The role of Major General Francis Jenkins role in the promotion of Asom tea cannot be forgotten. I quote what Dr S K Bhuyan has written about him in his book- 'Early British Relations with Assam' (published by Government of Assam, 1949) - "In some quarter Maj. Gen. Jenkins is also credited as the discoverer of the tea plant in Assam, known as Thea Assamica, identical with the tea of commerce then in circulation, other rivals to the honor of the discovery being Captain Charlton and Mr. Charles Alexender Bruce.” When we remember that the Agricultural Society of Calcutta presented to Jenkins a gold medal in recognition of his service in connection with the discovery of the plant, and the following testimony of William Robinson who knew him so intimately, we cannot but think that Jenkins had a very significant share in imparting to the Assam plant its vast potentiality as a commercial commodity of international value. In 1832, Lord William Bentick deputed Captain Jenkins to report upon the resources of the country. The subject of the tea plants was brought to his attention by Mr. C. Alexender Bruce. To Captain Jenkins, no less to Mr. Bruce, is Great Britain indebted for the discovery of the indigenous tea plant in Assam; and the merit is much the greater, for the spirited manner in which he has taken the necessary steps to promote the culture of the tea plant".
It may be recorded that Maniram Datta Barua, Dewan of Assam Tea Company, gets also the honor of the discovery of the tea plants in Asom as pressed by late Srijut Benudhar Sarma, eminent historian. Maniram Dewan was the proprietor of two of three tea gardens then belonging to private speculators.
Major General Francis Jenkins was the longest serving Commissioner of Assam and Agent to the Governor General for the North Eastern Frontier of India from 1834 to 1861. He was born at the picturesque village of St. Clement, Cornwall, U.K. on August 4, 1793 and he died of fever at Guwahati on August 28, 1866. He left Cornwall as a boy of 14 years old and never returned to his native place. He was a brilliant graduate of Oxford. He came out to the East as an officer in the Mecantile Marine under Admiral Lord Exmouth, who transferred his services subsequently to the Govt. of Lord Bentick. He fought in Egypt where he was wounded. He was a man of versatile ability, a genious, a great administrator and a scholar. Jenkins was deeply interested in the history and antiquities of Asom. He contributed a number of articles to the pages of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, and inspired others to contribute on subject relating to Assamese history, philology, topography, mineralogy, etc. The first noteworthy history of Asom was compiled in 1841, by William Robinson at the instance of Jenkins to whom it was dedicated.
Jenkins, pioneer of an industry which has made Asom known all over the world, by far his greatest service rendered to Asom was the stimulus he gave to the tea industry. It was due to his encouragement and help that the Assam Tea Company was established in 1839, with one John Jenkins as Chairman of its Board of Directors.
Jenkins’ love of Assamese people and Asom promoted him to settle down in Guwahati after his retirement. The only memorials of Jenkins at Guwahati are the Jenkins Road, the Jenkins Ghat and the tomb at the old cemetery (present site of Institute of Engineers in Panbazar), and according to eminent researcher on Guwahati Kumudeswar Hazarika Jenkins Road is present M G Road and Jenkins Ghat is Sukleswar Ghat).
Bijoy Kumar Bhuyan, Guwahati
- Log in to post comments