Abstract
The British initially introduced the practice of drinking tea in India. However, its influence on Indian culture continued to grow during the colonial period and even after gaining independence. This popular beverage has become an integral part of Indian daily life, enjoyed by people from all walks of life. This article delves into tea memoirs, specifically focusing on two distinct types. The first half of the article highlights memoirs written by British tea planters. These memoirs have come under scrutiny due to the observations made by the British planters, which criticize and question the life, society, and culture of the indigenous people residing in the vicinity of tea-growing areas in India. The memoirs offer a unique perspective on the tea industry but raise ethical concerns about cultural appropriation and representation. The second part of the paper highlights the memoirs penned by Indian tea planters and their family members who were associated with the tea plantation industry. These narratives offer a unique perspective on life and culture within a changing environment. These memoirs raise questions about the various issues of the tea industry and its overall impact on society. This provides a more nuanced portrayal of this historical context's complex social and cultural fabric.
[Key words: Tea, British Planters, Memoirs, Narratives]
Over the years, tea consumption in Indian society has undergone significant changes. This evolution has been propelled by a growing interest in tea, which has resulted in its transformation and revitalization, elevating it beyond a simple act of consumption. Today, tea has a distinct identity seamlessly integrated into India’s cultural practices and social rituals, assuming a crucial role therein. As a result, tea has become more than just a beverage; it is now an essential part of Indian society, playing a significant role in daily life and social interactions.
India boasts a rich and varied selection of tea flavours, attesting to the beverage’s enduring popularity across several social and cultural evolution epochs. The meticulous investigation by scientists, scholars and historians has delved into the fascinating and storied past of tea, tracing its roots deep into the fertile soil of India. Through the centuries, tea has played an integral role in shaping Indian culture, and its diverse aromas and flavours have become a cherished part of the country’s culinary heritage.
The study of tea’s role and customs as a beverage in the Indian context has proved to be an enlightening pursuit, shedding light on the historical trajectory of tea in this region. The trajectory of tea in India has long been a subject of interest among scholars, who seek to unravel its historical background and explore the fragmented elements and complexities within Indian culture and society that have been overlooked or neglected. This valuable expedition promises to yield significant insights into the evolution of tea in India and its impact on the country’s cultural and social fabric.
Tea in India is not merely a beverage but a symbol of the country’s social and cultural evolution. Its consumption has become an integral part of Indian society, as evidenced by the numerous rituals and customs associated with tea drinking. The rich and complex history of tea in India is a fascinating subject that deserves thorough exploration and appreciation.
When it comes to literature, there is something genuinely unique about memoirs. This genre provides readers with an intriguing blend of history, culture, and society, all through the lens of an individual’s experiences. Unlike fictional works, memoirs are written in the first person, allowing readers to gain a deep and nuanced understanding of the author’s life and the everyday occurrences that shaped their perspectives. Overall, memoirs offer a captivating glimpse into the lives of others, making them a must-read for anyone interested in gaining a greater appreciation for the human experience.
Penning down one’s memoirs serves a dual purpose, extending beyond personal reflections to encompass a significant scholarly resource for analysis and exploration. Memoirs offer a vivid portrayal of the geo-political and geographical characteristics that define a particular region, enabling readers to understand the intricate nuances that shape it. On the other hand, literary works provide a valuable perspective on historical contexts, taking readers through specific temporal and spatial settings from the author’s subjective viewpoint. The emotions and personal encounters that the author experienced during those times are captured in the literary work, making it a valuable resource for scholars and readers alike.
Memoirs possess an innate allure due to their ability to mirror the societal, intellectual, and political views of a specific time and place. The analysis offers a comprehensive outlook on individuals’ experiences, skillfully incorporating multiple dimensions such as societal dynamics, cultural influences, historical contexts, economic factors, and political structures organically and rhythmically. These dimensions reflect a particular civilisation’s cognitive processes, ideologies, and principles, providing a unique global landscape perspective. In essence, memoirs serve as a window into the past, offering a glimpse into the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of those who lived during a particular era.
Memoirs are a potent tool for gaining valuable insights into one’s present perspectives by delving into past experiences. Through the dynamic and engaging narrative crafted by the author, readers can develop a deeper understanding of the individual’s existence and the everyday occurrences that shape their lives. Memories’ vivid and detailed recollections allow readers to connect with the author’s journey personally, creating a truly captivating and illuminating reading experience.
The literary form of memoirs significantly contributes to the collective understanding of history, culture, and society. Memoirs offer an invaluable perspective that enriches our understanding of the world. From personal accounts of significant historical events to reflections on the complexities of contemporary society, memoirs are a vital tool for broadening our perspectives and fostering empathy and understanding for those different from ourselves. As such, they warrant a considerable amount of attention and appreciation.
