# Assam Province

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Province of British India

North-East Frontier (1874–1905) Assam Province (1912–1947) Province of British India 1874–1947 Assam Province in 1936 Capital Shillong Area • 1901 121,908[b][1] km2 (47,069 sq mi) • 1914 202,270[a] km2 (78,100 sq mi) History • Bifurcation of Eastern Bengal and Assam 1912 • Simla Convention 1914 • Independence of India 15 August 1947 Preceded by Succeeded by Eastern Bengal and Assam Assam East Bengal Today part of Bangladesh Sylhet India Assam Arunachal Pradesh Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Nagaland Tripura

Part of a series on the History of Assam Proto-historic Pragjyotisha kingdom Danava dynasty Bhauma dynasty Sonitpura kingdom Medieval Kamarupa kingdom Varman dynasty Davaka dynasty Mlechchha dynasty Pala dynasty Late Medieval Chutia Kingdom Dimasa Kingdom Kamata Kingdom Ahom kingdom Koch kingdom Baro-Bhuyan Moamoria rebellion Modern Colonial Assam Assam Province Contemporary Assam Movement Sources Kamarupa inscriptions Buranji Categories Architecture Palaces Forts v t e

**Assam Province** was a province of [British India](/source/British_India), created in 1912 by the partition of the [Eastern Bengal and Assam](/source/Eastern_Bengal_and_Assam) Province. Its capital was in [Shillong](/source/Shillong).

The Assam territory was first separated from Bengal in 1874 as the 'North-East Frontier' [non-regulation province](/source/Non-regulation_province). It was incorporated into the new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam in 1905 and re-established as a province in 1912.

## History

Main article: [Colonial Assam](/source/Colonial_Assam)

In 1824, Assam was occupied by British forces following the [First Anglo-Burmese War](/source/First_Anglo-Burmese_War) and on 24 February 1826 it was ceded to Britain by Burma under the [Yandaboo Treaty of 1826](/source/Treaty_of_Yandabo).[2] Between 1826 and 1832, Assam was made part of Bengal under the [Bengal Presidency](/source/Bengal_Presidency). From 1832 to October 1838, the Assam princely state was restored in Upper Assam while the British ruled in Lower Assam. [Purandar Singha](/source/Purandar_Singha) was allowed to rule as king of Upper Assam in 1833, but after that brief period Assam was annexed to Bengal by the British. In 1873, British political control was imposed on western [Naga communities](/source/Naga_people). On 6 February 1874, Assam, including [Sylhet](/source/Sylhet), was severed from Bengal to form the Assam Chief-Commissionership, also known as the 'North-East Frontier'. Shillong was chosen as the capital of the Non-Regulation Province of Assam in September 1874. The [Lushai Hills](/source/Lushai_Hills) were transferred to Assam in 1897. The new Commissionership included the five districts of Assam proper ([Kamrup](/source/Undivided_Kamrup_district), [Nagaon](/source/Nagaon), [Darrang](/source/Darrang), [Sibsagar](/source/Sibsagar) and [Lakhimpur](/source/Lakhimpur_district)), [Khasi-Jaintia Hills](/source/Khasi-Jaintia_Hills), [Garo Hills](/source/Garo_Hills), [Naga Hills](/source/Naga_Hills_District%2C_British_India), [Goalpara](/source/Goalpara) and [Sylhet](/source/Sylhet_district)-[Cachar](/source/Cachar) comprising about 54,100 sq miles.

From 16 October 1905, Assam became part of the province of East Bengal and Assam. The province was annulled in 1911 following a sustained mass protest campaign and on 1 April 1912 the two parts of Bengal were reunited and a new partition based on language followed, [Oriya](/source/Oriya_language) and [Assamese](/source/Assamese_language) areas were separated to form new administrative units: [Bihar and Orissa Province](/source/Bihar_and_Orissa_Province) was created to the west, and Assam Province to the east.

