Moamoria rebellion
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Prior to the rebellion the estimated population of Ahom Kingdom varies from 24,00,000 to 30,00,000
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The Moamoria rebellion (1769–1805) was an 18th-century uprising in
The Ahom kingdom emerged from the rebellion much weakened. About one half of the population of the kingdom perished and the economy was totally destroyed.[5] The weakened Ahom kingdom fell to a Burmese invasion which ultimately led to colonization by the British.
Background
Mayamara Satra
The Mayamara Satra was founded by
The disciples of the Mayamara Satra were called Moamorias/Matak, but they belonged to various castes and tribes such as; Moran, Ahoms,[6] Chutias, Kacharis, Bihias, Kaibarta and Brittials as well as caste–Hindus like the Brahmanas, Kayastha and Kalitas. The disciples of the Mayamara Satras were scattered all over the whole country. The Moran tribe were the most prominent disciples, along with the Chutia and Kachari who also formed the pillars of Ahom military. These former tribes were also employed in various royal departments and establishments.[7]
Ahom–Mayamara Satra Conflict
As the Mayamara Satra rose to prominence, it was subjected to humilities and persecution on timely baisis. Ahom king
Successor King,
However, the only evidence in support of the above contention is recorded in Kashinath Phukan's Assam Buranji. Dutiram Hazarika, contemporary to Kashinath, and a stauch Vaisnava himself doesn't record any mentions of persecution by the queen in his metrical chronicle. Although, refers to some wrongs done to the Mahantas. In Captain Welsh's record, made no mention of the religious factor or of the guilt of queen Phuleshwari leading to prevailing discontent through the information collected from Premier Purnananda Burhagohain in 1794.[12][13]
Paik and Khel system
Dissatisfaction towards the system
The Paiks were divided into two classes.
- Kanri or Karni (lowest grade), the general population.
- Chamua and Visayas or officers (higher grade),[14] the privileged population.
It was mandatory for every Paik to render service to the state, and were given a plot of land (two puras=2.66 acres) in exchange for their service. Originally Paiks were grouped into a squad of four men (got) and each one had to render their service to the state for four months, but during the reign of
¼ to ⅓ of the population had to render their service in the form of labour to the ruling class and bureaucrats without any wages anytime. The system gradually transformed into a kind of feudal system. Once it became feudal, Paiks were oppressed both emotionally and physically so they gradually got resolved to either escape from the system or protest against it.[19]
Aristocracy | Slaves/Bondsmen | Chamua | Karni Paik | Total Population |
---|---|---|---|---|
1% | 9% | 25% | 65% | 100% |
24,000 | 2,16,000 | 6,00,000 | 15,60,000 | 24,00,000[20] |
First phase
Rebellion (1769–1770)
Kirti Chandra Borbarua, a prominent noble, heaped insults and indignities upon the Mayamra abbot Astabhuj and particularly his son Gagini Deka, goaded the Moamorias to wreak terrible vengeance on to the Borbarua.[21]
On September 15, 1769, Raghav Moran(Ragh Neog), a leading disciple of the Satra, was flogged by Ahom officials for not supplying the required number of elephants. This acted as the transgressing point and blessed by their spiritual head, the Morans raised the standard of revolt after collecting an army of about seven thousand. By November, the Morans led by Ragh Neog, Naharkhora Saikia and his two wives Radha and Rukmini, and Marangi.
The rebel leaders went to pay homage to the abbot of Mayamara Satra, which was the source of unity among the rebels. Heavy penalty was imposed on the royalist satras, also they were forced to pay homage to the Mayamara abbot.
The rebels, inexperienced in statecraft, failed to usher in a new order. Instead, they began imitating the unpopular practices of their erstwhile leaders. Raghav Moran seized the wives and daughters of many nobles and kept them in his harem. As some of the rebel officers took on the airs of the old nobility, many rebels were dissatisfied and, led by Govinda Gaoburha, left the capital and reached Sagunmuri.
