During 1920–1935, Assam witnessed a growing political awakening, marked by:
The expansion of the Congress movement
Widespread labour unrest
The entry of nationalist forces into legislative politics via the Swarajist bloc
This era laid the foundation for future resistance, bridging mass movements and electoral struggle in colonial Assam.
Non-Cooperation Movement and Congress Organization
National Movement Reaches Assam:
The Non-Cooperation Movement, launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, gained significant traction in Assam.
It marked the first large-scale political mobilization of common people in the province.
Transformation of Assam Association:
The Assam Association was transformed into the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) in 1920–21.
This aligned Assam more directly with the Indian National Congress and the broader national struggle.
Prominent Leaders:
Nabin Chandra Bordoloi (N.C. Bordoloi) and Tarun Ram Phukan emerged as key political figures.
They guided the movement in Assam and helped institutionalize Congress ideology in the region.
Nationalist Education and Youth Involvement:
Several national schools were established as alternatives to government institutions.
Students actively participated in boycotts of colonial institutions, contributing to the spread of nationalist consciousness across rural and urban Assam.
Labour Struggles and Economic Protests
The Chargola Exodus (1921):
One of the earliest mass protests by tea garden workers occurred in the Chargola Valley (Barak region).
Around 3,000–4,000 labourers walked out of plantations demanding better wages and working conditions.
This was a landmark event in Assam’s labour history, highlighting the exploitation in tea estates.
Impact of World War I (1914–18):
The war caused economic instability, leading to price rise, food shortage, and wage stagnation.
Peasants and labourers suffered deeply, fuelling economic grievances.
Labour Movements in Dibrugarh & Sibsagar:
These key plantation and industrial towns witnessed strikes and worker uprisings.
The working class started organizing themselves under influential local leaders, laying the foundation for labour activism in later decades.
Rise of Swarajya Party and Legislative Politics
Formation of the Swarajist Bloc:
After the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922, some Congress members adopted the Swarajist strategy of “Council Entry”.
In Assam, a Swarajist bloc emerged within the Legislative Council, participating in elections.
Electoral Success (1923–1926):
The Swarajists gained multiple seats in the Assam Legislative Council during the 1923 elections.
They used their presence to raise nationalist issues inside the legislature.
Opium Prohibition Act (1925):
One of the major successes of the Swarajist bloc was the passage of the Opium Prohibition Act in 1925.
This act curtailed the colonial opium monopoly, which had long harmed Assamese society.
Limitations and Decline:
Despite early success, the Swarajists faced limitations due to the dominance of nominated British officials.
Internal divisions and changing political priorities led to their gradual decline after 1926.