SEBA Class 9 Elective History Additional Chapter 6 Socio-Political Uprising of The North-East India

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SEBA Class 9 Elective History Additional Chapter 6 Socio-Political Uprising of The North-East India

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Socio-Political Uprising of The North-East India

ADDITIONAL QUESTION ANSWER

[I] MOAMARIYA REBELLION 

A. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. For how long did the Ahoms rule Assam?

Ans. The Ahorns ruled Assam for about 600 years.

2. What was the duration of Moamariya rebellion? 

Ans. The Moamariya rebellion lasted for about 35/36 years i.e, from 1769 to 1805.

3. Who were the leaders of the Neo-Vaishnavite movement in Assam? 

Ans. Saint Sri Sankardeva and his disciple Sri Madhavadeva were the leaders of the Neo-Vaishnavite movement in Assam.

4. What was the greatest contribution of Neo-Vaishnavism movement in Assam?

Ans. The greatest contribution of the Neo-Vaishnavite movement in Assam was the establishment of Satra institutions which eventually became the centers of socio-economic and cultural revival of Assam.

5. What was the period of first Moamariya rebellion? 

Ans. The period of the first Moamariya rebellion was from 1769 to 1794.

6. When did the Moamariya rebellion begin? 

Ans. The Moamariya rebellion began in 1769 during the time of Lakshmi Singha.

7. When did Vaishnava movement rise up in India?

Ans. The Vaishnava movement rose up in India in the fifteenth century. 

8. Who was the most important Vaishnava saint of Assam? 

Ans. Sri Sankardeva was the most important Vaishnava saint of Assam.

9. By what name was the head of a Satra institution known? 

Ans. The head of a Satra institution was known as Mahanta or Adhikara.

10. Which was the most popular subdivision of Neo- vaishnavism? 

Ans. The most popular subdivision of Neo-vaishnavism was Kala Sanghati.

11. Who established the Moamariya Satra?

Ans. The Moamariya Satra was established by Aniruddha Deva. 

12. To which subdivision of Neo-Vaishnavism did the Moamariya satra belong?

Ans. The Moamariya Satra belonged to the subdivision of Neo- vaishnavism named Kala Sanghati.

13. Which Ahom rulers were the strongest promoter of Saktism in Assam? 

Ans. Siva Singha and his queen Phuleswari were the strongest promoter of Saktism in Assam.

14. Name the Ahom princess who became noted for her persecution of Moamariyas of the Moamariya satra. 

Ans. Queen Phuleswari became noted for her persecution of Moamariyas of the Moamariya satra.

15. During whose reign did the direct clash between the Moamariyas and the Ahom royal family start? 

Ans. The direct clash between the Moamariyas and the Ahom royal family started during the time of Pratap Singha.

16. During whose reign was the Moamariya Mahanta Nityanandadev killed?

Ans. During the reign of Ahom king Bhaga Raja Singha th Moamariya Mahanta Nityanandadev got killed. 

17. When did the clash between the Moamariyas satra and the Ahom rulers reach its highest level?

Ans. During the time of Rajeswar Singha, the clash between the Moamariya satra and the Ahom rulers reached its highest level. 

18. Name the minister of Rajeswar Singha who undertook the persecution of the vaishnava saints of Moamariya satra?

Ans. Kirti Chandra, a minister of Rajeswar Singha persecuted the Vaishnava saints of Moamariya satra.

19. Who was the Ahom ruler during the first phase of the Moamariya rebellion? 

Ans. Lakshmi Singha was the Ahom ruler during the first phase of the Moamariya rebellion.

20. Who were called ‘Raja-kheda Nagayanas’? 

Ans. The people of Nowgong were called ‘Raja-kheda Nagayanas’.

21. Name the British official whose visit prepared the ground for the annexation of Assam to the British territory in 1826.

Ans. Captain Thomas Welsh’s expedition to Assam prepared the ground for the annexation of Assam to the British territory in 1826. 

22. Name the Ahom official who contributed most for the outbreak of Moamariya rebellion. 

Ans. Kirti Chandra Barbaruah, contributed most for the outbreak of Moamariya rebellion.

23. Which regional chief was given the title ‘Bor Senapati’ by Purnanada Burhagohain. 

Ans. Sarbananda, the local chief of Bengmara (Tinsukia region) was given the title ‘Bor Senapati’ by Pumananda Burghagohain.