Counter-attack & Suppression
After four months of rebel regime, there came the spring festival (bohag bihu). The peasant soldiers who were voluntarily guarding the capital left their posts to visit their villages, so the defense of the capital got weakened and thus vulnerable.[23] Taking advantage of this, some of the old nobility in disguise killed Ragha on April 14, 1770 with the help of Kuranganayani, an Ahom queen from Manipur, and retook the capital. In the purge that followed, Ramakanta the rebel king, Naharkhora, Radha, Rukmini, Astabhujdev, the Moamara sattradhikar and his son Saptabhuj were all executed.
After the capital was recaptured the remaining rebel forces in Sagunmuri under Govinda Gaoburha attempted to overthrow the king again. This movement too had the signs of a popular uprising. The main weapons used by the rebels were bamboo staves and clubs, and their slogan was praja-oi joroiroa, chekani-oi sopai dhora ("Ye oppressed subjects, hold your stave close"), and this uprising was called chekani kubua ron ("The war of the staves"). In one of the engagements, the Borpatrogohain and the Dhekial Phukan were killed, and the Borgohain made a hair breath escape. The rebels advanced toward Rangpur and they were met at Thowra by the forces of the Burhagohain, the new Borpatrogohain, the Borgohain and a detachment cavalry from the Manipur king. In this battle the rebels were defeated; Govinda Gaoburha was captured and executed.[24]
Under the pressure of Premier Ghanashyam
Second phase
The purge of Moamorias that followed after the reinstatement of royalist couldn't put up flames of revenge among the people. The peasants of Rangpur and Garhgaon secretly began organizing themselves. They planned to launch a surprise attack owing to their less strength.
In one night of April 1782, in the festive atmosphere of
The waters of the rivers could not be drunk and people could not walk along the roads. Even the water and fish of the Brahmaputra became tainted with the stinking smell of corpses. Half of the country was depopulated...
— Maniram Dewan, Ms. Buranji Vivek Ratna, vol. II.
Third phase
Conflicts (1786–1789)
The scattered rebels and Dafla-Bahatias organised themselves and placed them under the leadership of one Harihar Tanti and rose to revolt at Japaribhita.[29] The rebels were joined by several hill tribes. They broke out in rebellion in 1786, from the foot of Daphla Hills. The rebels defeated the royalist force at Garaimari bil and other places.
The rebels then freed Pitambar, a relation to the previous Mayamara abbot. He was persuaded to join them, who did it after allegedly performing a Brahmayagna (brahman–slaying sacrifice). The rebels then burnt the
The rebels after many prolonged battles, marching along the
The Burhagohain erected a line of ramparts from Bar Ali to Kharikatiya Ali along the Namdang river, from where he resisted further rebel incursion. The royalist finally unable to stand the rebels fell back to Gaurisagar. The rebels then laid siege to the Gaurisagar Fort, and a large number of people along with many high officials fell fighting. The Burhagohain had to ultimately retreat to Taratali thence Dichoi.[9] From Dichoi further incursion of rebels were resisted. The rebels frequently harassed the people, living under the tract controlled by Burhagohain. The Upper Assam razed by continuous battles and disorder, cultivation suffered, there occurred a very terrible famine–the severest in Assam's history.[32]
Conflicts (1789–1794)
The rebels gradually extended their control up to
The rebellion of Moamorias inspired people from different parts of the country to rise up against Ahom government as result of it brought breakdown of khel-system and it became effectively hard to recruit soldiers.[33]
The discontentment among the inhabitants of Darrang as a result of entry of refugees from Eastern Assam and their plundering activities caused them to protest. This was supported by the inhabitants of Kamrup who had been subjected to humiliation.[35]
Dissension to Captain Welsh's expedition
Gaurinath Singha appealed for foreign help, envoys were sent to neighboring countries seeking military help. Expect the king of
Final Phase
Conflicts (1794–1805)
This experience and the military display by Thomas Welsh and his troops encouraged the Ahoms to create a standing army of mostly paid Hindustani sepoys to replace the paik based militia. One chief rebel leader, Phopai was killed in 1796 and the rebel king of
The Moamaria rebellion thus ended with the creation of a near-independent Matak tract ruled by a Barsenapati and the near-end of the Paik system.[41]
Conclusion
The rebellion couldn't own its origin due to a impolitic deeds of some Kings and Queen. It was the consequence, the symptom of ultimate disease, that the Ahom monarchy was on decline.[42] The massive agitation of rebels shook the foundations of Ahom state. Though the Moamaria rebellion ended in failure, it brought the breakdown of exploitive paik and Khel systems, on which the economic state of Ahoms was based. This compelled the state to move on money-economy. The rebellion ended indecisively with both the sides completely ruined, the country was fanatically depopulated. The population came down to one-half of what it was before and economic life was totally disrupted. Swarnalata Baruah (1985) states: The Moamariya rebellion was a rebellion of the people against the existing government and those who disfavoured a change in it joined with the hands with the royalist."
