ASSAM
HISTORY
Assam (Asom/Axom)
is the gateway to the north-east, a state known for its breathtaking scenic
beauty, rarest flora and fauna, lofty green hills, vast rolling plain, mighty
waterways and a land of fairs and festivals. It originally include3d in addition
to modern Assam, parts of modern Bengal and modern Bangladesh. The name Assam
is of recent origin. In ancient times, Assam constituted a part of the land
known successively as Pragjyotisha or Pragjyotishpura and Kamrupa. Assam
(Asom/Axom) or its anglicized version is a comparatively modern name. Opinions
on the root of the name vary with one view ascribing its origin to the Bodo
word Ha-Cham which means ‘low or level country’ and a second view ascribing it
to the word Asama, meaning ‘unequalled’ or ‘peerless’, and used to denote the
Ahoms, a Shan tribe which ruled the land for six centuries from the 13th
century A.D.
Assam is almost separated from central India by Bangladesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Myanmar bound it in the east, west by West Bengal, north by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh and South by Meghalaya, Bangladesh, Tripura and Mizoram. It is dominated by the mighty Brahmaputra, one of the great rivers of the world, which not only has a fertile alluvial plain for growing rice but also is famous for tea, earthquakes are common.
Assam is known for tea, petroleum resources, Assam silk and for its rich biodiversity. It has successfully conserved one-horned Indian rhinoceros from near extinction in Kaziranga, the tiger in Manas and provides one of the last wild habitats for the Asian elephants. It is increasingly becoming a popular destination for wildlife tourism and notably, Kaziranga and Manas are both World Heritage Sites. Assam was also known for its Sal tree forests and forest products, much depleted now. A land of high rainfall, Assam is endowed with lush greenery and the mighty river the Brahmaputra, whose tributaries and oxbow lakes provide the region with a unique hydro-geomorphic and aesthetic environment.
PRE-HISTORY AND MYTHS
ANCIENT ASSAM
Ancient Assam was known as Kamrupa and was ruled by many powerful dynasties. The Varman dynasty (350-650 A. D.) and the Xalostombho dynasty led Kamrupa as a strong ancient kingdom. During the rule of the greatest of the Varman kings, Bhaskarvarman (600-650 A. D.), a contemporary of Harsha Vardhan of Kannauj, the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang visited the region and recorded his travels. Other dynasties that ruled the region belonged to the Indo-Tibetan groups, such as the Kachari and Chutias.
VARMAN DYNASTY
The first king who ruled over Kamrupa was Pushya Varman (350-380 A.D.). Pushya Varman was probably a contemporary of Samudragupta. In the Allahabad Pillar Inscription of the Gupta emperor, the name of Kamrupa occurs as a frontier kingdom. Samalata, Davaka, Nepal and Kartipur, whose kings owed allegiance to Samudragupta on their own accord. The unnamed king of Kamrupa of this inscription is usually identified with Pushya Varman.
If we
count the date of Pushya Varman on the basis of the Badaganga epigraph of
Bhutivarman, (dated 234 Gupta era which corresponds to 553-54 A.D.) who was the
eighth king of the dynasty and allow its king an average reigning period of 25 years, Pushya Varman’s reign would fall
between c. 355-80 A, D. He would thus be contemporary of Samudragupta (c. 320-80 A.D.) It
was perhaps in honour of his overlord that he named his son as Samudravarman
and his daughter-in-law as Dattadevi in imitation of the names of the Gupta
emperor Samudragupta and his queen Dattadevi.