24. Which kingdom was created for the Moran community? 

Ans. The kingdom of Matak was created for the Moran community.

25. Where did the Matak kingdom lie?

Ans. The Matak kingdom mostly consisted of Bengmara region (present-day Tinsukia region) which lied between Brahmaputra and Dihing rivers.

26. Name two foreign powers that conquered part of Assam in the early 19th century.

Ans. The two foreign powers that conquered part of Assam in the early 19th century consisted of the Burmese and the British. 

27. Name some of the Moamariya chiefs who tried to create independent kingdoms for themselves.

Ans. The Moamariya chiefs who tried to create independent kingdoms for themselves were Deka Mahanta Gagini, Ramananda, Raghab Neog, Pitambar, Bharat Singh, Sarbananda, etc.

28. Name three Ahom princes who joined the Moamariya rebels.

Ans. The Ahom princes such as Mohanmala Gohain, Charu Singha and Ratneswar joined the Moamariya rebels in their fight against the Ahom rulers.

29. Which Satra had ideological rivalry with Moamariya Satra?

Ans. The Dihing Satra had ideological rivalry with Moamariya Satra

30. To which place did Sri Sankardeva and his disciple Madhavadev flee from the Ahom territory due to persecution?

Ans. Sri Sankardeva and his disciple Madhavadev fled to the Koch kingdom of king Naranarayana due to persecution. 

31. Which community constituted bulk of the Ahom economic, administrative and army machinery?

Ans. People from the Moran and Motok community constituted bulk of the Ahom economic, administrative and army machinery. 

32. What was the most important effect of Moamariya rebellion?

Ans. The most important effect of Moamariya rebellion was that it prepared the ground for the occupation of Assam by the British in 1826.

[B] SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:

1. In whose reign did the Moamoria rebellion start and end? How long did it last?

Ans. The Moamoriya rebellion started during the reign of Lakshmi Singha in the year 1769 and ended during the reign of king Kamaleswar Singha in 1805. It lasted for about 36 years. 

2. Who established the Moamariya Satra? What was its importance?

Ans. The Moamariya Satra was established by a Vaishnava saint named Aniruddha Deva. The Neo-Vaishnava movement started by Sri Sankardeva was continued by the Moamariya satra. It was the most important centre of Vaishnava movement in Assam. This satra took the initiative in organizing the Moamariya revolt against the Ahom rulers when they tried to impose Brahmanical ideology upon them.

3. Name the main Vaishnava satras established by the disciples of Sri Sankardeva.

Ans. The Vaishnava movement in Assam was started by Sri Sankardeva and his disciple Sri Madhavadeva. Later their disciples established many satra institutions to propagate their ideas. The chief among them were the Auniati Satra, Dakshinpat Satra, Garhmur Satra, Kuruabahi Satra, Barpeta Satra, etc.

4. Which were the major sub-divisions within Neo- vaishnavism? Which was its most popular subdivision? To which sub-division did the Moamariya satra belong?

Ans. The major sub-divisions within the Neo-vaishnavism were: 

(i) Brahma Sanghati.

(ii) Nika Sanghati.

(iii) Purusha Sanghati.

(iv) Kala Sanghati,etc. 

Among these the most popular sub-division was the Kala Sanghati. The Moamariya satra belonged to the Kala Sanghati.

5. Who were called Moamariyas? Name the communities that generally belonged to this group.

Ans. The Moamariyas were the disciples or followers of the Moamariya satra, a centre of Neo-Vaishnavism in Assam. The communities that generally joined this sect were Ahoms, Kacharies, Chutias, Borahis, Kaivartas and caste Hindus like the Brahmanas, Kayasthas and Kalitas. However, majority in this group came from the Moran community.

6. What led to the clash between the Ahom rulers and the Moamariya Satra?

Ans. The Moamariya satra was started by certain Moamariya chief named Aniruddha Deva. It was the most important vaishnava centre in Assam and a lot of people particularly the wealthy Morans joined this group. As the number of disciples increased, the power and position of Moamariya satra increased over the years. As a result, the Moamariya Mahanta (chief) became like a feudal chief and started interfering in the political affairs of the country. This led to a clash between the two centres of power.