The discontented elements remained silent for very long, for they considered the Ahom monarchy to be unchallengeable. But this was all shattered throwing the divine origin of kingship and by putting a line of common men on the throne. "No alternative to the feudal system emerged, since no new ruling class could germinate from the peasantry which was relatively undifferentiated, or from its undeveloped stratum of traders and artisans. The issues became blurred since the rebels comprised diverse and nebulous class elements with varying degrees of dislike for the regime. Nevertheless, the ruling class could no more rule in the old manner."
References
- ^ "The first popular challenge to the Ahom monarchy was organized by the disciples of the Moamara satra." (Baruah 1993:46)
- ^ "As the rebellion was in progress, all who wanted to free themselves from the exploitative government joined hands with the Moamorias making it a mass uprising and creating a crisis for the Ahom monarchy" (Baruah 1993:46)
- Rudra Singha, and Charu Singha and Ratneswar, both sons of Rajeswar Singha." (Baruah 1993:46)
- ^ a b (Baruah 1993:164)
- ^ (Guha 1991:122)
- ^ "The opinion that it is a rebellion of the non-Ahoms against the Ahoms, is wholly baseless. Amongst the Mataks themselves, there were large number of Ahom officials"(Dutta 1985:184)
- ^ (Baruah 1985:303–304)
- ^ "King Pratap Singha executed one of the disciple of the Satra for having remarked the king's hall would make a commodious place for religious recital and prayer. When the same king learnt that the Moamariyas did not bow their heads before anyone but their Guru, he tested the unflinching obedience of his four nobles who were also the disciple of Mayamara Satra by making four of them gallop their horses against swords placed horizontally to their necks. While undergoing this test one noble Guimela Sola Borgohain and an officer, the Neog-Phukan, lost their lives since they refused to bow down and ride under the sword, at which point the test was stopped."(Baruah 1985:306)
- ^ a b (Barpujari 1992, pp. 263)
- ^ (Guha 1984:10–12)
- ^ "(Phuleshwari Bor-Raja) summoned the Sudra Mahantas to the Durga Puja held in a Sakta shrine and compelled them to bow their heads before the goddess and have their foreheads besmeared with the blood of sacrificed animals and made them accept nirmali and prasad. More than others, the powerful Mayamara Mahanta considered it a serious insult, not to be forgotten or forgiven, and in consultation with his disciples, he decided to take vengeance at an opportune moment. The subsequent history of Assam is essentially a history of the Moamariya rebellion, which was the most important factor causing the downfall of the Ahom monarchy." (Baruah 1985:295)
- ^ (Barpujari 1992:288–289)
- ^ (Baruah 1985:284–307)
- ^ "The condition of Chamua Paiks was much better than that of the general Paik. In fact they enjoyed social freedom. Some of them could even use the labour of slaves."(Hazarika 2005:112)
- ^ "It made the discontentment intense among the people. The ruling authority could identify this discontentment and tried to continue the system with force; by applying different kind of atrocities, exhibiting fear, force, and political tactics."(Hazarika 2005:124)
- ^ "Only by paying a commutation money of Rs.3/-per head per annum could a paik sometime obtain exemption from personal service. In order to enjoy this privilege, some paiks borrowed money from well-to-do persons, unable to pay the debt, becomes bondsmen and consequently, slaves."(Baruah 1985:349)
- ^ "The Paiks nor had ownership of land allotted by the state, the Khel gave them only the right to cultivate. If the Paik died or went missing, the land was returned to the Khel. As a result, the family of the Paik faced numerous problems to run their life"(Hazarika 2005:109)
