EXERCISE

Very short answer questions

Q1. What is Mayamara?

Answer: Mayamara was the name of a Vaishnava Sattra (religious and cultural organization) in Assam. The word ‘Moamoriya’ is believed to have originated from this name.

Q2. What is Sattra?

Answer: A Sattra was a religious and cultural organization that grew up to spread and preach the Neo-Vaisnavite religion, which was preached by Sankardev and Madhabdev.

Q3. What is Songhoti?

Answer: After the death of Sankardev, the Sattriya movement was divided into four groups or ‘Songhotis’: Brahma, Purush, Kaal, and Nika. The Mayamara Sattra belonged to the Kaal Songhoti.

Q4. During the reign of which Ahom King did the Moamoriya Rebellion begin?

Answer: The Moamoriya Rebellion began during the reign of Ahom King Laksmi Singha.

Q5. During the reign of which Ahom King did the Moamoriya Rebellion conclude?

Answer: The Moamoriya Rebellion concluded during the reign of Ahom King Kamaleswar Singha.

Q6. Which Ahom King is said to have adopted the title of Swargadeo/Swarganarayan?

Answer: The Ahom King Suhungmung is said to have adopted the title of Swargadeo/Swarganarayan.

Q7. During the reign of Surampha Bhagaraja which Sattradhikar was murdured?

Answer: During the reign of Surampha Bhagaraja, the Satradhikar Guru Nityanandadeva was murdered on royal orders.

Q8. Which Satradhikar was humiliated in the royal court of Rudra Singha?

Answer: The Satradhikar Chaturbhujdev Mahanta was humiliated in the royal court of Rudra Singha.

Q9. Who was the chief deity of the Ahoms?

Answer: The chief deity of the Ahoms was Somdev.

Q10. Which Satradhikar did Jaydhwaj Singha accept as his religious preceptor?

Answer: Jaydhwaj Singha accepted Satradhikar Niranjandev of Auniati Sattra as his religious preceptor.

Q11. Which Satradhikar did Rudra Singha accept as his religious preceptor?

Answer: Rudra Singha accepted Satradhikar Keshabadev of Auniati Sattra as his religious preceptor.

Q12. Who was Krishnaram Bhattacharya?

Answer: Krishnaram Bhattacharya was a Shakta Brahman Pandit from Nadiya, Bengal, who was invited by Swargadeo Rudra Singha. He and his successors came to be known as ‘Parbatiya Gosain’.

Q13. During which Ahom King’s reign did Shaktism become very strong?

Answer: Shaktism became very strong during the reign of Ahom King Siva Singha.

Q14. Who was Gagini?

Answer: Gagini was the son of Moamoriya Mahanta Ashtabhuj.

Q15. Whom did the Moamoriyas first establish as King?

Answer: The Moamoriyas first established Nahor khora’s son, Ramakanta or Ramananda, as King.

Q16. How long did Captain Welsh stay in Assam?

Answer: Captain Welsh stayed in Assam from November 1792 to May 1794.

Q17. Where was salt produced in Assam?

Answer: Salt was produced in Assam in Sadiya and Nagapahar.

Q18. Why were the common people of Assam unable to use salt?

Answer: The common people of Assam were unable to use salt because it was a very expensive commodity.

Short/Long question

Q1. Who were the Moamoriyas? Can this rebellion be called a mass uprising?

Answer: The Moamoriyas were mainly the disciples of the Mayamara Vaishnava Sattra. While the Moran tribe formed the core of the disciples, the Sattra also attracted followers from other tribes and lower social groups, including the Kachari, Chutiya, Ahom, and Kaibartta communities.

Yes, this rebellion can be called a mass uprising because a large number of ordinary people participated. Most of them were peasants and artisans who faced exploitation under the Ahom state machinery. The revolt was not limited to a conflict between the king and the Mahantas but represented a widespread rebellion of the oppressed common people.

Q2. Analyse the political causes of the Moamoriya Rebellion.

