicharan Barua and Gangagovinda Phukan, was the first known association formed in Calcutta. The society’s stated goal was literary, but it also served a political purpose. In 1872, two of its illustrious members, Jagannath Barua and Manik Chandra Barooah, wrote to the Viceroy, Lord Northbrook, pleading with him to take the necessary steps for the development of Assam’s natural resources and the construction of a railway connecting Assam and Bengal. The Society was in operation until 1885.
2. Give a brief trace of important nationalist rise in the Jonaki Age.
Answer: Jonaki, the ABUSS’s mouthpiece, played an important role in Assam’s literary and cultural regeneration. Jonaki never dabbled in politics, but the articles and poems it published reflected the authors’ nationalistic views. One of Jonaki’s recurring themes was the decline of indigenous commerce and industries in Assam following British annexation, as well as the importance of regenerating economic self-sufficiency. Jonaki was successful in reviving Assamese cultural and social consciousness.
3. Write briefly on the political demands of Ahom Sabha.
Answer: The Sabha’s main goal was to demand privileges for the Ahoms in the British administration, as well as to revive their traditional religion, language, and social customs, thereby re-establishing the Ahoms’ cultural identity. A significant political goal of the Sabha was to obtain recognition for the Ahoms as a minority community, as well as reservation of seats in the Assembly and a separate electoral system for the Ahoms.
4. What were the issues raised by Assam Association before the British Government?
Answer: Some of the issues raised by the Association were:
i. It criticised the dominance of government officials on the Municipal Committee and tea planters on the Local Boards.
ii. It called for the democratisation of local governments.
iii. It was opposed to the government’s increased taxes and excise policy, and it demanded the complete prohibition of opium.
iv. It was concerned about the province’s development in the field of education. As a result, it negotiated Assam’s representation in the Calcutta University Syndicate, the appointment of Assamese teachers at Cotton College, and the establishment of technical institutions.
5. Mention the Assamese leaders who had led the Non-cooperation Movement in Assam.
Answer: After much debate, the seventeenth session of the Assam Association, held in Tezpur in December 1920, adopted the resolution of joining the non-cooperation movement. With the formation of the Assam Provincial Congress Committee in June 1921, the Assam movement quickly merged with the national stream. The Assam Provincial Congress Committee’s President and Secretary, Kuladhar Chaliha and Nabin Chandra Bordoloi were elected. The non-cooperation movement in Assam reached a climax with Gandhi’s visit to the state in August 1921.
The youth of Assam participated in the movement by boycotting government educational institutions under the leadership of Chandranath Sarma, Hemchandra Barua, Omeo Kumar Das, and Muhibuddin Ahmed. Lakhidhar Sarma, Rohinikanta Hatibarua, Bimalakanta Barua, Kanak Chandra Barua, Benudhar Sarma, Tilak Sarma, and others were among the movement’s prominent youth leaders. Many lawyers, including Nabin Chandra Bordoloi, Kuladhar Chaliha, Tarunram Phukan, Kamini Kumar Chanda, and Bishnuram Medhi, joined the movement after the students.
6. Write about Cunningham Circular.
Answer: On May 30, 1930, R. J. Cunningham, Director of Public Instruction, issued a circular known as the Cunningham Circular, in which he asked students and their parents to provide a written undertaking guaranteeing that the students would not participate in any kind of political activity. Those found guilty would face fines, loss of scholarships, and expulsion in the case of serious ‘crimes.’ The students reacted angrily to the humiliating diktat, igniting a civil disobedience movement in the region.
7. Write briefly about the problems faced by the Ministry of Gopinath Bordoloi after independence.
Answer: Immediately following independence, the North-Eastern region was confronted with the issue of borderland. The partition of India in 1947 hampered communication between the north-eastern region and the rest of India. Only a 12-kilometre-long swath of land connected the rest of India to the north.
Railway lines and river transportation between West Bengal and Assam ran through East Pakistan after the partition. The partition also shattered the intricate economic ties that existed between the Bengal, Assam, and Arakan regions. Prior to the partition, this region (Bengal-Assam-Arakan) had a thriving global economy due to its agro-industries that produced tea, indigo, jute, silk, and cotton textiles. Following the partition, the newly formed states disentangled themselves from the global economy in order to build their own regional economy. Aside from economic disruption, the region had to deal with the issue of immigrants as well as geographical reconstruction. As a result, the region became geographically isolated while also strategically vulnerable.