7. What were the main religious causes for the outbreak of Moamariya rebellion in Assam?

Ans. One of the primary causes for the outbreak of Moamariya rebellion in Assam in 1769 was the religious factor. Most of the Ahom rulers belonged to the Brahmanical sect of Hinduism while the Moamariyas belonged to the Vaishnava sect. Under the influence of the Sakti movement which had spread among the Ahom rulers, they started persecuting the Vaishnava saints particularly those following the Vaishnava ideology. This created a lot of bitterness between the Ahom rulers and the Moamariya Satra which was the centre of vaishnavism in Assam.

8. Which vaishnava satras belonged to the Brahma Sanghati?

Ans. The main Vaishnava satras that belonged to the Brahma Sanghati were Auniati Satra, Garhmur Satra and Kuruabahi Satra. Although these Satra were basically vaishnava satras, yet they had a lot of affinity with Brahmanical ideology. Therefore these were supported by the Ahom rulers.

9. What is known as ‘Paik system’?

Ans. Paik system was a socio-economic and administrative system by which the ordinary masses were required to render physical labour for the ruler 3-4 months in a year. The system was arranged in such a way that throughout the year a group of people worked for the king. Each paik was given two puras of land to cultivate as a sort of payment for the work they do for the king.

13. Which Ahom king and queen were noted for their promotion of Sakti cult in Assam? Who helped them in this task?

Ans. King Siva Singha and his queen Phuleswari were noted for their promotion of Sakti cult in Assam. In this task they were helped by Kirti Chandra Barbaruah. 

14. How did the burden of paik system increase on the peasants?

Ans. Formerly one paik was recruited for obligatory state service in rotation from the ‘got’ or unit of 4 paiks for a period of 3 months in a year. But due to the decreasing number of paiks available, king Rajeswar Singha ordered the forming of the ‘got’ with 3 paiks and thus one paik had to render obligatory state service for 4 months. Thus the burden of paik service increased by one month annually. This affected the ordinary peasants who could not get exemption from paik service.

15. What is known Vaishnava movement?

Ans. The movement that rose up in Hinduism in India during the fifteenth century calling for a strong belief in one God called Vishnu came to be known as Vaishnavism. It was opposed by the Brahmanical sect which emphasised on worship of several Gods headed by Thrimurthi. Soon the Vaishnava movement became very popular among the masses and as a result many Vaishnava Satras were established in different parts of India including Assam.

17. Who was Nityanandadev?

Ans. Nityanandadev was the Mahanta or head priest of Moamariya Satra. He was a well-known Mahanta and had many disciples. He was murdered by Bezdaloi Bhandari Baruah with the support of king Bhaga Raja. This turned the Moamariyas against the Ahom ruler and prepared the ground for the outbreak of the Moamoria rebellion in 1769.

43. Mention three socio-economic impact of Moamariya rebellion in Assam.

Ans. The Moamariya rebellion greatly affected the socio-economic aspect of Assam. Firstly, it resulted in the death of thousands of people leading to a decrease in the Assamese population. Secondly, continuous wars resulted in the destruction of crops and the paddy fields which led to famine in many parts of the region. Thirdly, the cultural and religious condition suffered a setback as people had no time for the improvement in these activities.

[C] LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Explain briefly the important causes for the outbreak of Moamoria rebellion in Assam.

Ans. The outbreak of Moamoria rebellion in 1769 is a turning point in the history of medieval Assam. It is considered to be a significant event as it had far-reaching consequences and impact on Assam. It marks the beginning of a new era in Assam. 

The important causes for the outbreak of Moamoria rebellion were the following:

(i) Religious cause: The main religious factor that contributed most for the outbreak of the Moamariya rebellion was the persecution of the Vaishnava bhakats as well as the Moamairya satra. King Gadadhar Singha with the help of Rup Chandra made sure that the vaishnava saints were persecuted and sent them away from their satra institutions. The persecution was intensified during the time of Siva Singha under the leadership of Kirti Chandra Barbaruah. King Siva Singha and his queen Phuleswari were great devotees of Sakti cult and tried to spread the new cult forcefully despite the opposition of the vaishnavas. The oppression of the vaishnavas was continued during the reigns of Rudra Singha, Rajeswar Singha and Lakshmi Singha. When Lakshmi Singha became the new king in 1769 the persecution of vaishnavas particularly those belonging to the Moamariya satra had reached a peak. Kirti Chandra was determined to wipe out the Moamariya vaishnavas as they were the strongest pillars of the vaishnava movement in Assam. When the oppression became too much to bear, the Moamariyas took up arms to fight for their existence. The result was the outbreak of Moamariya rebellion.