Answer: The main political causes of the Moamoriya Rebellion were:

1. Clash for Power: The Moamoriya Mahantas, with many devoted followers, became powerful and challenged the Ahom King.
2. Royal Repression: Ahom kings humiliated and tortured Mahantas and their disciples, including murder and forcing them into demeaning rituals.
3. Decline of Ahom Monarchy: After strong rulers like Rudra Singha, weak kings allowed selfish officials to gain power, causing misgovernance.
4. Lack of Centralized Administration: After capturing power, the Moamoriyas could not establish strong central control, and leaders fought among themselves, creating instability.

Q3. Do you think the change in the religious policy of the Ahoms was a cause of the Moamoriya Rebellion? Discuss.

Answer: Yes, the change in Ahom religious policy was a major cause of the Moamoriya Rebellion. Initially, the Ahoms followed their tribal religion, but later they adopted Hinduism. The kings favored Brahmanical Sattras over Sudra Sattras like the Mayamara, creating jealousy and division. King Rudra Singha gave privileges to Brahmanical Sattras and kept close control over them, increasing tensions. During Siva Singha’s reign, Sudra Mahantas and their disciples faced severe repression on royal orders. These religious discriminations and persecutions angered the Moamoriyas and became a key reason for the rebellion.

Q4. How far was the paik system responsible for the Moamoriya Rebellion? Give your own opinion.

Answer: The Paik system was an important socio-economic cause of the Moamoriya Rebellion. Under this system, every male citizen had to provide a certain period of free labor to the state. When the service period was increased from three to four months, the Moamoriyas, mostly common people and artisans, resisted the extra burden. The system also created social inequality: Kanri Paiks performed labor, while Chamua Paiks were exempted by paying a tax. This increased the workload on Kanri Paiks, causing economic and social unfairness. Feeling exploited and disrespected, the Moamoriyas’ discontent grew, and this became a major reason for their participation in the rebellion.

Q5. Discuss the results of the Moamoriya Rebellion.

Answer: The Moamoriya Rebellion had far-reaching political, socio-economic, and cultural results. They are :

1. Political Impact: Weakening of Ahom monarchy; King Gaurinath Singha sought British military assistance.
2. Socio-Economic Consequences: Widespread destruction, killings, displacement, famine; loss of skilled artisans affecting production and economy.
3. Creation of Matak Kingdom: Treaty with Sarbananda led to an independent kingdom; he became the Borsenapati and a tributary ruler.

Q6. Do you think the Moamoriya Rebellion was successful or unsuccessful? Give logic for your answer.

Answer: The Moamoriya Rebellion can be seen as both successful and unsuccessful. It was unsuccessful because the rebels failed to establish a stable government; internal conflicts prevented them from replacing the Ahom administration, and the monarchy was eventually restored. However, it was successful in showing the widespread anger of common people against exploitation. It weakened the Ahom kingdom, led to the creation of the independent Matak Kingdom, and indirectly paved the way for British intervention in Assam, marking a major change in the region’s political scenario.

Q7. Under what circumstances did Captain Welsh come to Assam? Why did he leave his expedition incomplete and go back?

Answer: Captain Welsh came to Assam during a time of political chaos caused by the Moamoriya Rebellion. The Ahom King Gaurinath Singha was struggling to maintain control, had fled his capital, and faced repeated revolts from different groups. In his helplessness, the king appealed to the British East India Company for military assistance. The British, seeing an opportunity to extend their influence, sent Captain Welsh with an expeditionary force to suppress the rebellion and restore the king’s authority.

However, Welsh had to leave the expedition incomplete and return because the new Governor-General, Sir John Shore, adopted a strict policy of non-intervention. Despite repeated appeals from the Ahom king and his officials, Welsh was ordered to return immediately. As a result, although he provided some assistance, the mission could not fully restore stability in Assam, and the situation remained only partially resolved.

Q8. Describe the role played by Captain Welsh in suppressing the Moamoriya Rebellion. How far was he successful?

Answer: Captain Welsh played an important role in suppressing the Moamoriya Rebellion. He arrived in Assam in November 1792 with a British contingent to assist King Gaurinath Singha, who was struggling to maintain control. Welsh first helped the king reoccupy Gauhati and suppressed the revolt of the Darrang Raja and Haradutta Choudhury, recognizing the Darrang Raja as a tributary once again.

He then moved to Rangpur with additional forces and attacked the rebels, forcing them to flee. By March 21, 1794, Welsh restored the king to his capital. While he was successful in temporarily controlling the rebellion and reinstating the Ahom authority, his success was partial. The rebellion was only pushed back, not fully ended, and flared up again after his departure.

