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## Assamese Peasants and the British Revenue System The British revenue system in Assam drastically changed the economic landscape for the Assamese people. It led to deep resentment among the common people due to the introduction of a cash economy and the rise of the Mahajans - money lenders who ex...

## Assamese Peasants and the British Revenue System The British revenue system in Assam drastically changed the economic landscape for the Assamese people. It led to deep resentment among the common people due to the introduction of a cash economy and the rise of the Mahajans - money lenders who exploited the Assamese with high interest rates. The new system forced villagers to take out loans to pay their land revenue, leaving them vulnerable to the Mahajans. **Revenue Statistics (in Rupees)** | District | 1832-33 | 1842-43 | 1882-83 | |---|---|---|---| | Kamrup | 1,10,181 | 2,52,991 | 2,95,996 | | Nowgong | 41,306 | 1,35,454 | 1,57,795 | | Sibsagar | 31,509 | 1,10,318 | 1,28,873 | | Lakhimpur | 80,843 | 1,14,463 | | | | 34,780 | 46,553 | | | **Total** | 1,83,196 | 6,14,382 | 7,43,680 | **The Impact on Assamese Peasants** Anandaram Dhekial Phukan, in his application to Moffat Mills in 1853, highlighted the devastating impact of the high land revenue on Assamese peasantry. He argued that the revenue fixed by the British far exceeded the ability of the peasants to pay. The British government, however, did little to support the development of agriculture. Consequently, the Assamese people suffered greatly during unfavorable weather, leading to widespread famine. In some areas of Kamrup and Darrang in 1851 the situation was so dire that parents were forced to sell their children for a mere handful of grains in order to survive. These events highlight the harsh reality of British rule in Assam and the exploitation faced by the Assamese people.