Ahom Revolt occurred in the Assam area following the First Anglo-Burmese War. The insurrection occurred in response to the British Empire’s takeover of lands in 1828. Gomdhar Konvar was the movement’s leader. The British troops put down the rebellion.
Ahom Revolt – Background
- In 1828, Gomdhar Konwar, a prince of the Ahom royal line, and his comrade Dhanjay Borgohain led a mutiny against the British control of Assam.
- By the end of 1828, the process of extending British control into Assam had been finished.
- With the acquisition of political power by East India Company personnel, the governing Ahom monarchy lost not only political authority but also social benefits.
- The society’s feudal structure began to deteriorate as new tactics were used by colonial authorities to deprive the aristocracy of their rights and privileges.
- Their excitement for their new friend, who assisted them in pushing the Burmese out of Assam, faded quickly, and monarchy supporters began to organise themselves to restore the ancient Ahom monarchy and evict the British.
Ahom Revolt
- After the First Burma War (1824–26), the British promised to leave Assam.
- Instead of leaving after the conflict, the British tried to absorb the Ahoms’ regions under the Company’s rule.
- This triggered a rebellion in 1828 led by Gomdhar Konwar, an Ahom prince, and countrymen like Dhanjay Borgohain and Jairam Khargharia Phukan.
- The rebels formally installed Gomdhar Konwar as king during a meeting at Jorhat.
- The rebels gathered at Jorhat in October 1828 and formally enthroned Gomdhar Konwar.
- The new King intended to seize the British stronghold at Rangpur. He began recruiting soldiers and amassing weapons. He also instructed his forces to stop paying British taxes.
- Ahom rebels began advancing towards Rangpur in November 1828. However, the British learned of the news and caught the insurgents off guard at Mariani.
- Many of the insurgents surrendered, while others escaped.
- Gomdhar and his friends took refuge in Naga Hills. Later, he surrendered and others were detained.
- They were all tried in a Panchayat, convicted of treason, and condemned to death.
- David Scott, the British Governor General’s representative, reduced his sentence to seven years in exile.
- Finally, the Company chose to pursue a conciliatory approach and gave up Upper Assam to Maharaja Purandar Singh Narendra, restoring a portion of the kingdom to the Assamese ruler.
Ahom Dynasty
- The Ahom dynasty (1228–1826) ruled the Ahom kingdom in present-day Assam, India, for over 598 years.
- The dynasty was formed by Sukaphaa or Tsue-Ka-Pha, a Shan ruler from Mong Mao who arrived in Assam after climbing the Patkai mountains.
- In foreign medieval chronicles, the kings of this dynasty were known as Asam Raja, while their subjects referred to them as Chaopha or Swargadeo.
- Under Suhungmung in the 16th century, it became multi-ethnic in character, having a huge influence on the political and social life of the entire Brahmaputra valley.
- The kingdom grew weaker with the start of the Moamoria insurrection, and Assam was frequently attacked by Burmese soldiers.
- This dynasty’s rule came to an end with the Burmese invasion of Assam in 1826 and subsequent absorption by the British East India Company under the Treaty of Yandabo.
- The East India Company seized control of the nation after defeating the Burmese in the First Anglo-Burmese War and signing the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826.
Conclusion
Ahom’s Revolt occurred in the Assam region following the First Anglo-Burmese War. The rebellion was in response to the British Empire’s annexation of territories in 1828. Gomdhar Konvar was the movement’s leader. Though Konwar and his soldiers were unsuccessful in their attempt to revolt against the British, it sparked sporadic incidents of revolt in Assam. In a 1987 publication by the Assam government, Gomdhar Konwar’s name was listed first among the state’s 30 martyrs.
