Warriors of Northeast India

Whenever the topic of northeast India arises, there's largely ignorance among mainland Indians. The convenient reasons to this ignorance points to the isolated geography of the seven states (eight, if you consider Sikkim) but the actual reasons are simply lack of willingness to learn. This logic applies to the island Union Territories of Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep, and all these regions are seen merely as a refreshment breakaway for its scenic beauties by those who vaguely attempt, at least. The political knowledge of any NE state by mainland Indians, is still questionable and that's a concern we should address. 

When the British started occupying territories of the northeast with the sole intention of annexing in the Assam province in the 19th century, various treaties were being sealed with the native tribes. Major players such as the Ahoms, Nagas, Khasi, Garo, Kuki, Jaintia, Meitei, Lushai, Sema and Mikir and a series of minor ones such as Rongmei, Hmar, Mishing, Chakma etc. played their key roles in resisting the British invasions. Some supported, others protested and the beautiful Brahmaputra valley and the Shillong plateau were in flames, leading to several notable revolutionaries and landmark events that embodied the freedom struggle from this region. But sadly, the mainland India is unaware of such sacrifices and these names were superseded by the larger political force of the Indian National Congress, all throughout the succeeding 20th century. 

Assam province in 1857

While the 1857 Indian War of Independence is largely assumed as the starting point against British resistance, it's inaccurate with regard to being as the 'first' one in the series of anti-British resistance. Several native states and kingdoms had long ago battled the British that kept the colonisers on their toes and thus states such as Khasi Hills, Tripura and Manipur were able to retain their status of Princely States, while the larger province of Assam came under British administration. The Anglo-Khasi War (1829-1833, Meghalaya), the Angami rebellion (1832-1879, Nagaland), the Lushai expedition (1871-1872, Mizoram), the Jaintia revolt (1860-1862, Meghalaya), the Kuki rebellion (1917-1919, Manipur) are few names among the various stories of valour and glory. These fights took place for various reasons, with colonial interference in the native ecosystem being the primary underlying common factor. 

U Tirot Sing Syiem led the Khasi rebellion between 1829 to 1833, Maniram Dewan or Kalita Raja switched sides and conspired against the East India Company during the 1857 rebellion in Assam, U Kiang Nangbah protested against British taxation in Jaintia Hills, Lalunga (or Lalngura) led the Lushai expedition in today's Mizoram in 1871-72, Tikendrajit Singh and Kholachandra Singh fought bravely in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, etc. Names also appear during the 20th century such as Rani Gaidinliu, Jodonang, the various Kuki Chiefs etc. who kept the British on their toes and fought for their people, community and freedom. 

That was about the British. Now let's talk about Burma as that's another empire that had infected northeastern lands for centuries. Many of raids by Burmese kings has shaped the pre-colonial history of the northeast. For over six centuries, the gigantic Ahom dynasty decided the fate and politics of northeast India, although predominantly its geography was around the Brahmaputra valley. Names such as Lachit Borphukan, Chilarai (Sukladhwaja), Susenghphaa (Pratap Singha) etc. showed their valour and patriotism by maintaining the sovereignty of the Ahom Empire. The entire 16th century Ahoms resisted various invasions brought down by the Mughals and Hussain Shahis of Bengal and the rising Shans from Ava Kingdom of Burma who would engage in frequent skirmishes on the Kacharis and Chutiyas - another set of dynasties in Assam. But the period between 1817 to 1826 was when the Burmese broke the backbone of Ahom Empire by waging battles and wars, thus temporarily occupying Assam for a period of 11 years till the British took advantage and annexed the territory, making it as a British province. This was a turbulent times when Assam was weakened from both internal and external politics and even when some names such as Gomdhar Konwar did attempt to resist the British interference, it was too late and an undefeated dynasty crumbled to colonialism. 