(ii) Economic cause: Over the years the number of paiks or people who render state service got reduced during the time of king Rajeswar Singha. 

This was because of the increase in the exemption from paik service due to the following reasons:

(i) Since the religious personnel were exempted from paik service, many people pretended to be religious bhakats and got exemption.

(ii) The number of satra institutions had increased over the years which in turn brought about an increase in the number of religious bhakats.

(iii) People who had money could get exemption from paik service by paying certain amount of money in lieu of service. Gradually the burden of paik service greatly increased on ordinary people, resulting further widespread dissatisfaction with the administration.

(iii) Political cause: Political factors contributed much for the outbreak of the rebellion in 1769. In this respect the contirbution of Kirti Chandra Barbaruah is most prominent. Soon after becoming the Barbaruah he became very powerful and captured most of the royal power. During his reign as the Barbaruah he raised two kings, namely, Rajeswar Singha and Lakshmi Singha against all Ahom traditions creating ill-feelings among the Ahom nobility. The antagonised Ahom nobles waited for an opportunity to hit back.

Another political factor factor that brought numerous people to support the agitation was Ahom rulers’ attempt to destroy Satra institutions. Most Ahom rulers looked up to these centres as centres of power and influence and therefore they wanted to control the affairs of these institutions. Over the years satra institutes became very rich and yielded a great deal of power influencing the political affairs of the state. Therefore many Ahom rulers tried to suppress the power of the Mahanta or satradhikars. The murder of Nityanandadev, the Satradhikar of Moamariya satra by Bezdaloi Bhandari Baruah with the consent of then reigning king Surampha Bhaga Raja must be seen in this context. This political rivalry between the two centres of power created an environment of bitterness, suspicion and fight in the country.

(vi) Immediate cause for the rebellion: The immediate cause for the outbreak of the Moamariya rebellion was the persecution initiated by Lakshmi Singh under the leadership of Kirti Chandra Barbaruah. Kirti Chandra refused to accept the annual tribute which consisted of some elephants brought by Naharkhowa Saikia and Raghab Neog on behalf of the Moamariya satra. He severely punished both the men for supplying defective elephants to the king. It was an insult which the Moamariyas couldn’t forget. All these led the Moamariyas to take up arms and fight for their rights.

Thus several social and religious factors contributed and prepared the ground for the Moamoriya rebellion that began in 1769 and ended in 1805.

3. How did the destruction of satra institutions contribute to the outbreak of the Moamoria rebellion?

Ans. One of the important causes for the outbreak of Moamoria rebellion was the destruction of Satra institutions. Over the years these institutions collected immense wealth and riches. This enabled them to wield a great deal of power to the extent of influencing even the political situation in the country. In fact many of the leading satradhikar were involved in the political feuds of the period. They could even influence the selection of the heir to throne. Therefore Ahom king Gadadhar Singha was determined to wipe out their power and ability to interfere in the political affairs of the state. With this in view, he raided most of the satra institutes and took away their wealth. He was also successful in removing almost all the privileges enjoyed by the inmates of these institutes.

This action on the part of Ahom king Gadadhar Singha had far-reaching consequences. It became one of the primary causes for the outbreak of Moamoria rebellion in 1769. Firstly most of the satradhikars or head priests of satras strongly supported the rebels and infused them with fire of rebellion against the monarchy. Many of them actively joined the rebellion. Secondly hundreds of vaishnavas who lived in the satra institutions were thrown on to the street and so they became supporters of the rebellion. These men therefore rose up against the Ahom rule to wage a war of liberation with their passionate speeches and writing. Thirdly, the king’s action against the satra institutions and vaishnavas led to public anger against the Ahom rulers. This was because people considered these centres to be holy places and vaishnava bhakats as holy men. Therefore, the ruthless destruction and ill-treatment of religious bhakats prepared the ground for the outbreak of the rebellion in 1769.

[II] KHASI REBELLION

[A] VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. When was the treaty of Yandaboo signed?

Ans. The treaty of Yandaboo was signed on 24th Feb, 1826.

2. Which parties signed the treaty of Yandaboo in 1826? 

Ans. The treaty of Yandaboo was signed in 1826 between the British and the Burmese emperor.

3. By what name was Bangladesh formerly known as? 

Ans. Bangladesh was formerly known as Srihatta. 

