• Lalit Sonowal

The small tea cultivation forms an interesting field in socio economic history of Assam. There are many intensive studies have been carried out on small tea industry in different disciplines in different parts of the world, but very little contributions were available from the historians on the importance of small tea cultivation's in Assam as well as in other parts of the country. The economic contribution and employment opportunity generated by these small tea cultivators have great significance in Assam. It has also greatly contributed in changing the socio-economic development as well as land use pattern of the region. Growth of small tea growers was needed to provide hopes and productive employment for thousands of young unemployed youths and accelerate the reduction of extreme poverty. Growth of the small tea cultivation in Assam transformed the economic, social and cultural life of the rural masses to a significant extent. It succeeded in providing better and well diversified work opportunities, improved a new awareness among the rural people towards a better life- style. The small tea growers who are mainly from the weaker sections of the population have succeeded in making a serious dent on the rural economy of Assam. Therefore it is an interesting field of research how it has changed people’s attitude in their occupational structure, providing better economic conditions and employment opportunity to unemployed youth of Assam in the forms of farmers.

tea, socio-economic, history, employment, rural, poverty, farmers

"History of Small Tea Grower's in Assam: A Silent Movement", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no.440-449, October-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907H68.pdf

"History of Small Tea Grower's in Assam: A Silent Movement", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no. pp440-449, October-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907H68.pdf