Ailing Estates and Languishing Labours : Revisiting the Malarial Fever in Assam Tea Gardens, 1920s-1930s

Abstract

From the beginning of the British occupation of Assam, agricultural as well as industrial operations in the province were heavily compromised by the scourge of malarial fever. Widespread malaria spelt death to many, and the principal industry of the province, the production of tea, was its first casualty. This paper looks into the problem of labour supply to the tea estates of Assam in the period between 1920s and 1930s, and seeks to evaluate the nature of losses caused by the widespread malarial fever. It argues, inter alia, that at least 40% of the labour population, indigenous or immigrant, in the various tea gardens of Assam had experienced the fever at least once a year and that on an average estimate at least 10 labour days per annum were lost directly due to malaria. In some estates where malaria was intensely active at least 50% of the labour days lost was directly and indirectly due to the malarial fever. And significantly the colonial government took little or no notice of it.