4. Name the most important tribal group that inhabited the state of Meghalaya.

Ans. The most important tribal group that inhabited the state of Meghalaya is the Khasis.

5. Which was the southern boundary of Meghalaya in the early 19th?

Ans. The southern boundary of Meghalaya in the early 19th century consisted of Kamrup (Assam).

6. Name the north-eastern states that came under British control as a result of the treaty of Yandaboo.

Ans. As a result of the treaty of Yandaboo, north-eastern states such as Assam, Kachar, Manipur etc. came under British control.

7. Which part of Assam came under British control by the treaty of Yandaboo?

Ans. The British got complete control over Lower Assam by the treaty of Yandaboo.

8. Who was appointed as the British political agent in the Khasi state after the signing of the treaty of Yandaboo? 

Ans. David Scott was appointed as the British political agent in Khasi state after the signing of the treaty of Yandaboo.

9. Name the syiems of Khasi state who opposed the construction of Guwahati-Srihatta road across their state. 

Ans. The syiems of Mylliem and Khyrim opposed the construction of Guwahati-Srihatta road across their state.

10. Who was Sattar Singh?

Ans. Sattar Singh was the syiem of Nongkhlow with whom the British for the first time came to an understanding. 

11. Who was Rajen Singh?

Ans. Rajen Singh was one of the contestants for the throne of Nongkhlow after the death of Sattar Singh in 1826.

12. Who was David Scott?

Ans. David Scott was the British political agent stationed in the Khasi state to supervise the British interests in the region. 

13. Name the British officers deputed to supervise the work of the construction of British Bungalow and a heath resort at Nongkhlow. 

Ans. Two British officers named Lieutenant Bedding Field and Lieutenant Berlington were appointed to supervise the work of the construction of British Bungalow and health resort at Nongkhlow.

14. Who was Barmanik? 

Ans. Barmanik was the sylem or king of the Khasi kingdom named Mylliem.

15. Name the British Officer who is credited to have put down the Khasi rebellion of 1829. 

Ans. A British military officer named Captain Frederick Lister is credited to have put down the Khasi rebellion of 1829.

16. When did Khasi rebellion against the British take place? 

Ans. The Khasi rebellion against the British took place in April, 1829.

[B] Short Answer type Questions

1. Which were the main kingdoms of Khasi Hills in the early 19th century? 

Ans. Khasi Hills in the early 19th century consisted of the following kingdoms.

(i) The kingdom of Nongkhlow.

(ii) The kingdom of Khyrim.

(iii) The kingdom of Mylliem. 

(iv) The kingdom of Cherra.

2. State the location of Khasi Hills. How was the political condition of this kingdom?

Ans. The Khasi kingdom consisted of more than 25 small kingdoms. It was surrounded by Kamrup (Assam) in the north, Srihatta (Bangladesh) in the south, Jaintia Hills in the east and Garo Hills in the west. The head or chief of these states were called Syiems, Lyngdoh, Sardar, Ohadar, etc. There was a council of elders called ‘Khasi Darbar’ which played a significant role in managing the administration of the state.

3. When did the first Indo-Burmese war take place? Which powers were involved in this war? How did the war come to an end?

Ans. The First Indo-Burmese war took place between 1824 and 1826. It was fought between the Burmese forces and the British. The war came to an end by the treaty of Yandaboo signed on 24th Feb. 1826.

4. When was the treaty of Yandaboo signed? Mention its chief results. 

Ans. The treaty of Yandaboo was signed between the Burmese forces and the British on 24th Feb. 

1826. Its chief results were the following:

(i) The British acquired complete control over the state of Assam.

(ii) The Burmese agreed to abandon their authority over Assam, Kachar, Manipur and other states.

(iii) The people of north-East for the first time came into contact with the British.

(iv) The British subjugation of North-eastern region begins with the signing of this treaty.

5. What rumors added fire to the already existing anti- British feelings of the Khasi population?

Ans.During the period of 1828-1829 some Bengali Chaprasis spread two rumours that added fire to the already existing anti- British feelings of the Khasi population: 

(i) The British would soon impose heavy taxes on the entire Khasi hills.

(ii) Soon the British would conquer the entire Khasi hills and bring it under their control.