- ^ "An interesting practice of avoiding the accepting the liabilities of the system was that boys of fifteen or sixteen years of age which was taken as the age of entrance for a paik career were trying to avoid wearing clothes as far as possible to show that they were still minors..."(Gogoi 2002:126)
- ^ (Gogoi 2002:126)
- ^ (Gogoi 2002:95)
- ^ (Barpujari 1992, pp. 291)
- ^ "Tekela Bara, the Ahom officer who was sent to fight against the Moamarias, in the engagement that followed the royalist suffered a defeat and he himself made a hairbreadth escape. He further reported that the two female leaders were possed of supernatural powers by whose strength they were catching the bullets in their wrappers"(Baruah 1985:309)
- ^ (Sharma 1996, p. 45)
- ^ (Baruah 1993, p. 72)
- ^ (Baruah 1993, p. 73)
- ^ " It was revealed that sons of deposed Barbarua Sivaram had taken part in the rebellion. The king ordered the extraction of eyes of the four sons"(Dutta 1985:126–7)
- ^ (Sharma 1996:46)
- ^ (Baruah 1985, p. 318)
- ^ " One of the main discontented elements of Ahom kingdom was the Bahatia Paiks who had several grievances against the Ahom government. In order to protect the plains areas of Assam from the neighboring hill–tribe's frequent raids, the Ahom government introduced a kind of political bribe through the settlement of a class of Assamese Paiks called bahatia in foothill areas who were obliged to give their service to the respective hill–tribes so assigned. Moreover, the Bahatia had to serve the Ahom army whenever called for. The Bahatia who were assigned to the Dafla tribe (Nishis) were called Dafla Bahatia. The Dafla Bahatia along with all their counterparts allyed themselves with the Mataks." (Dutta 1990:395)
- ^ a b (Sharma 1996:47)
- ^ (Baruah 1985, p. 320)
- ^ a b (Baruah 1985, p. 321)
- ^ a b (Baruah 1985, p. 322)
- ^ "Fighting with these same archers and shieldsmen our kings had vanquished even the foreigners on numerous occasions, but the very same archers,’ lamented an Ahom noble, 'become demoralized and terrified at the mere sight of the Moamarias and take to their heels."(Guha 1991:118)
- ^ "The ban on the entrance of the Darrangis and the Kamrupis to the capital city was more rigidly enforced at Gauhati, the headquarters of Borphukan, where no Kamrupi trader or officer was allowed to stay overnight...This caused him not only inconvenience but also humiliation."(Baruah 1985:323)
- ^ (Baruah 1985, p. 349)
- ^ (Barjupari 1993:336)
- ^ (Guha 1991, p. 121)
- ^ (Baruah 1993, p. 163)
- ^ (Baruah 1993, p. 164)
- ^ (Dutta 1990, p. 397)
- ^ (Barpujari 1992, p. 290)
Bibliography
- Hazarika, Dhurba Jyoti (2005). The roots of the popular discontent in Assam under the ahom rules. Gauhati University.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Barpujari, HK (1992). Barpujari, H K (ed.). The Comprehensive History of Assam. Vol. 2. Guwahati: Publication Board Assam.
- Gogoi, Jahnabi (2002), Agrarian system of medieval Assam, Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi
- Baruah, S L (1985), A Comprehensive History of Assam, Munshiram Manoharlal
- Baruah, S. L. (1993), Last Days of Ahom Monarchy, New Delhi
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Dutta, Sristidhar (1985), The Mataks and Their Kingdom: Castes and Tribes of Assam, Chugh Publications, archived from the original on 2023-07-01, retrieved 2023-05-28
- Dutta, Sristidhar (1990). "The Moamaria Rebellion of Assam and the Participation of Hill Tribes and their Bahatias". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 51: 393–398.
- Guha, Amalendu (1984). "Neo-Vaishnavism to Insurgency: Peasant Uprisings and Crisis of Feudalism in Late 18th Century Assam". CSSSC Occasional Paper;67.
- Guha, Amalendu (1991), Medieval and Early Colonial Assam, Calcutta: K P Bagchi
- Sharma, Chandan Kumar (1996). "Socio-Economic Structure and Peasant Revolt : The Case of Moamoria Upsurge in the Eighteenth Century Assam". Indian Anthropologist. 26 (2): 33–52. JSTOR 41919803.