STUDENTS' PARTICIPATION IN THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT: SOUTH ASSAM DURING

1905-11
Author(s): Suparna Roy
Source: Proceedings of the Indian History Congress , 2014, Vol. 75, Platinum Jubilee
(2014), pp. 581-586
Published by: Indian History Congress
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/44158433

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 STUDENTS' PARTICIPATION IN THE FREEDOM
MOVEMENT:
SOUTH ASSAM DURING 1905-11

Suparna Roy

INTRODUCTION

The period from 1905 to 1911 is a landmark in the history of Indian f

movement because on 16th October 1905, the partition of Bengal came in
and after a prolonged struggle of six years the British Government was
modify the partition on 12th December 1911. According to this modif
Bihar, Chotanagpur and Orissa were constituted into a province
Lieutenant Governor. Assam including Surma Valley and Goalpar
reverted into a Chief-Commissionership and the rest of Bengal was con
into a province under a Governor. Partition of Bengal was a deliberate
Lord Curzon. This created reaction among the Bengalis not only of Ben
also of other places. To the Indians partition of Bengal meant the parti
nation, an attempt to divide the homogeneous people, a deliberate and
attack upon tradition, history and language of the Bengalis. The partit
Bengal into two parts. In Eastern Bengal the Hindus were outnumbered
non-Bengalis1. The partition came as a rude shock and eye-opener* to p
Bengalis of the South Assam.
Although administrative reasons were advanced for partition of B
yet the real motive was political. The then Home Secretary Risley stated:
Bengal united is a power; Bengal divided will pull in several diffe
ways. That is what the Congress leaders feel. Their apprehensions are p
correct and they form one of the greatest merit of the scheme ... One of ou
objects is to split up and thereby weaken a solid body of opponents to our
It is very clear that though the Bengal was partitioned on the gr
administrative convenience it really aimed at cutting the growing
nationalism by planting venomed trees of communalism in Bengal particu
The South Assam in the present study includes the twin district
Sylhet and Cachar which formed the erstwhile Surma Valley division of
partition British Province of Assam the province of Assam, the two di
Sylhet and Cachar had always been a part of Bengal both in respect of cu
language.

2. COLONIAL SOUTH ASSAM

The Barak-Surma Valley is the northern extension of the Meghna Va
(Dacca-Mymensingh-Comilia)4. There is no natural boundary between these
valleys and that is why the traditions and culture of these districts of East Be

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 582 IHC: Proceedings , 75th Session, 2014

so easily spread into Sylhet-Cachar. Even now the society and culture of the
Hindus and Muslims of Sylhet Cachar is bound to the eastern districts of Bengal
in one thread5.

The district of Sylhet had been a part of the Bangla Suba of the Mughąls and
it was incorporated within British India in 1765 when the Dewani of Bengal was
assumed by the British East India Company. The district of Cachar was under the
Dimasa King Govindachandra who entered into a subsidiary alliance with the
British in 1824 and on his death in 1830, the territory was annexed by the British
through a proclamation 1832.

The Surma valley division was a part of the Bengal presidency in early
British days but in 1874, when the imperial Government decided to constitute the
province of Assam, under a Chief Commissioner, the districts of Sylhet and
Cachar were merged with the new province to make it economically viable6.

The Surma-Barak valley, despite its remoteness participated in activities

of the Congress since its second session held in Calcutta in 1886. The session was
attended by four delegates, two each from Sylhet and Cachar, namely, Dinanath
Dutta, Joy Govinda Shome, Bipin Chandra Pal and Kamini Kumar Chanda. The
valley entered the phase of agitational policies in the wake of the anti-partition or
Banga-bhanga movement in 1905. Sarada Charan Shyam took the initiative to
organize the pioneer political outfit of the valley called "Shritta Swadeshi Sevak
Samiti" of which he was elected the President. In 1906, the Samiti liquidated
itself to facilitate a broader platform under the banner "The Surma Valley
Political Conference". This organization became important till the formation of
the district units of the Indian National Congress. The first session was held
during 11-12 August, 1906 at Telihaor, Sylhet under the presidentship of Kamini
Kumar Chanda. The session was addressed by Bipin Chandra Pal.7 The second
session of the conference was held at Karimganj during 18-20 April, 1908. The
sentiments of the conference were reflected the speech of Radhabenode Das,
President of the session:

Pledge yourself to the cause of Swadeshi and Boycott. Drive the

foreigners from your markets, develop the endless resources of your
country and invade foreign markets and Commerce. Pledge yourselves
I repeat to Swadeshi and Boycott, or be for ever fallen.8

The third session of the Conference was held at the village

Jalsukha (Habiganj) in 1909. It was chaired by Sarat Chandra Choudhury,
renowned swadeshi poet of Sylhet. Arabinda Ghosh graced the session as Chief
Guest. The Conference marked the involvement of the Surma Valley politicians
with the existing militant nationalism of the country. It called for abandoning the
path of appeasement and moderation and asserted that "petitions had no place in
the movement"9.