6. How did the British come into contact with the Khasis of Meghalaya.

Ans. The British government acquired military control over Assam by signing the treaty of Yandaboo. The British needed quick movement army units moves the region. They therefore planned to construct a road from Bangladesh to Assam which had to pass through the state of Khasi kingdom. This necessitated British come into contact with the Khasis of Meghalaya.

7. What was the plan of David Scott regarding the construction of road through the Khasi state?

Ans. The British political agent David Scott wanted faster movement of the army in Assam Since Assam was a very big state and included several hilly regions, therefore it was not possible to bring all the military forces from North India through West Bengal. Therefore they planned to construct a road to Assam from Bangladesh through the state of Khasi kingdom. One half of this road would pass though the kingdom of Cheers and Nongkhlow and the remaining half would have to pass through the states of Mylliem and Khyrim.

8. Who was Tirat Singh? How did the life of this great Khasi patriot end?

Ans. Tirat Singh is considered to be the greatest freedom fighter of the Khasi hills. He was the syiem (King) of a Khasi state named Nongkhlow. At first he was friendly with the British and signed a treaty of friendship with them in November, 1826. However, when the British broke the terms of the treaty, he revolted against their treachery. In his efforts, he was helped by other syiems of the Khasi Hills as well as by the local population as they all felt threatened by the British presence. The rebellion of Tirat Singh took place in April, 1829 during which several British officers and soldiers were brutally killed. As a result of the counter-attack launched by the British, he was forced to surrender in 1833 and accept life imprisonment in Dhaka jail. However, he died the very next year, i.e, 1834 bringing an end to a noble life of patriotism and courage.

[C] Long Answer Type Questions

1. When did Tirat Singh sign a treaty with the British? Why did he sign this treaty? Mention the major results of this treaty.

Ans. Tirat Singh, the syiem of Nongkhlow signed a treaty of friendship with the British in 1826. He did so to express his gratitude to the British for their support in making him the syiem or king of Nongkhlow. 

Some of the major results of this treaty were the following:

(i) Tirat Singh accepted British suzerainty over his kingdom. 

(ii) Tirat Singh was promised protection from his enemy’s attack.

(iii) The king allowed free movement of British forces in his kingdom. 

(iv) He allowed Guwahati-Srihatta road to pass through his kingdom.

(v) Tirat Singh allowed David Scott to construct a British Bungalow and a health resort at Nongkhlow for the British officials.

2. How did the good relationship that existed between Tirat Singh and the British become worse? Or, What events led to deterioration of relationship between Tirat Singh and the British?

Ans. Soon after becoming the king or syiem of Nongkhlow Tirat Singh had a signed a treaty of friendship with the British in 1826. Both parties agreed to help each other. But soon their relationship became sour due to some issues between the two. The first issue that created enmity between the two was the dispute over the right to collect tax over ‘Now-Duar’ area’. The ‘Now-Duar’ area’ on the north of the Khasi Hills was under the jurisdiction of the syiem of Nongkhlow for a long time. He had been enjoying the legal claim over this area since time of Ahom rule. The Khasi ruler, in turn, paid some token amount to the Ahom king. Soon after the conclusion of the treaty of Yandaboo in 1826, the British began to collect revenue from this area. As per the treaty, East India Company had agreed to Tirat Singh’s authority over ‘Now-Duar’ region. Thus the demand of the company that Tirat Singh should pay for this jurisdiction over the area went against the terms of the treaty. So, Tirat Singh protested against this infringement of the agreement signed between the two parties.

The second issue that caused friction between the British and Tirat Singh was the right to collect tax over ‘Desh-Dimoria’ or ‘Dimoruwa’. This region was offered by the British to Tirat Singh as a gift. The syiem of Mylliem, Barmanik was allowed to collect revenue from this area on behalf of the Tirat Singh. But there took place a clash of interests as British agents collected revenue from this area forcing the Barmanik to forcefully to take way the collected revenue from British agents. This made the British furious and David Scott forced Barmanik to give back the taken away revenue.

The third incident that made their relation move from bad to worse was the treachery shown by the British. By the treaty of 1826, the British had promised to protect Tirat Singh from all enemy attack. Therefore when Tirat Singh was threatened by Balaram Singh, he approached the British for support. But the British refused to help him. Instead they tried to help his enemy. This further alienated Tirat Singh and he turned against the British.

3. Briefly describe the cause, events and the major results of Khasi rebellion.

Ans. The Khasi rebellion took place in the year 1829. This rebellion was led by Tirat Singh, the sylem or king of a small Khasi kingdom called Nongkhlow. 

