ASSAM QUIZ 1

Who lead the First Revolt against British in Assam?

Answer

Gomdhar Konwar. When British occupied Assam, Ahom Kingdom was already starting to disintegrate. That’s why British received virtually zero resistance from Ahom when they occupied Assam. Not all, but many Ahom nobles were dissatisfied with British system of collecting tax and other methods of exploitation. It lead to a revolt, lead by Ahom prince Gomdhar Konwar.

Gomdhar Konwar tried to organise Ahom and re-establish Ahom authority in Assam. He was supported by Ahom nobles like Dhanjoy Bargohain, Madharam Bargohain, Jairam Khargharia Phukan, Piyali Pukhan etc. In October of 1828, the rebels assembled near Jorhat and formally enthroned Gomdhar Konwar. The new King planned to capture the British base at Rangpur. He started recruiting men and collecting arms. He also ordered his men to stop paying tax to British.

In November, 1828, Ahom rebels started marching towards Rangpur. But British got the news and caught the rebels unprepared near Mariani. Many rebels surrendered and others fled. Gomdhar and his associates fled to Naga Hills. Later he surrendered himself and others got arrested. All of them were tried in a Panchayat, found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. David Scott, the agent of British Governor General, lowered his punishment to seven years of exile.

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In Assamese literature, who is known as “Bihogi Kobi”?

Answer

Raghunath Choudhary. The term “Bihogi Kobi” means “Poet of Birds” or “Bird Poet”. Raghunath Choudhary is called “Bigohi Kabi” because the subject matter of most of his poems were birds and simple things of nature. Just like English poet Wordsworth, he was an worshiper of Nature. His poems reflected his love of nature and presents the analogy of natural objects in an unique way. Bihagi Kobi Raghunath Choudhury enriched the Assamese literature with many beautiful poems such as Shikoli, Keteki, Dahikatara, Golap, and more.

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What is Hasti Vidyarnava?

Answer

Hasti-Vidyarnava or Hastividarnav is an ancient Assamese treatise on elephants or elephantology. It was composed by Sukumar Barkath in 1734 AD. Written under the orders of Ahom King Siba Singha, Hastividyarnava deals with classes or types of elephants, their management and care. Copied and illustrated on the bark of Agaru tree, Hastividyarnava is an unique book on elephants.

The book Hasti Vidyarnava contains details of different types of elephants in an elaborate taxonomic system. There are details on catching and training of elephants. Other topics covered in the book include suitable elephants for kings, suitable elephants for war, warning to riders and mahouts, ropes for elephants, rods for elephants, ailments of elephants and remedies etc. Hastividyarnava also contains several paintings or illustrations of elephants. The paintings were done by two artists from Rajasthan – Dilbor and Dosai. Those paintings are a good example a beautiful mixture of local Assamese art with Mughal style of painting. Hasti-Vidyarnava can also be called the oldest Assamese book dealing with science.

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What is Me-Dam-Me-Phi?

Answer

Me Dam Me Phi is one of main religious ceremonies of Ahom people of Assam. In Tai Ahom language, Me means offerings, Dam means the dead ancestors and Phi means Gods. So, Me Dam Me Phi is a ceremony in which offerings are made to dead ancestors and the Dam Chao Gods.

Historical mentions suggests that first Ahom King, Swargadeo Sukapha, performed Me Dam Me Phi at Charaideo. After fall of Ahom Kingdom, Me Dam Me Phi remained limited to private celebrations. Me Dam Me Phi became a public ceremony only towards the end of 20th centuary, when Assam Government fixed January 31 as the day of Me Dam Me Phi and announced it as a Government holiday. Assamese people, specially the Tai Ahom community in Upper Assam, now celebrates Me Dam Me Phi annually on January 31. It is now more a festival than a religious ceremony. Still, it is a good sign that Ahom community of Assam is starting to recognize their traditional culture.

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What is Singarigharutha?

