Dibrugarh: The history, economic importance and future of Assam’s tea industry were discussed at a two-day national seminar organised by the Department of Economics at Dibru College on Thursday.
The seminar, titled “Two Hundred Years of Assam Tea: Innovations, Sustainability and Rural Transformation,” was sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi.
It brought together economists, researchers, academics and industry practitioners to discuss the tea sector’s impact on Assam’s economy, society and rural communities.
The programme began with the inauguration of a book fair and tea exhibition by governing body president Kalyan Bhuyan. Principal Ranjan Changmai, Vice-Principal, faculty members, students and Mandira Sarma of Jawaharlal Nehru University attended the inaugural session.
Changmai spoke about the importance of continued academic discussions on tea, given its close connection with Assam’s economic and social history.
Seminar convenor and Head of the Department of Economics Jayanta Saud outlined the programme’s objectives and thanked ICSSR for its support. He encouraged students to interact with scholars and practitioners working in the tea economy.
Bhuyan spoke about tea’s role beyond its economic value, describing it as an integral part of Assam’s social and cultural landscape. Drawing on his childhood experiences in a tea garden, he discussed the industry’s influence on the lives and identities of generations across the state.
Economist and former Gauhati University professor MP Bezbaruah delivered the keynote address on the history of Assam’s tea industry. Challenging conventional accounts of the discovery of Assam tea, he said the Singpho community had known about and used the tea plant long before its commercial development under British rule.
He said Robert Bruce was introduced to the plant by a Singpho chief.
Bezbaruah also discussed the economic and political consequences of the commercial tea industry. He said the expansion of plantations was closely linked to the growth of railways, coal mining and other industries.
The colonial plantation system was characterised by European control and an indentured labour system that had lasting socio-economic effects on plantation communities.
Describing the colonial tea economy as an “enclave economy”, Bezbaruah said the sector had historically maintained limited links with the wider local economy.
He identified the growth of small tea growers (STGs) as a major change in Assam’s tea industry. Their expansion has enabled more local people to participate directly in tea cultivation, with the segment now accounting for more than half of the state’s green-leaf production.
The industry continues to face challenges, including fluctuating prices, ageing tea bushes, international competition, labour welfare concerns and climate change. Bezbaruah called for coordinated efforts by the tea industry, government and civil society to revive and sustain Assam’s tea economy.
A panel discussion titled “Two Centuries of Assam Tea: Perspectives on Heritage, Economy, Indigenous Knowledge and the Future” examined the industry’s heritage and future.
The panel featured Mandira Sarma of JNU, Deb Kumar Chakraborty of Dibrugarh University and Assam Gaurav awardee Manje La, proprietor of Singpho Heritage Tea and a custodian of Singpho heritage and traditional Phalap tea culture. Sachin Gogoi, editorial lead for Asia Pacific at BBC News, moderated the discussion.
The panellists discussed the links between tea, indigenous knowledge, market access and the industry’s future. Manje La spoke about the Singpho community’s traditional knowledge and the heritage of Phalap tea, while Sarma discussed market links and possible future directions for the sector. Chakraborty examined the economic and structural aspects of Assam’s tea industry.
An interactive question-and-answer session followed the discussion. The first day concluded with three parallel technical sessions featuring 28 research papers. Mandira Sarma, Mofidul Hassan of Gauhati University, Pranab Paul and Manash Jyoti Konwar of Dibru College co-chaired the sessions.
The seminar continued on Friday with a second panel discussion titled “Labour in Assam’s Tea Sector: Livelihoods, Rights, Welfare and the Way Forward.” The panel featured Alok Ranjan Dutta and Kaustubh Kumar Deka of Dibrugarh University, along with Bipul Kumar Rabha of HPB Girls’ College, Golaghat. Mandira Sarma moderated the discussion.