Rajatarangini,
a book of the fifth century A.D., by Kalhan, mentions a Kamrupa princess named
Amritaprabha, who was given in marriage to Meghavahana, a Kashmir prince in an
open sayambara. This Amritaprabha is believed to be the daughter of Balavarman,
the grandson of Pushya Varman. Rajatarangini relates that Amritaprabha erected
in Kashmir, a lofty Vihara for the benefit of the foreign bhikshus and that
this Vihara was known as Amritabhaban. It is further stated that Amnritaprabha
took with her a Tibetan Buddhist monk named Stunpa, who was a preceptor of her
father. This Stunpa erected a Stupa in Kashmir known as Lo-Stunpa. Ou-Kung and
M. A. Stein also support the historicity of this event. During the reign of
Kalyanavarman, the son of Balavarman, the Davaka or the Kapili valley
(comprising possibly the present district of Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and North
Cachar area) was absorbed into the empire of Kamrupa. To signalise this
victory, he sent a diplomatic mission to China in 438 A. D. Mahendravarman,
grandson of Kalyanavarman expanded his empire to south-east Bengal upto the sea
by shaking off the last vestiges of the Gupta influence in Kamrupa. He was the first king of Assam to
perform Aswamedha and he did it on two occasions.
Mahendravarman’s
grandson Bhutiavarman was a powerful king. He conquered Pundravardhana (North
Bengal) sometime between 545-50 A. D. and donated lands to more than 200
Brahmanas in the Chandrapuri Visaya located within the Pundravardhana Bhukti.
He might have also extended his sway in the south and the west and brought the
outlying regions of Samatata, Sylhet, Tripura and other regions under his
control. He has also performed one Ashwamedha sacrifice. The glory of Kamrupa
suffered a temporary setback during the reign of Bhaskaravarman’s father
Susthitavarman, who suffered a defeat at the hands of the Later Gupta monarch Mahasengupta and as a result of this defeat lost possession of
Pundravardhana.
Bhaskaravarma
(c. 600-650 A. D.), ascending the throne at a time, when the reputation of his
family was at a low ebb, not only restored it but made Kamrupa, a power to be
reckoned with whose alliance was welcomed by a monarch of Harsha's (606-648 A.
D.) fame, the last great monarch of ancient Northern India. By this alliance,
Bhaskara not only recovered Pundravardhana but also brought Gauda with its
capital Karna Suvarna under his control. In fact, it was from his victorious
camp at Karnasuvarna that Bhaskara issued his Nidhanpur grant by which he renewed the
grants of land made earlier by
Bhutiavarman in Pundravardhana.
It was
during the reign of Bhaskaravarman that the great Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang
visited Kamrupa in 643 A. D. and stayed in his capital for nearly two months. The
pilgrim speaks highly about the noble qualities of Bhaskara and his prowess. In
the religious assemblies held at Prayag and Kanauj by Harsha, Bhaskara was
shown special honour in the presence of all the kings assembled there. After
the death of Harsha in 648 A. D., Bhaskara became the supreme lord of Eastern
India extending his sway as far as Nalanda. He had also brought under his
control Sylhet and Tripura including south-east Bengal.
Q1) King Kandarpeswar was allowed to settle
in which place after the 1857 revolt:
Answer: Guwahati.
Q2) In how many parts the British divided Assam for the provision of
administration:
Answer:2
Q3) Who was on duty in lower Assam under
British administration in Assam:
Answer: David Scott.
Q4) For how many days captain Wales stayed
in Assam:
Answer: 17 Months.
Q5) Kanaklata Baruah was killed while she
was trying to host the
tri-colour in which police station:
Answer: Gohpur.
Q6) Who was the only Assamese to take part
in the Historic Round Table Conference as a representative of India:
Answer: Chandradhar Barua.
Q7) Who was the only Assamese to take part
in the historic Dandi March:
Answer: Liladhar Baruah.
Q8) When did Assam Pradesh Congress
Committee form:
Answer: 1921
Q9) Who led the famous 1857 revolt against the British in Assam:
Answer: Moniram Dewan and Piyoli Baruah.
Q10) Who led the first notable revolt against the British in Assam:
Answer: Gumadhar Konwar.
Q11) Who was known as “Vikramaditya” of
Kamrup:
Answer:
Naranarayan.