8. Write a brief history of the establishment of Assam Agriculture University.
Answer: The Assam Agricultural University was founded in 1913 with the establishment of an agricultural research station in Karimganj, followed by another in Titabar in 1923. Though the stations continued to conduct research and training, it became necessary to establish an agricultural and veterinary college, which resulted in the establishment of the Assam Agricultural College in Jorhat and the Assam Veterinary College in Nagaon in 1948. The Assam Agricultural University was founded in 1969, incorporating both of these colleges and relocating the Veterinary College from Nagaon to its current location in Khanapara, Guwahati.
9. Write a brief history of the establishment of Assam Medical College.
Answer: The Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh was the first medical college in northeast India. The college’s history can be traced back to the Berry White School of Medicine, which was founded in 1900 with a Rs 50,000 donation from Doctor John Berry White, Civil Surgeon of the East India Company. Following WWII, the college was relocated to nearby hospital grounds that had previously been used by the US Army. On November 3, 1947, after independence, the college was formally renamed Assam Medical College.
Long answer type questions of Indian Freedom Movement and National Awakening in Assam
1. Discuss the role and activities of Asomiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha?
Answer: With the increasing attacks on the Assamese language in the Bengali press, Assamese students in Calcutta felt compelled to form an association to promote the Assamese language and literature. As a result, the Asomiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha was formed in 1888, and it quickly matured into a literary organisation.
Unnati Sadhini Sabha instilled in Assamese a sense of unity and national awareness. To establish a solid scientific foundation for the Assamese language, the Sabha took the initiative to implement a correct and standardised grammatical system in all Assamese vernacular schools. It also decided to compile a comprehensive Assamese social history and to translate important Sanskrit works into Assamese.
The government published Hemkosh, Hemchandra Barua’s magnum opus, on the initiative of the Asomiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha. The AsomiyaBhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha used to hold scholarly discussions on a variety of topics on a regular basis. It also aimed to open branches in various parts of Assam. After finishing their studies in Calcutta, several Assamese students returned to Assam and established branches in Kohima, Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Sibsagar, Nowgong, Golaghat, Barpeta, Goalpara, Jorhat, and Guwahati. The Asomiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha’s most significant contribution was the publication of their journal, Jonaki, which ushered in a new era in Assamese literature.
2. Write about the contribution of Assam Chatra Sanmilan.
Answer: The rise in national consciousness also prompted the formation of the Asam Chatra Sanmilan, whose first session was held on December 25, 1916, in Guwahati, under the presidency of Lakshminath Bezbarua. Chandranath Sarma was the first secretary. The Sanmilan’s main goal was to enrich the mother tongue by contributing to its development and preservation. The Chatra Sanmilan also attempted to exchange ideas with all Assam students from schools and colleges. Although the Sanmilan initially avoided politics, many of its leaders supported student participation in national politics. Despite the fact that it was not a political organisation, it aided in the development of a conscious group of Assamese students.
Eminent figures from various fields such as education, politics, and literature used to attend the Sanmilan’s annual sessions. Lakshminath Bezbarua, Padmanath Gohain Baruah, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, and Krishna Kanta Handique were among them. MILAN was Assam Chatra Sanmilan’s mouthpiece. The Sanmilan made significant contributions to the development of Assam’s educational, cultural, and literary institutions, as well as to the development of national consciousness.
3. Give an account of the objectives and role of the Ryot Sabhas.
Answer: The Congress leaders attempted to mobilise the peasants under the banner of Ryot Sabha. Ryot Sabhas were established in the districts of Sibsagar and Darrang. Between 1930 and 1939, the Ryot Sabha of Naduar and Chayduar was extremely powerful. The most important demand of the Ryot Sabhas during the Civil Disobedience period was a 50% reduction in land tax. The All Assam Ryot Sabha was formed to direct all the Ryot Sabhas towards a common goal or objective, and its first session was held near Tilikiyam in Jorhat on 8 April 1933 under the presidency of Congress leader Nabinchandra Bordoloi. Around 3000 peasants attended the second session in Dergaon. Between 1934 and 1939, approximately 300 Ryot Sabhas were established throughout Assam. By the end of 1940, the Ryot Sabhas had gradually lost their vigour, and in many Earts, the Ryot Sabhas were incorporated into Provincial Congress Committees.