Q9. Discuss the Captain Welsh’s Account of Assam.

Answer: Captain Welsh’s Account of Assam is an important record that provides insights into the state of Assam in the late 18th century. He described the political situation, highlighting the Ahom King’s limited powers and constant conflicts among the five principal ministers, worsened by the dictatorship of Kirtichandra Borbarua and the murder of the Moamoriya Mahanta.

On the economy and trade, he noted Assam’s natural resources and trade with Bengal, with salt being expensive and mostly imported. Regarding urban centers, he described Gauhati as a large, fortified town and Rangpur’s walls as dilapidated.

Welsh also observed the general conditions, mentioning scarcity of money, cheap goods, and reliance on salt and gold for exchange, though Assam remained relatively affluent.

Short Notes

(1) Kirtichandra Barua: He was a powerful Ahom official and a disciple of the Dihing Sattra. He had a strong rivalry with the Mayamara Sattra and often humiliated its Mahanta and disciples. His ill-treatment of the Moamoriya leaders, Nahor khora Saikia and Ragha Moran, was the direct reason for the start of the first phase of the Moamoriya Rebellion.

(2) Mayamara Sattra: This was a Vaishnava Sattra belonging to the Kaal Songhoti. Its disciples were primarily from the Moran tribe, as well as other tribes and lower castes. Because its religious preceptors were from the Sudra caste, it was very popular and had a large number of followers. The increasing power of this Sattra led to a clash with the Ahom monarchy.

(3) Purnananda Burhagohain: He was a very powerful and skilled Ahom official who acted as the Prime Minister. He took on the full responsibility of the Ahom kingdom during the Moamoriya Rebellion and tried his best to restore peace. He was known for his courage and devotion to duty and managed to protect the kingdom from complete destruction. He was also the one who finally ended the rebellion by concluding a treaty with the Moamoriyas and creating the independent Matak Kingdom.

(4) Kanri paik and Chamua paik: The Paik system had two main classes of paiks. The Kanri Paiks, who were the majority, had to provide free manual labor for the state for four months a year. The Chamua Paiks were a smaller group who were exempted from this labor by paying land taxes. The increasing burden on the Kanri Paiks due to the decrease in their numbers caused great social inequality and was a major reason for the rebellion.

(5) Trade treaty between Welsh and Gaurinath Singha: This was a treaty signed on February 8, 1793, between Captain Welsh and King Gaurinath Singha. It was a very important agreement that allowed the British to levy a 10% tax on all goods imported to and exported from Assam to any English-dominated region. This treaty laid the groundwork for future British economic control over Assam.

(6) Bar Raja Phuleswari: She was the wife of Ahom King Siva Singha. She was a very powerful queen who became the ‘Bor Raja’ and actively supported the Shakta religion. She was very hostile towards the Vaishnava Sattras and on her orders, the Moamoriya Mahanta was humiliated and forced to wear a tilak with the blood of sacrificed animals. This act of religious repression was a major cause of the Moamoriya Rebellion.

(7) Parbatiya Gosain: This was the name given to the Shakta Brahman Pandit, Krishnaram Bhattacharya, and his successors. He was invited from Bengal by King Rudra Singha and established at Nilachal Hill. Many Ahom kings, starting with Siva Singha, became his disciples. The increasing royal patronage towards the Parbatiya Gosains and Shaktism led to the repression of the Vaishnava Sattras.

(8) Sarbananda: He was a Moamoriya leader who, after the rebellion, declared himself as an independent ruler and minted coins in his name. To end the conflict, Purnananda Burhagohain signed a treaty with him in 1805, which led to the creation of the independent Matak Kingdom under Sarbananda’s rule.

(9) Bharat Singha: He was a relative of the Moamoriya Mahanta who was installed on the Ahom throne by the rebels after they captured the capital in 1786. He ruled as a parallel king until he was killed by the royal army.

(10) Rangpur city: Rangpur was the capital of the Ahom kingdom. It was a fortified city with brick walls. During the Moamoriya Rebellion, the rebels captured Rangpur and installed their own king, which showed how weak the Ahom monarchy had become.