Detailed Summary
The section "Swaraj in the Plantations" delves into how plantation workers in Assam, responding to the broader nationalist movements spearheaded by figures like Mahatma Gandhi, conceptualized their understanding of freedom ('swaraj'). For these workers, swaraj symbolized the right to move freely from the restricted confines of the tea gardens, retaining ties to their ancestral villages.
Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, these workers were often denied permission to leave plantations, which fostered resentment. When news of the Non-Cooperation Movement spread, thousands defied this oppressive legislation, aiming to return home, driven by the belief that Gandhi's vision of swaraj would grant them land in their villages.
Unfortunately, many never reached their destinations due to railway and steamer strikes, leading to encounters with police forces who clamped down on dissent with excessive violence. This illustrates the varied interpretations of swaraj within India, showing how it was imagined by different communities according to their experiences of oppression, demonstrating the multi-faceted nature of the nationalist struggle.