Have you heard about Malati Mem from Assam? Well, I hadn’t heard either before researching for this blog. In all the previous posts, you might have observed that I have always talked about the atrocities committed by the Britishers on the poor tea garden workers. I talked about how they were illegally brought from their place to Assam to work in the tea gardens. Also, I discussed how they were punished for the smallest of mistakes and offences, whether committed knowingly or unknowingly, by these tea garden workers.
Even though these incidents and their history draw a sad and weak image of these tea garden workers, occasionally, there has risen a voice that tore through the oppression and spoke out and protested against all the inhuman injustices caused to them and the society around them. These voices have led the way for future generations to be inspired and stand up for what they believe is right.
One such name is that of Mangri Orang or Malati Mem, who became a Martyr of the Indian Freedom Struggle.
Who was Malati Mem?
Malati Mem worked in tea gardens during British rule in Assam. Her real name was Mangri Orang. People called her “Mem” with respect. She belonged to the Adivasi community.
Her ancestors came from central India. British planters brought them to Assam in the 1860s. They worked as tea garden labourers. Life was very hard for them. The British controlled everything they did.
Tea workers faced many problems. They earned very little money. They could not leave the gardens freely. Managers treated them badly. Many workers became sick and died. Violence was common in the gardens.
The 1921 freedom movement
Gandhi started the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921. It reached Assam’s tea gardens too. Local leaders organised protests. They asked people to boycott British goods. Students left British schools.
Two leaders worked in the Darrang district. Their names were Omeo Kumar Das and Lakshmidhar Sarma. They held meetings everywhere and explained Gandhi’s message in simple terms. They focused on stopping foreign liquor and opium.
These leaders knew something important. Foreign liquor and opium harmed Indian communities. They made British companies rich. They kept Indian workers weak and poor. So the leaders organised campaigns against them.
Malati’s life changes
One day, Malati went to buy liquor. Students were protesting outside the shop. They stopped her from buying. She became angry at first. She did not understand why they were stopping her.
Then Lakshmidhar Sarma talked to her kindly. He explained how foreign liquor helped the British. He showed her that buying it supported their rule and made her understand the real problem.
Malati’s heart changed completely that day. She realised she was helping her own enemies. She stopped drinking liquor forever. More importantly, she joined the freedom movement. She became a volunteer for prohibition campaigns.
Her brave work
Malati worked hard for the movement. She talked to other tea workers and explained why they should stop drinking. She organised meetings in the gardens. Many workers listened to her.
The tea garden owners got worried. They saw workers uniting. They feared losing control over them. Organised workers could demand better treatment, which would hurt their profits badly.
Her sacrifice
In 1921, the police came to arrest protesters. Malati stood with her fellow volunteers. She refused to run away as she believed in her cause completely. She was ready to face any danger.
The police opened fire on peaceful protesters. Malati fell, shot by British bullets. She died fighting for India’s freedom. She became Assam’s first woman martyr. Her death shocked everyone in the region.
Her sacrifice inspired thousands of people. Tea workers realised they could fight back and understood the power of unity. They continued her work with new courage.
Different stories about her
History books tell different stories about some details of Malati’s life. This happens often with working-class heroes. The British did not keep proper records of workers’ lives. They only cared about managers and profits.
Where she lived
- Government records say she lived at Lalmati Tea Estate in Darrang
- Other sources say she lived at Ghogara Tea Estate near Tezpur
- Both places are real and close to each other in Assam
Her names
- Her real name was Mangri Orang or Mungri Orang
- People called her Malati Mem as a respectful nickname
- Different spellings exist because stories are passed by word of mouth
Missing information
We don’t have the exact records about her name, her age or the exact date when she was martyred. Colonial records ignored such details about workers.
Why are the records about her incomplete
The British kept records differently. They wrote about managers and officials, but ignored workers’ personal stories as they saw workers as just numbers, not as real people.
Workers remembered stories orally. They passed stories to their children. Details sometimes change over time. Different people spell names differently. This is normal with oral history.
Historians studied elite leaders first. They focused on famous politicians. Working-class heroes got attention much later. Women’s stories were especially ignored.
Her impact today
Malati Mem’s story inspires people today. Tea workers still remember her sacrifice. Her courage motivates modern activists. She proved that ordinary people can change history.
Cultural groups honour her memory. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts staged a play about her life. The play was called “Malati Mem.” It introduced her story to new audiences.
Schools and colleges teach her story. Students learn about her sacrifice. Civil service trainees study her life. She represents all Adivasi women who fought for freedom.
On 13th October, 2021, the Government of Assam issued a postage stamp in commemoration of her bravery and heroics during the freedom struggle.
Tea garden community today
The Adivasi tea workers built modern Assam by clearing forests and establishing tea plantations that created a huge industry. They brought their languages and cultures too. and hence deserve proper recognition.
They speak many languages. These include Sadri, Mundari, Gondi, and others. They celebrate diverse festivals, have rich cultural traditions and have enriched Assam’s culture greatly.
They still face challenges today and have demanded Scheduled Tribe status in Assam. This would give them better opportunities. It would honour their contributions properly. This struggle continues Malati’s fight for dignity.
Lessons from her life
Malati Mem shows us important truths. Individual change can inspire collective action. Personal courage can spark bigger movements. Ordinary people have extraordinary power when they unite. She practised what she preached. She stopped drinking before asking others to stop and faced danger herself before asking others to be brave.
Her approach was simple but effective. She talked to people with respect, explained things clearly and helped them understand connections. She built trust through honest relationships.
How to remember her
Visit tea gardens with a new understanding. Remember the workers who built the industry. Support fair wages and good working conditions. Honour their struggles and sacrifices.
Learn about Adivasi cultures. Appreciate their contributions to Assam. Support their rights and recognition. Fight against discrimination and unfair treatment.
Share her story widely. Tell others about her courage. Use social media to spread awareness. Encourage programs about tea garden heroes. Keep her memory alive.
The simple truth
In every tea garden across Assam, workers still pick leaves under the morning sun. Each cup of tea connects us to their hard work. Each sip carries stories of courage and sacrifice.
Malati Mem walked these same paths more than one hundred years ago. She chose bravery over fear, she chose her people over personal comfort, and she chose freedom over slavery.
Her spirit lives on in every fight for justice today. Her voice speaks in every worker’s demand for dignity, and her courage inspires everyone who stands up for what is right.
In this simple truth, Malati Mem’s sacrifice finds its deepest meaning. She gave her life so others could taste real freedom.
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