From 1930 to 1972, Assam transitioned from active resistance to British rule to post-independence political restructuring. The people’s participation in Civil Disobedience and Quit India, the sacrifices of martyrs, and the leadership of visionaries like Gopinath Bordoloi played a defining role in shaping modern Assam.
Civil Disobedience and Grassroots Mobilization (1930–34)
Launch of Civil Disobedience Movement:
Inspired by Gandhi’s Dandi March (1930), Assam joined the Civil Disobedience Movement with full vigor.
People took part in boycotts of foreign cloth, liquor, and British goods.
Salt Satyagraha:
Inspired by the national call, Salt Satyagraha was undertaken in several parts of Assam, symbolizing defiance against colonial taxation.
Key Leaders in Assam:
Bishnuram Medhi played an active role in mobilizing rural participation and guiding Congress workers.
Srimati Chandraprava Saikiani, a noted social reformer, encouraged women’s involvement in the movement and promoted education.
Role of Students and Nationalist Education:
Students from various colleges and schools actively participated in strikes and protests.
Several nationalist schools were founded to provide education free from colonial control, spreading anti-British ideas among the youth.
Quit India Movement and Violent Repression (1942)
Call for Quit India:
The Quit India Movement was launched by the Indian National Congress in August 1942, demanding an end to British rule.
Assam responded with spontaneous protests, strikes, and sabotage of communication lines.
Arrests and Underground Resistance:
Several top leaders were arrested immediately.
Underground groups like the Mrityu Bahini (Death Squad) emerged, particularly in Guwahati and Darrang, to continue resistance.
Martyrdom and Brutal Suppression:
The British responded with harsh crackdowns, including police firing and torture.
Notable martyrs of this period included:
Kanaklata Barua, a teenage girl shot while carrying the national flag
Kushal Konwar, who was hanged for alleged sabotage, becoming a symbol of ultimate sacrifice.
Rural Assam’s Role:
Villagers offered shelter to freedom fighters, boycotted British courts, and refused to pay taxes.
There were incidents of communal tension, but the movement remained largely unified in its anti-colonial focus.
Administrative and Political Reorganization (Post-1947)
After Independence – Integration and Reorganization:
Following India’s independence in 1947, Assam witnessed major administrative and political changes.
Creation of New States:
Nagaland was created in 1960 following years of tribal assertion.
Later, in 1972, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh were carved out of Assam as separate administrative units to accommodate ethnic and cultural identities.
Partition and Assam’s Stand Against Inclusion in East Bengal:
During the Partition of India, there were attempts to merge parts of Assam (especially Sylhet) with East Bengal (now Bangladesh).
Assam, led by its Congress leaders, resisted these moves, preserving much of its territorial identity.
Leadership of Gopinath Bordoloi:
Gopinath Bordoloi, as the Premier of Assam, played a crucial role in:
Preventing Assam’s inclusion in Pakistan.
Negotiating Assam’s position in free India during the Cabinet Mission Plan discussions.
Ensuring Assam’s autonomy and preservation of its political future.