4. Write about the objectives and activities of Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha.
Answer: Jagannath Barua established the Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha in 1884. The Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha’s main goals were as follows:
i. To represent the people’s aspirations to the government.
ii. To inform the public about government policies.
iii. To improve people’s living conditions.
Although the Sabha avoided direct confrontation with the government, it did raise its voice in opposition to exploitative government policies. Among the issues addressed by the Sabha were:
i. It protested the passage of the ‘Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act’ in 1886.
ii. In 1892-93, it took up the cause of the ryots, who were protesting the increase in revenue.
iii. In 1893, the Sabha petitioned the Royal Commission on Opium for the gradual abolition of opium in Assam.
The Bengal partition was strongly opposed by the Sabha in 1905. The Sabha expressed concern that Assam’s political future would be jeopardised if it was annexed by East Bengal.
5. Write on the contribution of the Assam Association towards social reform in British ruled Assam.
Answer: A broad-based provincial forum to inform the government of the people’s wishes and aspirations in Assam became an urgent need. This resulted in the establishment of the Assam Association in 1903. The Association served as the people of Assam’s mouthpiece, presenting to the authorities their “needs and grievances, hopes and aspirations.” To effect change, the Association used peaceful and constitutional means. Some members of the Association were also Legislative Council members and thus had the ability to influence the government through speeches and debates on the floor of the Council. The following are some of the issues raised by the Association:
i. It criticised the dominance of government officials on the Municipal Committee and tea planters on the Local Boards.
ii. It called for the democratisation of local governments.
iii. It was opposed to the government’s increased taxes and excise policy, and it demanded the complete prohibition of opium.
iv. It was concerned about the province’s development in the field of education. As a result, it negotiated for Assam’s representation in the Calcutta University Syndicate, the appointment of Assamese teachers at Cotton College, and the establishment of technical institutions.
One of the Association’s major campaigns was to oppose the incorporation of Assam into a single province called Eastern Bengal and Assam in 1905. The Assam Association became actively involved in the 1921 Non-Cooperation Movement.
6. Give a brief description of the creation and the role of the Assam Provincial Congress Committee.
Answer: The Assam Provincial Congress Committee, like the Indian National Congress, arose from nationalist zeal against British rule. The Assam Association decided to merge with the newly formed Assam Provincial Congress Committee in 1921. Gandhi was invited to Assam by the Assam Provincial Congress Committee in 1921 to spread the message of non-cooperation. His visit greatly encouraged Congress workers to carry out the non-cooperation movement and to implement Swadeshi principles. Bishnuram Medhi, the first officially elected President of the Assam Provincial Congress Committee, was elected in 1930 for a nine-year term. In the 1946 general elections, the Congress party finally secured a major victory, and Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi became the first Premier of the Assam Province. When the Cabinet Mission proposed integrating Assam and the North East into Group C with East Bengal in 1946, the Congress party led by Bordoloi strongly opposed the proposal. Finally, Assam was not included in Group C for the Bordoloi-led, Gandhi-supported movement.
7. Give a brief description of the role of Assam in the Swadeshi Movement.
Answer: The Swadeshi movement had an impact all the way up to Assam. The movement’s influence was felt most strongly in the Brahmaputra Valley towns of Dhubri, Gauripur, Goalpara, Guwahati, Tezpur, Dibrugarh, and others. Asom Keshari, Ambikagiri Raychoudhury, and Gobinda Lahri founded a revolutionary organisation among Guwahati students. They advocated for the use of indigenous products and the boycott of foreign goods in Assam’s districts. Assamese people wore local andi, muga, cotton, and khadi cloths rather than foreign cloths. A group of students in Guwahati worked as dock labourers twice a week and donated the money they earned to the Swadeshi movement’s fund. Ambikagiri Raychoudhury penned the revolutionary drama ‘Bandini Bharat.’ Under the leadership of the Surma Valley Association, the movement gained a lot of traction in the Surma Valley. National Schools were established in Sylhet, Habiganj, Srimangal, Lakhai, Baniachang, Karimganj, Silchar, and other locations.