The main factors that led to the outbreak of the rebellion were the following:

(i) Violating terms of the treaty of friendship signed in 1826 by the British.

(ii) Dispute over Tirat Singh’s right to collect tax over ‘Now- Duar’ area.

(iii) Dispute over Tirat Singh’s right to collect revenue from Desh-Dimoria region.

(iv) Refusal of British to support Tirat Singh when Balaram Singh threatened to attack him.

(v) Rumour that British would impose heavy tax over the entire Khasi hills. 

(vi) Rumour that the British would conquer the entire Khasi region and bring it under their total control.

(vii) The Plan of the British to construct Guwahati-Srihatta road through Khasi states for the quick movement of British forces.

Due to the above-mentioned reasons Tirat Singh raised a banner of revolt against the British in April, 1829. He soon gathered the support of all other syiems of other Khasi kingdoms. Most of these men had some grievances against the British. Their chief plan of revolt consisted of blocking the entry points of British army at Guwahati and at Bangladesh border. After sealing these two entry points 600 Khasi peasants under the leadership of Tirat Singh and others attacked the British camp at Nongkhlow on 8th April, 1829. The rebels killed an Assamese Tehsildar along with 60 soldiers. Lieutenant Bedding Field and Lieutenant Berlington were also killed in the revolt. David Scott escaped death as he was away at Cherrapunji. The entire operation of the rebellion was planned and executed by Tirat Singh. He along with Monbhat and Man Singh moved from place to place exhorting people to fight against the British.

Soon the British authorities sent a strong force under Captain Frederick Lister to quell the Khasi rebellion. Within a short period, the British were able to capture the main leaders of the rebellion. The Company announced a cash reward of one thousand rupees to the one who would catch Tirat Singh alive. Finally Tirat Singh surrendered when he was promised a non-death punishment. The British gave him life imprisonment with a monthly pension of sixty three rupees. He was confined to Dhaka jail where he died the very next year. In this way, the life of a valiant freedom-fighter of the Khasi Hills ended.

[III] Manipur Rebellion

A. Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Who was the chief organiser of Manipur rebellion of 1891? 

Ans. Vir Senapati Tikendrajit was the chief organiser of the Manipur rebellion of 1891.

2. Who was Grimwood?

Ans. Girmwood was the British political agent stationed in Imphal to take care of the British interests in the state.

3. Who was J.W. Quinton?

Ans. J.W. Quinton was the Chief Commissioner of Assam who got assassinated during the Manipur rebellion of 1891.

4. Which British officer was primarily responsible for the outbreak of the Manipur mass rebellion of 1891? 

Ans. J.W. Quinton was primarily responsible for the outbreak of the Manipur mass rebellion of 1891.

5. Why did J.W. Quinton come to Imphal in March, 1891? 

Ans. J.W. Quinton, came to Imphal in March, 1891 for the sole purpose of arresting General Tikendrajit.

6. What did J.W. Quinton do on reaching Imphal? 

Ans. On reaching Imphal, on 22 March, 1891, J.W. Quinton immediately called for a Darbar of all royal family members of the Manipur royal family.

7. Name the chief conspirators of the Manipur rebellion. 

Ans. The chief conspirators of the Manipur rebellion were General Tikendrajit, General Thengal king Kulchandra and Subedar Niranjan Singh.

8. What was the chief reason for the surrender of general Tikendrajit? 

Ans. The chief reason for the surrender of general Tikendrajit was his deteriorating health conditions. 

9. Name the Manipur rebel leaders who were charged with war and murder. 

Ans. The Manipur rebel leaders such as General Tikendrajit, king Kulchandra and Prince Angou Sena were charged with war and murder.

10. What is the importance of the date 13th August 1891 in the history of Manipur?

Ans. The date 13th August, 1891 is an epic date in the history of Manipur. It was on this date that General Tikendrajit, the most valiant freedom-fighter of Manipur was hanged to death by the British.

11. Who is credited to have suppressed the Manipur rebellion? 

Ans. General Collect is credited to have suppressed the Manipur rebellion.

B. Short Answer Type Questions

1. What happened in Imphal on 24th March, 1891? 

Ans. On 24th March, 1891 J.W. Quinton dispatched three British officers named Lieutenant Brecheabury, Captain Butcher and Lieutenant Lugard to attack the residence of Tikendrajit and to arrest him. But they could not arrest him as Tikendrajit had already escaped from the house.