British India's [Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms](/source/Montagu%E2%80%93Chelmsford_Reforms) enacted through the [Government of India Act 1919](/source/Government_of_India_Act_1919) expanded the Assam Legislative Council and introduced the principle of [dyarchy](/source/Dyarchy), whereby certain responsibilities such as agriculture, health, education, and local government, were transferred to elected ministers. Some of the Indian ministers under the dyarchy scheme were [Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla](/source/Muhammed_Saadulah) (education and agriculture 1924–1934) and Rai Bahadur Promode Chandra Dutta (local self-government).[3]

The [Government of India Act 1935](/source/Government_of_India_Act_1935) provided provincial autonomy and further enlarged the elected provincial legislature to 108 elected members.[4] In 1937, elections were held for the newly created Assam Legislative Assembly established in Shillong. The [Indian National Congress](/source/Indian_National_Congress) had the largest number of seats, with 38 members, but declined to form a government. Therefore, the [Assam Valley Party](/source/Assam_Valley_Party) with [Muslim League](/source/All-India_Muslim_League)'s support Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla was invited to form a ministry. Saadulla's government resigned in September 1938, after the Congress changed its decision, and the Governor, Sir Robert Neil Reid, then invited [Gopinath Bordoloi](/source/Gopinath_Bordoloi). Bordoloi's cabinet included the future President of India [Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed](/source/Fakhruddin_Ali_Ahmed). During the [Japanese invasion of India](/source/Japanese_invasion_of_India) in 1944, some areas of Assam Province, including the [Naga Hills district](/source/Naga_Hills_District%2C_British_India) and part of the [Manipur princely state](/source/Manipur_(princely_state)), were occupied by Japanese forces between mid March and July.[5]

When fresh elections to the provincial legislatures were called in 1946, the Congress won a majority in Assam, and Bordoloi was again the chief minister. Prior to the [Independence of India](/source/Independence_of_India), on 1 April 1946, Assam Province was granted self-rule and on 15 August 1947 it became part of the [Dominion of India](/source/Dominion_of_India).[6] Bordoloi continued as the chief minister even after India's [independence](/source/Partition_of_India) in 1947.

### Chief commissioners

- 1889 – 1891: [James Wallace Quinton](/source/James_Wallace_Quinton) (b. 1834 – d. 1891)

- 1912 – 1918: [Archdale Earle](/source/Archdale_Earle) (b. 1861 – d. 1934)

- 1918 – 3 January 1921: [Sir Nicholas Dodd Beatson Bell](/source/Nicholas_Beatson-Bell) (b. 1867 – d. 1936)

### Governors

See also: [List of Governors of Assam](/source/List_of_Governors_of_Assam)

- 3 January 1921 – 2 April 1921: [Sir Nicholas Dodd Beatson Bell](/source/Nicholas_Beatson-Bell) (b. 1867 – d. 1936)

- 3 April 1921 – 10 October 1922: Sir [William Sinclair Marris](/source/William_Sinclair_Marris) (b. 1873 – d. 1945)

- 10 Oct 1922 – 28 June 1927: Sir [John Henry Kerr](/source/John_Henry_Kerr) (b. 1871 – d. 1934)

- 28 Jun 1927 – 11 May 1932: Sir [Egbert Laurie Lucas Hammond](/source/Egbert_Laurie_Lucas_Hammond) (b. 1873 – d. 1939)

- 11 May 1932 – 4 March 1937: Sir [Michael Keane](/source/Michael_Keane_(governor)) (b. 1874 – d. 1937)

- 4 March 1937 – 4 May 1942: [Robert Neil Reid](/source/Robert_Reid_(civil_servant)) (b. 1883 – d. 1964)

- 4 May 1942 – 4 May 1947: [Sir Andrew Gourlay Clow](/source/Andrew_Gourlay_Clow) (b. 1890 – d. 1957)

- 15 Mar 1944 – Jul 1944: [Mutaguchi Renya](/source/Renya_Mutaguchi) (b. 1888 – d. 1966) Mil (Japanese military commander)

- 16 Mar 1944 – Jul 1944: [A. C. Chatterjee](/source/A._C._Chatterjee) IIL (for the provisional government of Free India)

- 4 May 1947 – 15 August 1947: [Sir Saleh Hydari](/source/Muhammad_Saleh_Akbar_Hydari) (b. 1894 – d. 1948)

### Chief ministers

Main article: [Prime Minister of Assam](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Assam)

- 1 April 1937 – 19 September 1938: [Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla](/source/Muhammed_Saadulah) (b. 1885 – d. 1955), [All-India Muslim League](/source/All-India_Muslim_League) (1st time)

- 19 Sep 1938 – 17 November 1939: [Gopinath Bordoloi](/source/Gopinath_Bordoloi) (b. 1890 – d. 1950) [Indian National Congress](/source/Indian_National_Congress) (1st time)

- 17 Nov 1939 – 24 December 1941: [Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla](/source/Muhammed_Saadulah) (b. 1885 – d. 1955), [All-India Muslim League](/source/All-India_Muslim_League) (2nd time)