8. Give an account of the role of Assam in the Non-cooperation movement.
Answer: With the formation of the Assam Provincial Congress Committee in June 1921, the Assam movement quickly merged with the national stream. The non-cooperation movement in Assam reached a climax with Gandhi’s visit to the state in August 1921. All of Gandhi’s meetings in major cities were attended by a large number of people. Responding to Gandhi’s appeal, people joined the boycott movement by igniting massive bonfires of British goods. The youth of Assam participated in the movement by boycotting government educational institutions under the leadership of Chandranath Sarma, Hemchandra Barua, Omeo Kumar Das, and Muhibuddin Ahmed. Lakhidhar Sarma, Rohinikanta Hatibarua, Bimalakanta Barua, Kanak Chandra Barua, Benudhar Sarma, Tilak Sarma, and others were among the movement’s prominent youth leaders. Many lawyers, including Nabin Chandra Bordoloi, Kuladhar Chaliha, Tarunram Phukan, Kamini Kumar Chanda, and Bishnuram Medhi, joined the movement after the students. Many government officials and teachers also resigned.
One of the most significant effects of the movement in Assam was a decrease in opium consumption. Another important constructive work was popularising khadi and increasing khadi production. Tea garden labourers provided unprecedented support to the movement. The large population of tea garden labourers took advantage of the opportunity to speak out against colonial exploitation of them.
9. Give an account of the role of Assam in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Answer: Gandhi, who had returned to active politics in 1928, called for a Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930. In Assam, young leaders such as Omeo Kumar Das urged students to join the Civil Disobedience Movement, but the response was lukewarm. Students, on the other hand, went on strike in large numbers to protest the arrests of Nehru on 14 April and Gandhi on 5 May 1930. To protest, students in the Brahmaputra valley boycotted their institutions on May 6 and 14, 1930. Meanwhile, the situation became more sensitive when R. J. Cunningham, Director of Public Instruction, issued a circular in May 1930, popularly known as the Cunningham Circular, requesting that students and their parents provide a written undertaking guaranteeing that the students would not engage in any kind of political activity. Those found guilty would face fines, loss of scholarships, and expulsion in the case of serious ‘crimes.’ The students reacted angrily to the humiliating diktat, igniting a civil disobedience movement in the region.
The Assam Chatra Sanmilan held a special session in Gauhati to discuss its action plan. They decided to picket government offices. Between July and August 1930, approximately 3,117 out of 15,186 students left their institutions. Picketing soon spread to opium and liquor stores. Peasants joined the movement as well, demanding a 50% reduction in land revenue. In some areas, forest laws were also broken. Surma Valley experienced student unrest as well.
10. Write about the Quit India Movement in Assam.
Answer: In Assam, the movement began with nonviolent methods such as hartals, processions, demonstrations, and picketing. However, with leaders imprisoned and police atrocities on the rise, the movement devolved into rebellion. People sabotaged military supply lines, attacked government buildings, and destroyed railway tracks. Government buildings, particularly in Nagaon and Darrang districts, were regularly attacked, and officers were assaulted. Railway sabotage occurred near Shahabibazar in Habiganj, Sarupathar in Golaghat, Panbari and Rangiya in Kamrup, and Suffrai in Sibsagar.
The British responded to the movement with mass arrests and public floggings across the country. In Assam, too, the government began to take harsh measures to suppress the movement. Kushal Konwar was hanged in connection with a train derailment in Sarupathar. Parallel governments were formed in a few rural areas of Assam during the Quit India Movement. Village panchayats were formed in Bajali, Hatisung, Dhakuakhana, Raha, Jamuguri, and Bahjani. No revenue campaign was also vigorously carried out. Despite the active participation of the leaderless people in the movement, it was quickly extinguished. Even though the Congress leaders were still imprisoned in 1944, the government had seized control of the movement with overwhelming force. Many nationalists were disappointed by the failure of the Quit India Movement.
