What did ‘Swaraj’ mean to Assam’s plantation workers?

Swaraj, a term popularized during India’s freedom struggle, translates to ‘self-rule’ or ‘self-governance’. However, for different sections of Indian society, especially marginalized groups like the plantation workers in Assam, the meaning of Swaraj was shaped by their unique socio-economic conditions.

Historical Background

Assam’s tea plantations were established by the British in the 19th century. Workers, largely from tribal and lower-caste communities of central India, were brought to Assam under oppressive conditions. They faced:

• Low wages
• Inhuman working hours
• Lack of freedom of movement (they couldn’t leave plantations)
• Disconnection from their homeland

As the Indian national movement gained momentum in the early 20th century, the call for Swaraj resonated even with these distant and downtrodden communities — but in a different sense.

What Swaraj Meant for Assam’s Plantation Workers

Aspect	Meaning of Swaraj for Plantation Workers
Freedom from Oppression	End of exploitative British planters’ control over their lives and labor
Right to Mobility	Freedom to leave the plantations and return to their native places
Better Working Conditions	Hopes for fair wages, humane treatment, and shorter working hours
Dignity and Identity	Recognition of their cultural and human identity in a free India
Political Awareness	Engagement with nationalist movements and idea of collective resistance

While mainstream nationalist leaders like Gandhi emphasized non-violent resistance and constitutional reforms, plantation workers associated Swaraj withconcrete changes in their daily lives, especially freedom from bonded labor and the right to return home.

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