British Colonial Intervention: Trade Pattern, Spatiality Of Markets, And Trading Networks In The Goalpara Region Till 1826

Abstract

Till 1826, Assam was controlled by the Ahoms. With the treaty of Yandaboo (1826), the long-ruling power of the Ahoms came to an end, and Assam got a new ruler, i.e., the British. With the signing of this agreement, the British gained control over Assam, Manipur, Cachar, and Jaintia. The Goalpara region's geopolitical status was quite significant for all the imperialist power who were eyeing the natural resources of Assam as well as its neighbouring provinces. The period of study undertaken about the region of Goalpara has its relevance. Before the East India Company's ascendency, Goalpara was Bengal and Assam's most crucial commerce centre. This region has acted as a gateway to Assam for centuries. An essential commodity in the Assam market's, salt, was regarded as equivalent to gold by the locals due to its scarcity. Because of the less salt supply from the Naga Hills, Sadiya, and Burhat region, Assam was forced to rely on the supply of salt from Bengal. To earn a handful amount, the British East India Company opened various salt warehouses at Goalpara. Ultimately, Goalpara became the hub of the trade-in salt for the North-Eastern Frontier countries. Apart from salt, sal timber (Soria Robusta) and jute brought enormous profits for the Company. Thus, this paper attempts to highlight the
significance of Goalpara in the British annexation of North-Eastern India.