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ManiRam Dutta Barua

Well believe it or not tea has, along with its
unsavory wars and opium addictions,
a martyr as well !
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.
In 1858, He was arrested by the British on a false charge of treason and
executed !
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
Today !
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