Indigenous groups mark 200 years of Yandabo Treaty as ‘Black Day’ in Dibrugarh

Several indigenous organisations across Assam on Tuesday observed the bicentenary of the historic Treaty of Yandabo as a “Black Day”, holding protest programmes and public meetings in Dibrugarh to register their opposition to what they termed a turning point of colonial subjugation.
Carrying black flags and placards, members of various groups organised rallies and awareness meetings, asserting that the 1826 treaty -signed between the British East India Company and the Burmese kingdom -was imposed without the consent of Assam’s indigenous people. The agreement formally ended the First Anglo-Burmese War and paved the way for British rule in the region.
Speakers at the programmes said the treaty had long-term political, cultural and demographic consequences for Assam and called for stronger constitutional safeguards to protect the land, language and identity of indigenous communities. They emphasised the need to educate younger generations about the historical significance of the treaty and its continuing relevance in present-day political discourse.
The observance in Dibrugarh remained largely peaceful, with local authorities maintaining a watch over the programmes.
Signed on February 24, 1826, the Treaty of Yandabo is widely regarded as a watershed moment in Assam’s history, marking the end of Ahom sovereignty and the beginning of British colonial administration in the region.