For centuries, the Assam region of India has been a hotbed for British tea cultivation, tracing its roots back to the 19th century. During this time, the East India Company began to explore the area’s potential, and British tea planters quickly became entranced by the region’s natural beauty. The memoirs of these early pioneers, such as A Tea Planter’s Life in Assam by George M. Barker, provide a riveting glimpse into the historical context of the era. These memoirs recount the challenges these early pioneers faced, from navigating complex political landscapes to battling harsh climates. Despite these obstacles, they established thriving tea estates that soon became a central part of the region’s economy. Along the way, they also interacted with local communities, learning about their customs and traditions. They incorporated Assamese culture into the tea industry, creating a unique blend of British and Indian influences that remains to this day. This cultural exchange enriched the tea industry and fostered a sense of community between the British and the Assamese people. The legacy of these early tea planters continues to be felt in Assam, where the tea industry remains a vital part of the region’s identity.
George M. Barker, a British tea planter, wrote an enthralling memoir about his time in Assam, India, published in 1884. As an accomplished artist and keen observer, Barker incorporated stunning illustrations into the narrative he created during his voyage to India. These images provide readers with a more comprehensive and vivid portrayal of the various ports he encountered along the way, adding depth and context to the individuals and circumstances within his story. Barker’s memoir is a valuable historical text that captures a unique perspective on life in colonial India.
A Tea Planter’s Life in Assam, penned by George M. Barker, is an awe-inspiring memoir that intricately explores Assam’s tea planting tradition and nearby areas. Being one of the earliest accounts by a European tea planter in the region, this memoir provides valuable insight into the author’s personal and socio-cultural views and opinions. The author’s writing style is remarkable, and his attention to detail is admirable, making this memoir a must-read for anyone interested in tea planting or the history of Assam.
Barker’s commentary on the people of Assam was characterized by an absence of sentimentality and emotionality. He was notably critical of the indigenous citizens of Assam, whom he accused of regularly chewing betel- nut and suffering from its negative effects. In Barker's view, this habit was indicative of a larger cultural problem that needed to be addressed (Barker 71).
Betel-nut chewing is carried on to an enormous extent. So long as these people will keep their mouths closed, you can forgive them their ill-favoured appearance; but directly there is any cause to start a conversation, it is indeed a trying ordeal to have to pass through. Constant chewing this hard nut files the points of the teeth down, and makes them short square little blocks of ivory, and of a brick-dusty red colour. (Barker 71)
It is important to note that in many cases, the Planters kept a significant distance from the indigenous people who later joined the tea gardens in various roles. Unfortunately, these individuals were often treated inhumanely and did not receive the basic human decency they deserved from the British Planters. The Planters’ approach to the situation varied depending on whether the individual was an indigenous official or a general worker in the garden, creating a complicated and troubling dynamic. This resulted in a master-slave dialectic that was prevalent and far-reaching throughout the tea gardens. Mulk Raj Anand’s novel Two Leaves and a Bud is one of the early and most significant examples in which the racism of the British and all the European planters are very much prominent. Their behaviour and attitude toward the tea planter coolies were beyond description. Such a fiction presents the European planters behaving from a superiority complex in daily communications.
Barker brings up a valid and important question that is intricately linked to the labour issue in the Assam tea gardens. This question is perhaps one of the most significant issues that has been pondered upon for a long time in the vast space of the Assam Valley. Specifically, the question raised is why a contented Assamese farmer, who is already happy and stable in every possible way and has no tension regarding his belongings in his location and space, would choose to become a worker in the tea gardens.
To address the issue of a shortage of tea labourers, the British planters, or their agents known as sardars, would need to seek out workers from various parts of the country. This often involved creating a large network to find unemployed and unskilled labourers who could be enticed to join the tea gardens with attractive offers. Although these offers may seem appealing at first, many of these workers would eventually become trapped in the rules and regulations of the tea gardens, unable to escape the clutches of the sardars. As a result, finding a solution to this issue required a complex and sometimes exploitative process that ultimately created great hardship for many of the workers involved.
Each Assamese occupies a small plot of land which he, with the assistance of his family, cultivates, and the life of a ryot, or small land-owner, is inconceivably and supremely happy. He owes allegiance to no man…he works when he likes and how he likes… (Barker 77)
The marvellous preface of Frank Nicholls’s Assam Shikari: A Tea Planter’s Story of Hunting and High Adventure in the Jungles of North East India (1970) records the writer’s indomitable spirit since his childhood days in England and his irresistible spirit to go in the forest. During his youth, he developed a fascination for observing the playful antics of fox cubs, stoats, and weasels in the nearby woods. As he grew older and ventured into the remote regions of Assam, he was granted a unique opportunity to study and interpret the behaviour of a diverse range of animals and the wild forests that served as their habitat. The culmination of these experiences is expertly chronicled in this captivating memoir.