Answer

Singarigharutha was the coronation ceremony of Ahom Kings. Swargadeo Sudangpha or Bamuni Raja introduced this system in 1397. It was only performed in Charaideo, the first Capital of Ahom Kingdom established by Sukapha. Singarigharutha or Ascending of Singarighar was a grand ceremony. It was believed that a king could attain the status of a real monarch only after performing the Singarigharutha ceremony. But due to involvement of huge expenses, many Ahom Kings avoided the ceremony. One of the key features of the ceremony was the ascending of Singarighar by the king. The Singarighar was a platform made of Singari tree. Thus the ceremony got the name Singarigharutha. King Rudra Singha ended the practice of sacrificing a human being during Singarigharutha ceremony. Instead he sacrificed a buffalo. Future Kings also followed his practice.

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Who was the first Borphukan in Ahom Kingdom?

Answer

Langi Panisiya Borphukan was the first Borphukan in Ahom Kingdom. In Ahom Kingdom, Borphukan was one of the 5 Councillors (Patro Montri). Borphukan was the executive and judicial head of Ahom kingdom west of Kaliabor River. Ahom King Prataap Singha created this post. By birth, Langi Panisiya was from Chutia clan. But he fought for Ahoms. He worked for uniting and restoring order among the fugitive Ahom soldiers. Swargadeo Prataap Singha honoured him with the newly created post called Barphukan. The first headquarters of Borphukan was in Kaliabor, which later got shifted to Guwahati.

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When did Ahom Kingdom started using Saka era?

Answer

Ahom Kingdom of Assam started using Saka era during the reign of Swargodeo Suhungmung. One of the most famous Kings of Ahom Kingdom, Suhungmung ascended the throne in year 1497. He adopted a Hindu title – Swarganarayan and introduced Saka era in the official Ahom calendar. Before that Ahom Kingdom used a calendar system with sixty years cycle.

Saka era or Shalivahana Saka era starts with year 78 AD. Kushan King Kanishka is creator of Saka era, who became king in 78 AD. After Suhungmung, other Ahom Kings also followed Saka era. Even coins were minted with years written in Saka era. The traditional Assamese calendar still follows Saka era.

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When was the Assam Legislative Assembly formed?

Answer

The Assam Legislative Assembly came into existence on April 7, 1937. It was formed under the Government of India Act, 1935. It was a bicameral assembly, meaning there were both Upper and Lower house. The first sitting of the Assam Assembly took place April 7, 1937 in the Assembly Chamber at Shillong. At that time, Shillong was the Capital of the composite State of Assam. The tenure of Assam Assembly was 5 years and there were 108 members.

After partition of India, Sylhet district of Assam got included in East Pakistan and the membership of Assam Assembly became 71. After Independence of India, the Assam Legislative Council got abolished and total membership of the assembly became 108. Today, the strength of Assam Legislative Assembly (Bidhan Sabha) is 126.

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What is GMDA?

Answer

GMDA is the acronym for Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority. GMDA is responsible for planning and development of Guwahati metropolitan area. It was formed in 1992 as per Guwahati Development Authority Act 1958 (amended). It replaced the former Guwahati Development Authority (GDA). The jurisdiction of GMDA covers an area of 328 sq. km. Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority includes Guwahati Municipal Corporation area, North Guwahati Town Committee area and some revenue villages such as Beltola Mouza, Silasundari Ghopa Mouza, Pub Barsar Mouza, Dakhin Rani Mouza and Ramcharani Mouza.

The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority give permission for construction of building and sale of land in Guwahati area. GMDA recently published new Building Bye Laws for the metropolitan city.

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What was the First Students’ Organization of Assam?

Answer

Asom Chatra Sanmilan (Assam Students Conference) was the first student organization of Assam. Aso Chatra Sanmilan came into existence in 1916. The first session of the Assam Chatra Sanmilan was held at Guwahati in the year 1916. The first president of student’s organization was Lakshminath Bezbarua. Asom Chatra Sanmilan played a vital role in promoting Assamese literature and political awareness among Assamese people.

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