- 24 Dec 1941 – 24 August 1942: Governor's Rule

- 25 Aug 1942 – 11 February 1946: [Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla](/source/Muhammed_Saadulah) (b. 1885 – d. 1955), [All-India Muslim League](/source/All-India_Muslim_League) (3rd time)

- 11 Feb 1946 – 15 August 1947: [Gopinath Bordoloi](/source/Gopinath_Bordoloi) (b. 1890 – d. 1950) [Indian National Congress](/source/Indian_National_Congress) (2nd time)

### Deputy commissioners of the Naga Hills District

See also: [Naga Hills District, British India](/source/Naga_Hills_District%2C_British_India)

- 1912 – 1913: J. K. Webster

- 1913 – 1917: H. C. Berners

- 1917 – 1935: [John Henry Hutton](/source/John_Henry_Hutton) (b. 1885 – d. 1968)

- 1935 – 1937: [James Philip Mills](/source/James_Philip_Mills) (b. 1890 – d. 1960)

- 1937 – 1947: [Charles Ridley Pawsey](/source/Charles_Ridley_Pawsey) (b. 1894 – d. 1972)

## Administration

There were 2 administrative divisions in the province, including the Assam Valley Division,and the Surma Valley Division. There were a total of 14 Districts.

Division Divisional Headquarters Districts Princely states Assam Valley Division Guwahati Goalpara, Kamrup, the Garo Hills, Darrang, Nowgong, Sibsagar and Lakhimpur, Sadiya Frontier District, Balipara Frontier District Manipur Surma Valley Division Silchar Sylhet, Cachar, the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, the Naga Hills and the Lushai Hills Khasi States

[Manipur](/source/Manipur_(princely_state)) under jurisdiction the Assam Valley Division.

## Demographics

Religious groups in Assam Province (1941) Religious group 1941[7]: 42 Pop. % Hinduism [c] 4,540,950 41.54% Islam 3,474,141 31.78% Tribal Religion 2,824,133 25.84% Christianity 67,184 0.61% Buddhism 8,317 0.076% Others 15,663 0.14% Total population 10,930,388 100% All figures include Sylhet Division in Bangladesh

## See also

- [Bengal Presidency](/source/Bengal_Presidency)

- [British rule in the Lushai Hills](/source/British_rule_in_the_Lushai_Hills)

- [Colonial Assam](/source/Colonial_Assam)

- [Northeast Frontier Railway zone](/source/Northeast_Frontier_Railway_zone)

- [Partition of Bengal](/source/Partition_of_Bengal_(1905))

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Province area after [Simla Convention](/source/Simla_Convention) and accession of South Tibet excluding dependent states.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Province area. Total area including dependent states (Manipur - 8456 sq mi and Khasi Hills - 6157 sq mi) is 61,682 sq mi (159755 км2)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ad-dharmi_10-0)** 1931 & 1941 censuses: Including [Ad-Dharmis](/source/Ad-Dharmi)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** The Imperial Gazetteer of India (1908) Vol. IV. p.14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Aitchison, C. U., ed. (1931), [*The Treaty of Yandaboo, (A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and Sanads: Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries. Vol. XII.)*](https://web.archive.org/web/20081202003039/http://projectsouthasia.sdstate.edu/Docs/history/primarydocs/Treaties/Burma/002.htm), Calcutta: Projectsouthasia.sdstate.edu, pp. 230–233, archived from [the original](http://projectsouthasia.sdstate.edu/Docs/history/primarydocs/Treaties/Burma/002.htm) on 2 December 2008

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Sharma, Suresh (2006). [*Documents on North-East India: Assam (1664–1935)*](https://books.google.com/books?id=JCnLlpHhtUgC&pg=PA205). Mittal Publication. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [81-8324-089-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/81-8324-089-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Assam Legislative Assembly – MLA 1937–46"](http://assamassembly.gov.in/mla-1937-46.html). *assamassembly.gov.in*. Retrieved 26 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Mahalanobis, P. C. (1946). ["Distribution of Muslims in the Population of India: 1941"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/25047887). *Sankhyā: The Indian Journal of Statistics (1933-1960)*. **7** (4): 429–434. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0036-4452](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0036-4452).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Provinces of British India"](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_BrProvinces.htm). *www.worldstatesmen.org*. Retrieved 26 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Census1941_9-0)** India Census Commissioner (1941). ["Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.28215541). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [saoa.crl.28215541](https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.28215541). Retrieved 22 July 2022.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the [public domain](/source/Public_domain): [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm), ed. (1911). "[Assam](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Assam)". *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)* (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