2. When was Imphal occupied by the British army after the Manipur rebellion of 1891? What was the strength of this army unit?

Ans. Soon after the Manipur rebellion which took place in April, 1891, the British authorities dispatched a huge force under General Collect to put down the rebellion in Manipur. This army occupied Imphal, on 27th April, 1891. The strength of the British army unit was eight thousand men.

3. Name some qualities for which Tikendrajit became noted for in his youth. 

Ans. Tikendrajit became noted for the following qualities during his youth:

(i) He was deeply fond of various arms and weapons.

(ii) He had gained mastery over games, sports and horse- riding.

(iii) He had great tiger hunting abilities.

(iv) His mastery over languages such as Manipuri, Bengali, Hindi and English.

4. Who was General Tikendrajit?

Ans. General Tikendrajit was one of the sons of late king Chandrakirti Singh. After his father’s death, he became the commander-in-chief of the Manipur army. Eventually he became the main organiser of the Manipur Mass rebellion of 1891. He was a true patriotic son of Manipur who tried to maintain the independence of Manipur. He was put to death by the British for organising a rebellion against the British in 1891.

5. Name the leaders of Manipur rebellion. When did this rebellion take place?

Ans. The main leaders of Manipur rebellion consisted of General Tikendrajit and his commander Thengal. Other prominent leaders of the rebellion included King Kulchandra, Niranjan Singh, Kajeya Singh, Angou Sena, etc. The Manipur rebellion took place in April, 1891.

6. Name the British officers who were brutally killed when they tried to arrest Tikendrajit. 

Ans. Five British officers lost their lives while attempting to arrest Tikendrajit, J.W. Quinton, Skene, Casinov, Simpson and Grimwood.

[C] Long Answer Type Questions

1. Explain briefly the Manipur rebellion of 1891 against the British.

Ans. The Manipur rebellion of 1891 is considered to be one of the major tribal rebellions against the British domination and supremacy over the region. 

The main causes for it were the following:

(i) Undue interference in the royal dispute regarding succession.

(ii) The decision of the British to arrest and deport General Tikendrajit as he was presumed to be leader of the royal dispute.

(iii) High handed behaviour of J.W Quinton and other British officials in dealing with the Manipur royal family members. 

(iv) The fear of Tikendrajit that British would ultimately conquer Manipur.

In March, 1891 J.W. Quinton personally came to Imphal, the capital of Manipur with 600 soldiers to arrest General Tikendrajit. When the former demanded Tikendrajit to present himself before him, Tikendrajit refused. However when British officials tried to arrest him, general Thengal, ordered his men to attack the British forces and kill everyone. The result was that the Manipur rebels attacked the British party and killed all the British officers including J.W Quinton. Soon the British authorities sent a strong force under General Collect. He was able to subdue the main leaders of the rebellion one by one. Within a few months, Tikendrajit too surrendered as his health conditions deteriorated. Soon a Special court was set up to try the leaders of Manipur rebellion. The court sentenced Tikendrajit and Thengal to be hanged till death while King Kulchandra and prince Angou Sena were given life impingement.

2. How did J.W Quinton create a condition for Manipur mass rebellion in 1891?

Or, 

What is the contribution of J.W Quinton in the outbreak of Manipur rebellion in 1891

Ans. J.W. Quinton created an environment which forced the people of Manipur to launch a revolt against the British. The British refused to make Surchandra the king of Manipur. They wanted to make Kulchandra king and also deport Tikendrajit, from the state. With this aim in mind, J.W. Quinton came personally to Imphal on 22nd March 1891. On reaching Imphal he immediately demanded a ‘Darbar’ of the royal family members during which he planned to arrest Tikendrajit. However, Tikendrajit did not attend the Darbar as he knew that the British were treacherous and could not be trusted. When the royal members gathered for the Darbar he made them wait for two hours. He did not show basic courtesy to the royal family members which alienated not only the royal members but also the local population. Thereafter J.W. Quinton made several attempts to arrest Tikendrajit but he failed in his attempts. When the people of Manipur realized that the British were determined to arrest their popular military commander-in-chief, they got agitated and killed all the British officers including J.W Quinton. Thus the highhandedness of J.W Quinton precipitated the crisis in Manipur and led to the outbreak of the rebellion in April, 1891.