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 Modem India 583

Bipin Chandra Pal's activities posed a serious

the government soon sent him the prison. In Oct
six months imprisonment and send to Baxur Jail
held under the Presidentship of Rash Behari Gh
the Congress. The extremists now kept themselve
time and pursued the Swadeshi plan more vigorou

On 9th March 1908, Bipin Chandra Pal wa

Eastern Chronicle published from Karimgan
referring to the recent crisis in the Congress wrote

... the citadel of Moderation is yet avers

constitution for the Congress is being hatch
eye of our people is now upon the coming he
destination.11

For a successful movement, it requires large

In each and every movement of India, students p
so also in the case of Swadeshi movement. Th
Cachar of southern Assam was also no exception i

Bipin Chandra Pal's visit to Barak Valley cre

Bengali speaking people for the movement. At th
Schools and one high school in Silchar. Bipin Ch
Chanda visited Kathigora. Borkhola and Lakhipu
boycott the school. Some of the students respon
and joined the boycott movement. On 10th Octo
Bengal Presidency Carlyle issued a circular prohi
in the Swadeshi movement.12 Like Bengal sign
visible among the students of Cachar. Students op
foreign liquor. Bonfires were made of foreign
Government High School, which was the premier
taking part in the agitation. Babu Abhoya Charan
although a government servant inspired the
encouraged them to use Swadeshi goods. Black s
officer was assaulted by a student of the school
some boys of tender age. The military officer l
and the incident created a great sensation in
defended the student of the school so strongly th
withdrawn. On another occasion a student of the school alone came to blows
with four feringhis for their misbehavior with a Bengali peon of the telegraph,
office. Three other boys noticed the scene but took to their heels. Abhoya
Charan appreciated the boy who came to blows with the feringis and rebuked the
escapist for their cowardice. Thus the boys became gradually conscious of the
ignominy of foreign yoke and learned to protest against anything that injured

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 584 IHC: Proceedings , 75th Session, 2014

their national prestige, when the students were asked to contribute for decoration
on the occasion of the visit of Fuller, the Lieutenant Governor, the boys refused
to pay. Disregarding the Carlyle and Risby Circular the students continued to
attend public meetings and take part in the demonstrations. A volunteer party
was raised with the students of the school and the second anniversary of the
Banga Vanga Andolon was enthusiastically observed. Consequently, Director of
Public Instruction of Eastern Bengal and Assam suspended thirty nine students
of the Silchar Government High School. Of them thirty eight joined the school
after offering an apology. But Apurba Kumar Chanda, son of Kamini Kumar
Chanda did not submit to the humiliation. Kamini Kumar Chanda did not allow
his son to offer an apology and instead sent him to Tagore's Santiniketan at
Bolpur.13

The activities of the students of Silchar Government High School were

not confined to this. When Bipin Chandra Pal visited Barak Valley, students of
the Silchar Government High School ignoring Government order attended the
meeting of Bipin of Chandra and the welcome address was read out on behalf of
students.

On 16th August 1906 Bipin Chandra Pal, the harbinger of national

movement addressed the students to boycott Government schools. In response to
the clarion call of Bipin Chandra Pal, forty school boys declared their intention
to quit government schools.14 To cater the needs of such students on 21th June
1907, the Sylhet National School was established through voluntary
contributions15.
These schools were affiliated to the National Council of Education,
Bengal. Abinash Chandra Datta of village Lakhai was the first headmaster of the
school. The school was started at the residence of Sachindra Chandra Singh,
editor of Weeķly Chronicle. It had ayurvedic and carpentry classes following the
syllabus and examinations laid down by the National Educational Committee,
Calcutta. The circulars issued by the government debarring students and teachers
from participating in ąnti- British agitation led to the starting of similar schools
at Habiganj, Srimangal, Banichang and Lakhai. These institutions were looked
upon by the official circles as the 'hot-bed of seditions" and in their views
exercised "most pernicious influence over its students". The teachers and
students openly took part in orgainizing meetings, processions and of picketing
of shops selling foreign goods. Political leaflets and pamphlets like Swadhin
Bharat and Bhande Mataram were widely and regularly circulated among the
students who were also required to commit to memory the patriotic songs of
Bankim Chandra's Anandamath. In an exhibition held at the Habiganj National
School in 1909 nitric acid and hydrochloric acid prepared by the students were
exhibited and paintings on Lala Lajpat Rai. Aurobindo Ghosh and Ajit Singh
were displayed.16 After the third Surma Valley Political Conference which was
held in Jalsuka in 1910 another national school was established where Babu

