Pratidhwani the Echo A Peer-Reviewed International Journal of Humanities & Social Science ISSN: 2278-5264 (Online) 2321-9319 (Print) Impact Factor: 6.28 (Index Copernicus International) V olume-VIII, Issue-II, October 2019, Page No. 64-73 Published by Dept. of Bengali, Karimganj College, Karimganj, Assam, India Website: http://www.thecho.in Growth of Public Associations: Its Impact and Importance in Colonial Assam Dr. Shirumoni Baruah Assistant Professor, Dept. of History, B. Borooah College, Ulubari, Guwahati Abstract The British rule led the Indian society on a new and different path of development. It initiated some basic changes in the social, political cultural and economic life of Indian people. The new wave of changes resulted in the growth of various, religious intellectual, social and cultural movements in Indian The British rule itself was responsible for the growth of national consciousness in India. The public associations played a significant role in arousing public opinion and focusing the views on political, social and economic matters all over India. Exploitation of the British Government resulted in the emergence of a strong political consciousness in the province. In Assam the public associations had played an important role in bringing national consciousness among the people of Assam. The organizations advocated social reform, inspired the youths to qualify themselves for the government job and worked for all round development of the society. Under the leadership of numerous public associations the people of Assam joined in the freedom movement of India. With the spread of English education, the Assamese, like other the pioneers of other parts of India,came into contact with the nationalist and liberal ideas of west. The rise of political consciousness and political integration on modern lines were essentially the product of the Western impact. Keywords: British Rule, National Consciousness, Middle Class, Public Associations, Western Education. Introduction: The British rule had created certain socio-political and cultural circumstances which resulted in the emergence of regional sense in different parts of India. India emerged as a unified country with multi –ethnic, multi-lingual, multi- national country under the British rule. It is also noted that the colonial rule could not destroy the distinct identity and culture of a particular ethnic community. Instead of it the British rule helped them to stand at the doorstep of modernization. Indian society became familiar with modern means of transport, communication and education set up1.But it is important that all these changes were bringing by them to suit their colonial interest. Objectives: An attempt is made here to show how far the public associations were successful in expressing the grievances and various needs of the common people during the Volume- VIII, Issue-II October 2019 64 Growth of Public Associations: Its Impact and Importance in Colonial Assam Shirumoni Baruah British rule.It also examines what role did the organization play in creating national consciousness among the people of Assam. Methodology: The methodology of the paper is descriptive. Mainly secondary source materials have been consulted in this paper to achieve in the objectives. Nationalism or National consciousness emerged in India among the middle class section of the society. They began to organize the people and tried to give a platform in which people can express their grievances, their needs and safeguard their interest. The newly educated middle class of Assam took the leadership of formation of sabha and samities. From socio-cultural and economic point of view these organizations have far reaching impact upon the common people. Some important public associations during the British rule were in Bengal the Calcutta Unitarian Committee the Calcutta Parliament the Brahmo Sabha, the Academic Association, the Landholders Society etc. Bombay education Society the Manab Dharma Sabha, the Sarvajanik Sabha of Poona, the Bombay Association the Deccan Education Society, were some prominent organizations in Maharastra in Madrass, Madrass Native Association, Madrass Mahajan Sabha were established as mouthpiece of the people of Madrass2. In Assam after acquiring the political power of the state after the Yandaboo Treaty, the British introduced a new administrative system which was unfamiliar to the people of Assam. The new administrative system drastically changed the whole socio-economic and cultural aspect of the province. They utilized vast tract of uncultivable land for their economic benefit. The tea plantation which was inaugurated by the British administrations became the backbone of the economy of Assam. To promote administrative efficiency and exploit the local resources they developed transport and communication system of Assam. As the local people were not familiar to British administration so they brought Bengali bureaucrates and clerks, lawyers and doctors who were trained in British administration. Since the mid 19thcentury, the public association played an important role in creating political awareness among the people of Assam. The associations also reflect how the people of Assam were exploited by the British colonial rule. The Assamese middle class grew under colonial patronages had inaugurated a new era of cultural movement which was totally isolate from the political issue of the day. Impact of Bengal renaissance in this sphere also cannot be denied3.From the late 1850 onwards, the new awakening was becoming strengthen. The first direct negative effect of the British rule in Assam was the replacement of Assamese language by Bengali language in 18364. This was considered as a serious threat to the linguistic identity of the Assamese people.so the educated youths continued the movement to place the Assamese language in a rightful position besides language, the economic policy specially the land revenue policy was responsible for the emergence of public associations in Assam. The British land revenue system was vehemently criticized by the public meeting. The common masses were organized under their village headman or the respective personals of a particular areas such as Gossains, Dolois, Mahantas etc. Volume- VIII, Issue-II October 2019 65 Growth of Public Associations: Its Impact and Importance in Colonial Assam Shirumoni Baruah The Raijmels had functioned very effectively during the early 35 years of the colonial rule. In order to render service to the society the middle class people organized a number of associations. Numerous socio-political organizations in the 19th century faild in fulfilling or servicing the interests of the commons masses. But these experience helped them in giving concrete organizational shape to some important associations. The public associations of Assam during the colonial rule generally focused three social evils of then society such as prohibition of widow remarriage among the high caste Hindus, polygamy and widespread addiction to opium5.In 1852 the earliest efforts to express public opinion was started. The inhabitants of Guwahati organized a group of representative praying for the introduction of municipal administration under provision of the Act. xxvi of 18506. The public associations during the British rule can be divided into two categories. (a) Literacy association (b) socio–economic associations some important literary associations were (1) Gyan Pradayani Sabha (2)Asamiya Chatra Sahitya Sabha (c) Asomiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha (d) Assam Sahitya Sabha etc. Some important socio-cultural and economic assaociations were (1) Assam Association (2) Jorhat Sarvajanik Sabha (3) Upper Assam Association (4) Ryot Sabha Tezpur (5) Barpeta Hitasadhini Sabha (7) Assam Desh Hitaishini Sabha 8) Assam Samrakshini Sabha (9) Assam Jatiya Mahasabha (10) Kamrup Hitasadhini Sabha etc7. Besides these there emerged public organizations among the tribes /ethanic group of assam. These were (1) Ahomsabha (2) Koch raj bongshikhatriyasanmilan (3) Boro- kacharimahasanmilan (4) Assam chutiasanmilan (5) Assam mirisanmilan (6) All Assam multaksanmilan etc. The aims and objectives of the associations were in general as follows: (a) Maintenance of the rights over the land which they had been holding over traditionally (b) Establishment of right over the new economic field introduced by the British government. (c) Preserve the linguistic and cultural identity of the Assamese people8. Literary Associations: Like any other parts of the country the students of Assam were also not untouched by the freedom struggle. For cultural advancement of the Assamese nationality the students had played a pioneering role. But the then circumstances of the state forced them to engage in politics. The colonial government introduced English education in Assam to produce English educated person to help them in administration. Student from Assam studying in Calcutta were deeply influenced by these development. The educated section of the Assamese people had to carry on several protest actions for the restoration of Assamese language to its legitimate position. Anandaram Dhekial Phukan was the pioneer in establishing Assamese language in a rightful place. The foreign Missionaries also added strength in this sphere. Ultimately on 9th April 1873, Assamese language was introduced as court language in Assam. It encouraged the educated class to continue their efforts for further advancement of the language and literature9. The beginning of the student involvement into freedom movement