A special charity tea auction was organised at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre to commemorate Swahid Maniram Dewan, regarded as one of India’s earliest indigenous tea growers and a martyr of the 1857 freedom struggle.

The event raised over ₹2.26 crore for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, combining Assam’s historic tea industry with a social welfare initiative.

Key Highlights

• The auction was jointly organised by the Tea Association of India and Guwahati Tea Auction Centre after a long gap since 2012.
• The auction featured premium varieties including Assam Orthodox, CTC, Organic, Matcha and special Darjeeling teas, showcasing the diversity and value of India’s tea industry.
• The special auction generated around ₹1.61 crore, while former Tea Association of India chairman Hemant Bangur contributed an additional ₹65 lakh.
• The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, its Tea Lounge and the Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers’ Association made additional contributions of ₹20 lakh, ₹5 lakh and ₹2 lakh respectively.

Maniram Dewan and Assam’s Tea History

• • Maniram Dewan played an important role in the early development of Assam’s indigenous tea industry. 
  • He connected Major Robert Bruce with the Singpho tribe (Bessam Gam) which led to the discovery of native tea plant (Camellia sinensis var. assamica) in Brahmaputra Valley in 1823.
  • In 1839, Maniram was nominated the Dewan of Assam Tea Company (ATC) under Charles Bruce (brother of Robert Bruce) and placed at a tea plantation in Nazira.
  • By 1840’s Dewan established his own tea gardens, becoming one of the first indigenous tea planters in Assam.

• He opened two small tea gardens at Chinnamara, Jorhat and Senlung, Charaideo.

• He later became associated with the resistance against British rule and was executed in 1858 for his role in the 1857 uprising.
  • Following his execution, Senglung and Cinnamara were confiscated and auctioned and both were purchased by the British tea company George Williamson.
  • However, the new ownership reportedly encountered resistance from workers and eventually, the company was compelled to part with the estates.
  • Cinnamara subsequently passed to the Jorehaut Tea Company and was developed further and is now associated with the Assam Tea Corporation. 
  • Senglung, however, disappeared from the organised tea landscape. 
• His legacy connects two important aspects of Assam’s history—tea cultivation and the freedom movement.
• The unveiling of his bust at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre therefore links Assam’s modern tea trade with its historical roots.

Why is the Auction Important?

The initiative demonstrates how commodity markets can also become platforms for social responsibility.

• It brought together tea producers, buyers and industry associations for a common social cause.
• It helped promote premium and value-added tea products, which can improve the economic value of Assam’s tea sector.
• It also highlights the continuing importance of the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre in Assam’s tea economy.

Exam Hook: Key Takeaway

The special auction demonstrates how Assam’s tea heritage, organised commodity markets and social responsibility can come together to support both economic activity and public welfare.

Prelims Practice Question

Consider the following statements:

1. The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre hosted the special charity tea auction.
2. The auction was organised to commemorate Swahid Maniram Dewan.
3. Assam Orthodox and CTC teas were among the varieties featured in the auction.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

One-line wrap: The charity auction turned Assam’s tea heritage into a platform for public welfare, while renewing attention to the historical contribution of Maniram Dewan.