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ManiRam Dutta Barua
Well believe it or not tea has, along with its
unsavory wars and opium addictions, Maniram is an over looked hero of the tea saga. Maniram Dutta Barua, a local business man was instrumental in identifying the Assam tea in India. It was him who showed the first home grown tea to Bruce brothers in India to the British and the British went on to develop Indian tea. He brought Chinese tea workers and started the "Cinai-mora"(means Chinese- made) tea estate. But he wasn't tolerated by the British tea rivals including Charles Bruce out of sheer jealousy and greed. However, despite the British colonial master's hatred, Maniram prospered and his masters became even more jealous.
In 1857 a minor rebellion broke out in India and it
was quelled violently by the British. At that time lot of Indians were
executed. Using the rebellion atmosphere, Maniram's rivals instigated him
in the rebellion and charged him with treason. His Cinai-mora estage was auctioned and sold cheaply to his main rival, George williamson, the man who instigated the treason charge. He even recommended the British government to reward the policeman who arrested Maniram ! Such was the hatred and greed. But Williamson found himself in hot water due to his actions. He couldn't run the ill-gotten estates as the local workers won't work for him and the Chinese workers left the estate. He was forced to sell the estates. The whole unsavory story brought a sea change in Williamson's outlook. He changed himself to become a major philanthropist and went on to open schools and libraires in Assam, India !. He also improve the lives of the tea workers. Maniram's descendants are still active in tea business in India. One of them Mr.Arup Kumar Datta has written a tea book "Cha Garam".
Learned something *****************
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