Answer:
1861
Q13) How many “Ghosas” are there in the Nama
Ghosa:
Answer:
1000
Q14) Which one of these Satradhikar played
an essential role in India’s Freedom and Social Reform Movement:
Answer:
Auniatiya Satradhikar.
Q15) The Ahom King Siva Singha declared his
chief queen as Bar Raja. Who was she:
Answer:
Phuleswari.
Q16) The Moamaria rebellion is related to which of the following:
Answer:
Conflict between Ahoms and Morans.
Q17)
Which of the personality was better known as an economist and social reformer
during the Ahom rule:
Answer: Momai Tamuli Borbaruah.
Q18) The Ahom kingdom originated in which period of History:
Answer:
Medieval.
Q19) During whose reign Kachari kingdom was entirely captured
by Ahoms:
Answer:
Rudra Singha.
Q20) In Sanskrit inscriptions, the name of Naranarayan is
mentioned as:
Answer: Malladeva.
Q21) Who was the first Ahom Emperor to assume the Hindu title Swarga Naranaraya:
Answer:
Suhungmung.
Q22) Gohain Kamal Ali, constructed by Gohain Kamal from Koch
Bihar to Narayanpur, was built during the reign of:
Answer: Nara
Narayan.
Q23)
Sadiya Khowa Gohain was a:
Answer: Frontier Officer.
Q24) Year 1894 is related to:
Answer: Patharughat Revolt.
Q25) The Ahom Maidams are:
Answer: Elaborate burial tanks of Ahom nobility and kings.
Q26) The Ahom marriage is popularly known as:
Answer:
Chaklang.
Q27) Who was the Ahom king when Mir Jumla invade Assam:
Answer: Jayadhwaj Singha.
Q28) Which historian came along with Mir Jumla:
Answer: Shiabuddin Talish.
Q29) Which general was deputed by Aurangzeb to capture Assam:
Answer: Mir Jumla.
Q30) Which Sutiya king built Sadiya:
Answer: Ratnadhwajpal.
Q31) When Srimanta Sankardeva fled the Ahom kingdom he was given shelter by:
Answer: Naranarayan.
Q32) Which of the following Ahom King introduced the Buranji written in Assam:
Answer: Sukaphaa.
Q33) Sukaphaa is said to have marched through which pass of Patkai ranges of hills:
Answer: Pangchu Pass.
Q34) Who was the only representative from Assam as well as the Northeast in the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution:
Answer: Syed Muhammad Saadulla.
Q35) During which dynasty Madan Kamdev temple was built:
Answer: Pala Dynasty.
Q36) By what popular name is Syed Shah Milan known in Assam:
Answer: Ajan Fakir.
Q37) Who wrote Prahlada Charitra:
Answer: Hem Saraswati.
Q38) The third Assamese film Monomoti was released in the year:
Answer: 1941
Q39) The first Assamese daily newspaper Batori was published from:
Answer: Jorhat.
Q40) Which one of the following is the first Government College in Assam:
Answer: Cotton College.
Q41) The first Assamese Sonet book Malach was written by:
Answer: Hiteshwar Borborah.
Q42) In which year communist party was formed at Golaghat:
Answer: 1946
Q43) From which year All India Radio (AIR) started its operation in Assam:
Answer: 1948
Q44) AGP came to the power in Assam for the first time in:
Answer: 1985
Q45) In 1980 the first lady chief minister of Assam Syeda Anwara Taimur formed the ministry only for:
Answer: 7 Months.
Q46) Why was Sudangpha called Bamuni Raja:
Answer: He was brought up in a Brahmin Family.
Q47) Which Ahom king made the capital at Charguya near the Dihing river:
Answer: Suteupha.
Q48) Mahendra Nath Hazarika is associated with:
Answer: Mrityu Bahini.
Q49) Who was the chief of the Swaraj Party in Assam:
Answer: Tarun Ram Phukan.
