Assam’s post-independence challenges are deeply rooted in colonial history.
The emphasis on ethnic difference—created and institutionalized by the British—continues to influence policies and politics.
Understanding Assam requires unpacking how these colonial frameworks still shape contemporary identities and conflicts.
Historical Context of Assam’s Integration
Assam, located in northeastern India, was integrated into British India in 1826 after the Treaty of Yandaboo, ending Burmese control.
It initially included a larger territory—present-day Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
Assam was treated as a land frontier of Bengal and remained under the Bengal Presidency until 1874.
Colonial Policies and Ethnic Categorization
Population Engineering and Immigration
British rulers encouraged immigration from Bengal to sparsely populated Assam for tea, oil, and railway work.
This led to tensions between indigenous Assamese and immigrant Bengali Hindus and Muslims.
Imposition of Language and Bureaucracy
Bengali was made the official language of Assam.
The lower administrative ranks were dominated by Bengali Hindus, mostly from Sylhet.
Creation of Ethnic Binaries
British policies introduced divisions like:
Indigenous vs. Immigrant
Tribal vs. Non-Tribal
Hill vs. Plain dwellers
The line system segregated hill and plain populations, ending historical integration.
Tools of Control and Knowledge Production
According to Bernard Cohn, colonialism used knowledge systems for control.
In Assam, the tools included:
Census and Cartography
Anthropological Surveys
Administrative Acts
These shaped how identities were documented, objectified, and politicized.
Impact on Ethnic Consciousness
Continued Colonial Narratives
Post-independence discourses still reflect colonial narratives that emphasize ethnic differences.
The binary identity model remains embedded in public perception, literature, and policy.
Assam as Ethnically Diverse
Writers from Assam Sahitya Sabha and others highlight the region’s ethnic complexity.
Examples include theories of:
Negrito and Austric origins
Matriarchal systems
Mongoloid/Kirata influence on Assamese culture and polity
Contributions of Ethnic Communities
Austric Tribes: Introduced farming tools, matriarchy, and Goddess worship (e.g., Kamakhya).
Mongoloid/Kirata Race: Contributed to language, dance, song, and statecraft.
Ahoms and other Kirata rulers shaped Assamese history and identity.
Colonial Discourse and Modern Politics
The colonial categorization of populations became foundational for post-colonial ethnic mobilization.
This created an ethnic lens through which social and political issues are still viewed.
Key outcomes:
Ethnic polarization in politics
Persistent identity-based movements
Assam Movement (1979)
Sparked by concerns over illegal immigration from Bangladesh.
Reflected the legacy of colonial demography and ethnic binaries.
The movement highlighted unresolved issues of identity, territory, and integration.