Short Summary

British rule and exploitative revenue policies caused severe economic hardships in Assam, sparking major uprisings. During the 1857 Revolt, Maniram Dewan attempted to overthrow the British and restore the Ahom monarchy, but the conspiracy failed and he was executed. Continuing tax burdens prompted peasants to organize through community assemblies known as Raij Mels. This culminated in the Phulaguri Dhawa of 1861, Assam's first major peasant revolt, triggered by a ban on poppy cultivation and rumored taxes. Despite severe British repression, this uprising inspired subsequent peasant revolts in areas like Rangia and Lachima, as well as significant anti-British tribal rebellions in North Cachar, Nagaland, and Manipur.