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 Modem India 585

Shyama Charan Deb acted as the headmaster till

Swadeshi and extend the boycott movement, stud
Valley took some major steps. The students of t
School formed a committee under the guidance
pleader. The committee was known by the nam
object of the Suhrid Samiti was to foster the use
preference to British manufacturers. The studen
luxury and not to use as far as practicable foreign
For extensive use of country-made articles
Swadeshi students of Habiganj had brought so
Calcutta. Attempts were also made to bring handl
participated in volunteer associations and the
terrorist activities. Among the terrorist leaders
Sen, Biren Sen and Sushil Sen of Baniachang.
was sentenced to fifteen strips in jail for strikin
a boy of mere fifteen, endured the brutal punish
This incident made Sushil Kumar a hero. He
Calcutta in which Surendra th Banerjee sent for
died a hero's death in 1915 in a village of Na
circumstance of his death was kept a secret by hi
and it came to light only after independence. B
Hem Chandra Sen were arrested along with A
with the Alipore Bomb case, They were sentenc
transported to Andamans. The involvement
favourable atmosphere for spread of militant act
had branches of two Bengal terrorist organizatio
'AnUshilan Samiti'.18
There is no direct evidence to show how the activities of the
revolutionary groups were actually conducted in the Surma Valley. Perhaps the
activities were limited to recruitment of young cadres and making arrangement
for safe hideouts for the absconding activities. That Aurobindo Ghosh w
invited to attend the Surma Valley Political Conference in 1909 makes it eviden
that the militants had sympathisers in the Valley19.

7. CONCLUSIONS
The two Valley districts of Sylhet and Cachar in South Assam
always been under the influence of Bengal throughout British rule. Thus a
of political trends operating in Bengal had been able to find enthusiastic fo
in these two districts. Naturally, when in the wake of the Swadeshi move
group of young men from Bengal opted for adopting militant path for ven
their anti-imperialistic feeling, some young men of Sylhet were inspired
them. By 1909 Sylhet had branches of the ''Suhrid Samiti' and the 4 Anu
Samiti ' Also the ' Swadesh Sevak Samiti ' established in 1906 at Sylhet al
some connections with the Bengal revolutionaries;

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 586 IHC: Proceedings , 75th Session, 2014

The movement supported economic Swadeshi and national education to

foster self-help. It was urged to boycott foreign goods in order to use Swadeshi
goods only. The student community joined the anti-partition movement with
great enthusiasm. Their soul stirring slogan was ' Bande Mataram ' The students
enrolled themselves as members of the various volunteer groups. When an anti-
circular society was set up against the circular issued by P.C.Lyon, the Chief
Secretary to the Government of East Bengal and Assam, the students began to
rally through processions, picketing, collection of ftinds and creating awareness
by patriotic songs and speeches.
However, the movement failed to introduce an all-round industrial
regeneration. By establishing one or two educational institutions the dream of
national education system could not be materialized. Rural uplift was short lived.
The peasantry, the tea-garden labourers could not be brought within the fold of
this movement. Though there was no communal riot in the valley but the threat
of flare up always was there. So the little nationalism of Barak Valley ultimately
merged itself into the bröad stream of great nationalism of India.

NOTE AND REFERENCES

1 . Sumit Sarkar, Modern India , Delhi 1 983, p 1 06

2. Tarach and, History of Freedom Movement in India , Vol. Ill, New Delhi, 197
313
3. Ranjit Kumar De, Socio-Political Movement in India , New Delhi. 1998, p.
15
4. Niharanjan Roy, Nationalism in India: an historical analysis of its stresses
and strains, Aligarh Muslim University, 1973, (Original from the University
of Michigan).
5. J.B.Bhattacharjee, Cachar Under British Rule in North East India , Radiant
Publishers, Delhi, 1977.
6. Sachindra Chanda Singh(ed), Weekly Chronicle , 5 September, 1905.
7. Surendranath Banerjee (ed), The Bengalee , 14 August, 1906.
8. Proceedings of the Surma Valley Political Conference, 1906.
9. Bhattacharjee; op. cit. p. 258.
1 0. Bhattacharjee; op. cit. p. 260.
1 1 . Sachindra Chandra Singh(ed) op.cit.
1 2 . Anurupa Biswas, ' Cachar A Banga Vanga O Swadeshi Andolonar Probhab ' .
In Assam Gurdian ; Vol. III, Hailakandi, 1997.
13. J.B. Bhattacharjee, op.cit, p. 258-259;
1 4. Amalendu Guha, Planter Raj to Swaraj , New Delhi, 1 977; p. 7 1
1 5. Reports on the National School in the Province of Eastern Bengal and Assam pp.
35-36.
16. H.K. Barpujari (ed.) Poltical Hisotry of Assam , Vol.-I Guwahati, 1977, p.
187.
1 7. Weekly Chronicle , 5th September 1 905.
18. Ibid.
19. Guha , Planter Raj to Swaraj , New Delhi, p.70.

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