Maniram Dewan : a trend setter
Punya Dhar Chetia Phukan
As the 150th death anniversary of martyr Maniram Dutta Dewan Borbhandar
Baruah falls on February 26, hence it is a great occasion to salute the great
soul in other words, the father of modern Assamese nationality. He was born
at a critical period of history perhaps to ameliorate the sufferings of the
Assamese in the aftermath of the vacuum created by the terrible devastations of
the Moamaria Rebellion and the Burmese invasion. He witnessed the declining
Ahom suzerainty and the horrific effects of Moamaria Rebellion, while he
subsequently guided the entry of the British into Assam. It was he who
basically helped introduction of modern coins and land tax system. Maniram also
witnessed the British proclamation on March 4, 1824 about leaving Assam after
driving out the invading Burmese armies which however was flagrantly violated.
These find mention in the Dewans heroic memorandum of June 5, 1853 which may
be termed as the Magna Carta for survival of identity of the
original inhabitants of the NE region.
Maniram Dewan preached, professed and practised the idea of intrepreneurial
venture in traditional artefacts, craftsmanship and handicraft for producing
items of daily use without any support from external agencies or foreign
countries. He did so during the period 1833 to 1838 as the chief Dewan or Prime
Minister under tributary king Purandar Singha. But the same was grossly
discouraged and destroyed by the British for not serving their commercial
interest. This was the main reason of his dispute with the British for their
anti-native policies.
As a matter of fact, Maniram wanted to build up a self-dependent economy under
the British East India Company. Incidentally, drawing a parallel, former
President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in his Republic Day speech of 2005 stressed on
making entrepreneurial course compulsory with introduction of curriculum
right from the high school level to postgraduate classes with a view to solve
the burgeoning unemployment problem. It may be surmised that what Assam thought
143 years ago, India has awakened to such action and thought only now. The
credit for this goes to the father of modern Assamese nationality Maniram
Dewan whose property was auctioned at a very nominal price to George
Williamson. Thereafter, George William because unpopular for purchasing the
Dewans property. It became difficult for George Williamson to procure labour,
clerical staff and other people to work in his newly acquired gardens. All the
labourers of Cinnamara and Senglung, including the Chinese tea makers,
left his garden and the tea for 1958/59 season could not be made. Feeling
guilty, George Williamson sold his gardens and donated the entire proceeds,
i.e., £ 19,000 for opening libraries and schools in Jorhat and Golaghat areas.
Interestingly, at the time of his hanging on February 26, Maniram did not see a
single blood relative except villagers from whom he once collected exhorbitant
land taxes much against their will. In later years, geet, ballads, Bihu naam
and Malati amply reflect Manirams last few moments. Historian-cum-litterateur
Benudhar Sarma published the Dewans biography in 1950 after 92 years of the
formers death. Former Assam Governor Jay Ram Das Doulat Ram too gave a clarion
call to the younger generation to follow the ideals of Maniram at a meeting
held at Charing, the Dewans birthplace, in 1952.
Maniram wanted to make Assam self-reliant through all kinds of enterprise.
Adept in numerous trades himself, chiefs of neighbouring states considered him
a demi-God.
Maniram Dewan had mastered the technique of iron-smelting, gold procuring and
salt manufacturing. He installed 40 black-smithies at Bacha Dayang. Around Tiru
Hills he manufactured notable goods like match-locks, mitdaa, hoes, cutlery,
and so on. He organised handloom industries on Eri, Muga, Paat and Mejankari,
besides undertaking business on boat making, weaving, brick making, bellmetal
industry, dyeing, ivory work, ceramic industries, etc. He also maintained trade
ties on coal and ration supply, elephant catching and its trade, excise mahals,
construction of buildings for military headquarters. He did business on
agriculturals products too. He established Garohat in Kamrup Nagahat off
Sivasagar, Borhat in Dibrugarh district, Sissihat in the north bank of Dhemaji,
and Darangia Haat in Darrang district. In the tea arena his expertise
transcended national boundaries. Given his vision and vast work profile, he is
rightly called the father of modern Assamese nationalism. There
is no alternative today but to tread the path shown 150 yeas ago by Maniram
Dewan for to reinvigorating Assamese identity.
In conclusion, the Assamese should be grateful to Commissioner David Scott and
Captain Neufville for having trained Maniram Dewan and raising him to the
highest stage of life. It is the duty of the upcoming generations to fulfil the
dreams of martyr Maniram Dewan by treading on the path of self-reliance and
fostering unity and brotherhood among people of the hills and plains, and thus
guide the collective destiny of the South East Asian countries as a whole.
Assam Tribune Editorial 26.02.08
---------------------------------
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.
_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
[email protected]
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