- *The Imperial Gazetteer of India* (26 vol, 1908–31), highly detailed description of all of India in 1901. [online edition](https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/)

## External links

- [Integration of the North East: the State Formation Process](https://web.archive.org/web/20140219000110/http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Download/Jrp/pdf/133_3.pdf) (archived 19 February 2014)

v t e State of Assam Capital: Dispur History Timeline Pragjyotisha kingdom Kamarupa Dimasa Kingdom Kamata Kingdom Chutia Kingdom Davaka kingdom Baro-Bhuyan Ahom kingdom Singarigharutha British rule in Assam Assam Province Assam Mail Assam Accord Golaghat Convention Topics Etymology Biodiversity Brahmaputra Valley Cuisine Jolpan Judima Tea Apo Economy Education Institutions of higher education Tourism Assam Rifles Assam Regiment O Mur Apunar Desh Abhiruchi Sports Day Religion Ahom Bathouism Hinduism in Assam Islam in Assam Christianity in Assam Sikhism in Assam Ekasarana Dharma Government Chief Ministers Governors Legislative Assembly High Court Politics Human rights Commission Police Political Parties Districts and divisions North Assam Biswanath Darrang Sonitpur Udalguri Lower Assam Baksa Barpeta Bongaigaon Chirang Dhubri Kokrajhar Kamrup Kamrup Metro Goalpara Nalbari South Salmara-Mankachar Central Assam Dima Hasao Hojai Karbi Anglong Karbi Anglong (West) Morigaon Nagaon Upper Assam Charaideo Dibrugarh Dhemaji Golaghat Jorhat Lakhimpur Majuli Sivasagar Tinsukia Barak Valley Cachar Hailakandi Karimganj Geography Barak Valley (South Assam) Brahmaputra River Majuli Dhansiri Dihing Diphlu Halflong (The Hill station of Assam) Culture Languages Assamese language Alphabet Grammar Kamarupi Prakrit Goalpariya dialects Boro Hajong Kachari Karbi Kochi Mising Rabha Rangpuri Sylheti Tiwa Bihu Folk dances of Assam Bagurumba Bihu dance Ekasarana Dharma Borgeet Satra Sattriya Jaapi Xorai Gamosa Textiles and dresses Assam silk Eri silk Muga Pat Vrindavani vastra Hengdang Mekhela sador Riha Xorai Cultural development of Kamarupa Music Festivals Ali A:yé Lígang Ambubachi Mela Bihu Me-Dam-Me-Phi Jonbeel Mela Boro culture Khring Khring Baitho Puja Art Cinema Literature List of Assamese Periodicals List of Assamese writers' pen names Assamese poetry List of poets Sanchipat Mobile theatre in Assam The Arunodoi (Orunodoi - 1846) The Hemkosh The Assam Tribune Asam Sahitya Sabha Buranji Kirtan Ghosha Dasham Naam Ghosa Saptakanda Ramayana Jonaki Music of Assam Goalpariya Lokogeet Tokari geet Dihanaam Hiranaam Dhol Gogona Pepa People Assamese people Ahom Brahmin Chutia Kalita Koch Scheduled Tribes of Assam Boros Deoris Dimasas Karbis Misings Rabhas Koches Kaibartas Tea-garden community List of people

v t e Presidencies and provinces of British India Italics = areas outside present-day India and Pakistan Presidencies Agra Presidency Bengal Presidency Bombay Presidency Madras Presidency Presidency of Coromandel and Bengal Settlements Straits Settlements Presidency (at Penang) Western Presidency (Surat Presidency) Provinces Aden Province (associated, in Yemen, Arabia) Agra Province Ajmer-Merwara Andaman and Nicobar Islands Assam Province Baluchistan Bengal Province Berar Province Bihar and Orissa Province Bihar Province (Upper) Burma Central Provinces Central Provinces and Berar Coorg Province Delhi Province Eastern Bengal and Assam Lower Burma Nagpur Province North-West Frontier Province North-Western Provinces Orissa Province Panth-Piploda Province Punjab Province Sind Province United Provinces of Agra and Oudh United Provinces of British India United Provinces Agencies of British India British Empire in India British rule in Burma Districts of British India Divisions of British India List of princely states of British India (alphabetical) Residencies of British India Subdivisions of British India Territorial evolution of the British Empire

[26°08′N 91°46′E / 26.14°N 91.77°E / 26.14; 91.77](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Assam_Province&params=26.14_N_91.77_E_region:IN_type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Assam Province](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam_Province) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam_Province?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.