Frank Nicholls’s Assam Shikari: A Tea Planter’s Story of Hunting and High Adventure in the Jungles of North East India (1970) is a significant contribution to the genre of tea memoirs. Nicholls’ memoir delves into a tea planter’s personal and professional experiences, much like other memoirs. However, what sets this particular memoir apart is its focus on the issue of hunting. Nicholls recounts how hunting was almost necessary during his stay in various tea gardens in Assam. This memoir provides a unique perspective on tea planters’ challenges and adventures in North East India and sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of their lives.
When one delves into the tea memoirs penned by Indian tea planters, a unique perspective on life emerges. The vivid descriptions and personal anecdotes woven throughout these accounts offer a rich and textured glimpse into the world of tea cultivation, revealing this fascinating industry’s joys, challenges, and complexities. Whether exploring the intricacies of tea production or reflecting on the cultural significance of tea in Indian society, these memoirs offer a wealth of insights that will captivate and enlighten readers.
The Teetotaler: Reminiscences of a Tea Planter (2020) is a perfect instance of a memoir by M.P. Verma. This text provides readers with insightful observations on life, people and places and narrates the fascinating journey of an Indian planter. Verma’s memoir begins with an account of his humble beginnings and the early stages of his career as a tea planter. He then describes the pivotal moment that marked a turning point in his life - an event for which he was utterly unprepared.
M.P. Verma had a long and successful career as a tea planter, during which he worked in various tea gardens in Dooars and Darjeeling and some of the most challenging tea gardens in Assam. Working in many tea gardens led to an outstanding career for M.P. Verma. The opening chapter titled “Journey to the Fog” is very symbolically written because of the fog of uncertainty. A small-town boy, Mr. Verma, had big dreams but never knew what to do. A young man from Bihar, Mr Verma, was heading towards the tea estate in Darjeeling at the age of 23. On the part of Mr. Verma, it was a thrilling journey because he had no proper idea what he would do.
However, all the uncertainties vanished once he reached Goomtee Tea Estate (Verma 2). With all the joviality and sense of hospitality, the Nepali driver accepted Mr. Verma to this new location in a new environment. Immediately, Mr. Verma felt the change being a part of the tea estate administration. Mr. Verma describes his first encounter with the tea garden:
The garden sat majestically in the hills overlooking the sleepy town of Kurseong. Colourful houses adorned the slopes of a distant hill, across the vast green valley. Later in the evening the landscape would turn into a panorama of twinkling lights. ( Verma 3)
Mr. Verma has brought to light several crucial issues, one of which pertains to the mode of communication between early Indian officials and workers with British planters and their families. It was observed that they conversed in broken English, which was the only means of communication available to them at the time. The British planters and their families lived in palatial bungalows that were exclusively reserved for managers and their families. These bungalows are popularly known as Burra Bungalows. They had a retinue of civil servants, including cooks and Bawarchis, dish cleaners, washers, Paniwala, and Jhaduwala. Each person had a unique and specific duty that they performed repeatedly throughout the day. For instance, the Polishwala was responsible for polishing the expensive wooden floors and cleaning them with a special cream throughout the day. In addition to these roles, cleaners, gardeners, Maali, and chowkidars or guards for the day and night were also employed. This extraordinary way of living was enjoyed by the British planters during their tenure in India. After their departure, Indian planters assumed the same lifestyle and traditions (Verma 10).
The literary genre of memoirs is undeniably captivating and extends beyond a straightforward autobiography. It delves into the fringes of literature, offering readers a unique insight into the author's life, personal encounters, and musings intimately and candidly. Memoirs are a fascinating narrative style that allows readers to interpret the author's experiences in various ways, making for a truly intellectually stimulating and memorable reading experience that resonates with the reader long after the book has been closed.
In Robert Atwan’s article “Of Memoir and Memory”, the author has proposed that at the time of reading and writing memoirs, “it would be profitable to learn more about the purposes and functions of memory, whether long-or short-term, explicit or implicit, episodic or semantic” ( Atwan 11). When it comes to tea memoirs, it is essential to consider the author's life goals and the roles they played in their profession as tea planters. By analyzing these factors, a more thorough evaluation of their memoirs can be made.
Works Cited
Atwan, Robert. “Of Memoir and Memory.” Creative Nonfiction , Creative Nonfiction Foundation, No. 55, Spring 2015, pp. 10-13. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26374813.
Barker, George M. A Tea Planter's Life in Assam. Thacker, Spink & Company, 1884.
Couser, G. Thomas. Memoir: An Introduction. Oxford UP, 2012.
Nicholls, Frank. Assam Shikari: A Tea Planter's Story of Hunting and High Adventure in the Jungles of North East India. Tonson Publishing House, 1970.
Verma, M.P. The Teetotaler : Reminiscences of a Tea Planter. Mitali Banerjee, and Shruti Verma Singh, Editor, Shruti Verma Singh, Aug 2020.
* Sabuj Sarkar is an Assistant Professor, Department of English, University of Gour Banga, Malda