Q50) Along with the AASU, which other organisation of Assam signed the Assam Accord:
Answer: AAGSP.
Q51) Who was the Prime Minister of India during the signing of the Assam Accord:
Answer: Rajib Gandhi.
Q52) Which one of the following Public Sector Unit was born out of the Assam Accord:
Answer: NRL.
Q53) Who represented the Mughal side in the treaty of Ghilajharighat:
Answer: Mir Jumla.
Q54) The Subansiri was fixed as the boundary between the Ahom and Koch Kingdom by:
Answer: Treaty of Majuli.
Q55) Which of the following historical sites contains examples of Gupta Architecture:
Answer: Da Parbatia.
Q56) The Ahom Maidams are shaped like:
Answer: Pyramids.
Q57) Which of the following sites has Hindu, Buddhist and Jain relics together:
Answer: Suryapahar.
Q58) What is the name of the first Assamese women magazine:
Answer: Ghar Jeoti.
Q59) The first and only Sanskrit College in Assam situated at:
Answer: Nalbari.
Q60) Who was the president of Assam Sahitya Sabha held at Shillong in 1953:
Answer: Surjya Kumar Bhuyan.
Q61) Panchayat Raj was formed in Assam for the first time:
Answer: 1960
Q62) Assam was tagged with which province during colonial rule:
Answer: Shylet.
Q63) Which of the following association was formed by Manik Chandra Baruah:
Answer: Assam Association.
Q64) Who was the king of the Morans when Sukapha came to Assam:
Answer: Badancha.
Q65) Who was the Ahom king during the first war of Ahoms against a powerful kingdom called Kamata:
Answer: Sukhangpha.
Q66) The Assam Association, the first political organization in Assam was formed in:
Answer: 1903
Q67) The first railway line was opened in Assam between:
Answer: Dibrugarh to Margherita.
Q68) The Kaziranga was announced as a protected area by Lord Curzon at:
Answer: 1908
Q69) The first medical college of Assam was established at:
Answer: Dibrugarh.
Q70) From which year Bordoloi Trophy Football tournament was started in Guwahati:
Answer: 1952
Q71) In which year Saraighat Bridge was inaugurated over the river Brahmaputra:
Answer: 1962
Q72) The first mobile theatre of Assam Nataraj was started by:
Answer: Achyut Lahkar.
Q73) Assam hosted the National Games for the first time in:
Answer: 2007
Q74) The Ahoms originally came from:
Answer: Maolung.
Q75) Upper Assam was annexed to British Empire in:
Answer: 1838
Q76) During 1376 to 1380 AD, the Borgohain and Buragohain carried on the administration. Who was the next Ahom king after them:
Answer: Tyaokhamti.
Q77) Dihingia Raja defeated the Kacharis in 1531 AD. What is the Ahom name of Dihingia Raja:
Answer: Suhungmung.
Q78) Which of the following cultural institution was born out of Assam Accord:
Answer: Srimanta Shankardev Kalakhetra.
Q79) Dimapur was the capital of the:
Answer: Bhuyans.
Q80) Which king of Assam has participated in the Kannauj religious festival:
Answer: Bhaskar Varman.
Q81) From whose reign the Sanskrit language was used in Ahom coins:
Answer: Rudra Singha.
Q82) Which of the following is considered as the daughter of Bhagadatta:
Answer: Bhanumoti.
Q83) The war between Nara and Ahom took place during whose reign:
Answer: Suteupha.
Q84) The first Assamese magazine to have introduced cartoons was:
Answer: Bahi.
Q85) Who was the Prime Minister of king Bana:
Answer: Kumbhanda.
Q86) Tamradhwaj was the king of which of the following dynasty:
Answer: Kachari.
Q87) The Dighali Pukhuri in Guwahati is associated with:
Answer: Bhagadatta.
Q88) Hinduism was established in Pragjyotishpur by the king:
Answer: Narakasura.
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