Khasi States of Meghalaya

The administrative politics of NE India was treated like a joke by the British. On annexing Assam to the larger Bengal province in 1828, Assam's power headed to diminishing. The greater Bengal that stretched from Bihar to Assam and had pockets of Princely States such as Sikkim, Koch Bihar (misspelt as Cooch Behar), Tripura, Manipur and Khasi States. Such atrocious and audacious attempt of the British was protested by names such as Gomdhar Konwar and Piyoli Phukan, but the overwhelming British influence overpowered any attempt. Additionally, several chieftains and rulers had allied with both British and Burma, thus negating any attempt of resistance. And the annexation of Assam to Bengal was the last nail in the coffin where Bengali influence started to combine with the predominant Assamese culture, which was quite not welcomed by many. The 1905 partition of Bengal gave a new province in picture - East Bengal and Assam. 

But the partition was never welcomed and names such as Prabhat Chandra Baruah and the entire Assam Association protested strongly. Kamini Kumar Chanda and Abandti Nath Dutta from the Cachar Swadeshi Sabha played a pivotal role in spreading a sense of political awareness among people, strengthening their anti-colonial sentiments and motivating people to start a freedom struggle as the partition had it's intentions at all the wrong places. The protests proved to be a success when in 1911, the partition lines were revised as the British were forced to reconsider their disoriented deeds. Bihar and Orissa were clubbed into one province, Assam and Bengal were made two distinct provinces with clubbing Bengali districts into Bengal and Assamese into Assam. Thus, from Goalpara to Lakhimpur in the east, from Balipara and Sadiya in the north to Lushai Hills and Tripura in the south, and Sylhet to the Naga Hills, all were combined together under Assam Province with Khasi States, Manipur and Tripura being Princely states of Assam States. 

And as Assam got its political identity restored, here starts a full-fledged independence movement agains the British empire from Assam. In 1921, Assam branch of the INC was formed and names such as Tarun Ram Phukan and the future Chief Minister, Gopinath Bordoloi spearheaded the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements along with the thousands of other. But as politics was changing on a party front, the border dispute of today's Arunachal Pradesh emerges in the early 20th century. The British were clashing with Tibetan forces in early 1900s and a treaty was signed at Simla in 1914, known as the Simla Convention, that demarcated the boundary between British Assam and Tibet, which is the external boundary of today's Arunachal Pradesh. The non-acceptance of this decision by Chinese authorities who deemed it to be untrue as they weren't taken into consideration while deciding, is the bone of contention between today's India and China. It's to be noted here that the British Empire had recognised Chinese suzerainty in Tibet in 1906, and yet didn't involve them in finalising boundary between India and Tibet, hence the sense of betrayal from the Chinese end. 

But while the boundaries were formed, the tribals of Sadiya and Balipara districts continued their protest against the British. In 1911, a British officer named Noel Williamson along with his subordinates were killed by the Apatani tribes of Ziro valley (today part of Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh) and the skirmish was led by a villager by the name Jamoh. The reason for this skirmish was British interference and deliberate misuse of the tribal resources that had upset the latter. Factually, the mere intention of the British to forcefully annex Ziro valley and neighbouring hilly areas, was their fear of Russian dominance in Tibet and thus, expedition in India. This anti-Russian paranoia of British has created several border disputes in South Asia, something India is still enduring, when in fact, Russia had absolutely no interest in advancing anywhere close to the Indian frontiers. 

Assam province, 1947

Tripura or Hill Tipperah remained a princely state between 1809 to 1949. One major name that was responsible for the development of the state was Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Debbarman, who in the 20th century planned for reserving lands for indigenous people of Tripura, leading to the formation of TTAADC (Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Councils) decades after independence in 1984. In fact, there are several autonomous districts in states of NE India and the Union Territory of Ladakh that are reserved for the indigenous tribes and are administrated differently than the other states and UTs. 

There are several other names who have contributed in the freedom struggle in the various valleys and regions of northeast India, that are not well-known to the masses of non-NE India. But a major awakening and awareness is needed, either through press, or media or movies etc. And no better than the people of NE can do this by sharing pride of their culture and warriors among others. This post, is just a minor scratch as there is an earth of information hidden beneath the surface. 

The maps sketched here are sourced from Schwartzberg Digital South Asian Atlas, and the images are sourced from various.