11. Give a brief description of the institutions established in Assam under the leadership of the Bordoloi Ministry.
Answer: The Indian National Congress emerged as the majority party in the post-World War II elections in 1946, winning 58 of the 108 seats. As a result, Congress formed a government with Gopinath Bordoloi as Prime Minister (Chief Minister) of Assam.
Under his ministry, the region focused on infrastructure development as well as overall socio-economic growth. Another critical task was to develop the company’s human resources. Here, we will briefly discuss a few post-independence developments in Assam, as well as the establishment of a few institutions under the leadership of Gopinath Bordoloi’s ministry.
Assam Agricultural University: The Assam Agricultural University was founded in 1913 with the establishment of an agricultural research station in Karimganj, followed by another in Titabar in 1923. Though the stations continued to conduct research and training, it became necessary to establish an agricultural and veterinary college, which resulted in the establishment of the Assam Agricultural College in Jorhat and the Assam Veterinary College in Nagaon in 1948. The Assam Agricultural University was founded in 1969, incorporating both of these colleges and relocating the Veterinary College from Nagaon to its current location in Khanapara, Guwahati.
Gauhati University: The University of Gauhati, also known as Gauhati University, is North-East India’s first and oldest public university. It was founded on January 26, 1948. The Gauhati University Act 1947 of the Government of Assam established the university. On its inception, it had 17 afflicted colleges and eight post-graduate departments. In 1955-56, the university relocated from the City Centre to its current campus. Gopinath Bordoloi Nagar is the new name for the university area.
Assam Medical College: Located in Dibrugarh, Assam Medical College was the first medical college in northeast India. The college’s history can be traced back to the Berry White School of Medicine, which was founded in 1900 with a Rs 50,000 donation from Doctor John Berry White, Civil Surgeon of the East India Company. Following WWII, the college was relocated to nearby hospital grounds that had previously been used by the US Army. On November 3, 1947, after independence, the college was formally renamed Assam Medical College.
Additional/extra questions and answers/solutions of Indian Freedom Movement and National Awakening in Assam
1. What is the name of the Calcutta-based organisation dedicated to Assamese literature and language promotion?
Answer: Asomiya Literary Society is the name of a Calcutta-based organisation dedicated to the promotion of Assamese literature and language.
2. When was Jnan Pradayaini Sabha formed?
Answer: Jnan Pradayaini Sabha was formed in 1857.
3. When was the Yandaboo Treaty signed?
Answer: The Yandaboo Treaty was signed on 24th February 1826.
4. Who was the author of the dictionary ‘Hemkosh’?
Answer: The author of the dictionary ‘Hemkosh’ is Hem Ch. Baruah
5. Silchar Medical College was founded in what year?
Answer: Silchar Medical College was established in 1968.
56. What was the central committee of Ryat Sabha known as?
Answer: The central committee of Ryat Sabha was known as All Assam Ryat Sabha.
57. Name two prominent founders of Jnan Pradayini Sabha.
Answer: Anandaram Dhekial Phukan and Gunabhhiram Barua
58. Mention two effects of the Yandaboo Treaty.
Answer: Two effects of the Yandaboo Treaty are as follows:
(1) Assam was taken over by the British from the Burmese.
(2) Assam came under the rule of the East India Company.
59. When was the Asomiya Literary Society founded, and why?
Answer: In 1872, the Asomiya Literary Society was founded. This organisation was founded by students who travelled to Calcutta for higher education to promote the Assamese language and literature.
60. What caused the formation of the Jana Pradayini Sabha?
Answer: Assam saw the emergence of a newly educated Assamese middle class by the middle of the nineteenth century. There was also a rise in national consciousness among them. They desired to self-organize. As a result of this, the ‘Jnan Pradayani Sabha’ was established.
61. Mention two important effects of English education in Assam.
Ans: Two important effects of English education in Assam were:
(1) Indians were exposed to Western civilisation and culture.
(2) Nationalism emerged in India.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger. He manages Online Free Notes and reads Victorian literature. His favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and he hopes to travel the world. Get in touch with him by sending him a friend request.
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This is very helpful
Not 26th Feb But 24th Feb treaty of yandaboo was signed
Editor’s response
Thank you for pointing out the mistake. We’ve corrected it.
Good ans keep it up very helpful to us
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