Patharughatar Rann of 1894 (or Patharughat massacre): History of Assam
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On January 28, 1894, one of the earliest and biggest peasants’ revolt in British India under British rule was organized in a remote village of Assam, which has also met with a tragic end like many other peasant agitation in the later period.
Background of Patharughatar Rann
Assam came under the control of British Administration with the signing of the treaty of Yandaboo. Gradual changes in the administrative mechanism and socio-economic patterns of the state caused upheavals in the life of common people of the region.
Earlier enjoyed various rebates and exemptions under the traditional rulers, were discontinued by the new British administration. Land taxes were revised and raised to the level of displeasure of the commoners and peasants.
Periodically, Land surveys were conducted and land taxes were increased arbitrarily. This hurts the farmers most and thus a sense of anger and discontent started building against the Administration (British).
Seven years after the Phulguri Uprising of Nogaon of 1861, a large no. of public gathered at the Tehsildar’s office in Patharughat to express their grievances. But the authorities did not budged and the infuriated crowd set fire to the Dak Bungalow which was housing the Britishers.
In 1893, the then Chief Commissioner of Assam, Wilkinson Ward raised the taxes, the flares of people’s revolt sprang up again. On January 26, 1894, the peasants in large number, gathered in Raij-mels (people’s conventions) at Patharughat to protest against the British government’s decision to increase agricultural tax by 70 to 80 per cent. And they decided that taxes would not be paid till an acceptable solution reaches. The Tehsildar requested the crowd to wait till January 28, when the DC of Darrang, Anderson, would be available for the hearings.
The Patharughatar Rann /Massacre Incident
On January 28, Anderson was accompanied by Darrang’s SP, J R Barrington, and the SDO of Mangaldoi, Ramson, and a huge armed force. A crowd of about a thousand had gathered in front of the Dak Bungalow. But Anderson blatantly refused to lower the taxes and the crowd got infuriated and shouted and protests were raised.
As the crowd proceeded, they were blocked by the security personals which started a skirmish. Barrington ordered his forces to lathi charge, which made the crowd go wild. A Thoga Baidya of Biahpara or Fukolu Sheikh of Athiabari wounded the head of the Police Superintendent and then the DC, Anderson, ordered for firing, which ultimate killed the 140 unarmed peasants and a large number of people were injured also.
Legacy
The incident much similar to the infamous Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919, has not got much of historical significance.
