The monument on the bank of the Kolong at Phulaguri. Telegraph picture

Nagaon, Oct. 17: The Nagaon district administration has chalked out plans to unearth the history of Phulaguri Dhawa, 150 years after Assam’s first peasant revolt.

On October 18, 1861, a large number of peasants killed then deputy commissioner Lt Singer at Phulaguri, while protesting against the ban on poppy cultivation.

A 25-member fact-finding committee, comprising intellectuals, historians and college teachers of Nagaon district, will be constituted to prepare a detailed history of the movement, many aspects of which still remain in the dark.

Deputy commissioner M. Angamuthu told The Telegraph today that the fact-finding committee would prepare a detailed history of the uprising, including the “hidden causes” and the sentiments of the “agitated” farmers leading to the point when they lynched the British official.

“Members of the fact-finding committee will be called for a special meeting within the next few days. They will be instructed to take all possible measures, including door-to-door visits in the area, so that our mission can be successful,” Angamuthu said, adding that the details of the revolt were still sketchy.

The gaitation, known as Phulaguri Dhawa, was reportedly born out of the farmers’ resentment over the ban on poppy cultivation and a raise in taxes, which severely affected their economic condition.

Several thousand peasants were said to have met since October 15. On October 18, the police, led by Lt Singer, went to break up the meeting.

However, the farmers turned violent and killed him, throwing his body into the Kolong river.

While several of the peasant leaders were arrested and condemned to death, some of the agitated farmers were said to have been brought to the bank of a neighbouring waterbody and torched alive by the British.

As many as 25 peasants had to face lifelong imprisonment as a punishment for killing the “White officer”.

Phulaguri, which is nearly 105km east of Guwahati, continues to remain backward even today.

“Phulaguri Dhawa is one among the most significant incidents of India’s struggle for independence. Unfortunately, except a monument established in 2004, the people of Phulaguri have nothing to remember the incident by,” said Bihubor Bordoloi, a Salmara villager.

Angamuthu said the district administration would form a task force to uplift the socio-economic condition of the people living in the area.

“We have some other plans to immortalise the agitation. Phulaguri will be promoted as a tourism spot with all facilities to showcase the contribution of the northeastern part of the country to the freedom struggle,” Angamuthu said.