The Burmese Invasion of Assam is one of the most devastating episodes in the history of the Ahom Kingdom. The invasion took place in the early 19th century when the Burmese forces entered Assam and occupied large parts of the region. This period brought immense suffering to the people of Assam. The Burmese occupation is often referred to as “Maan Run” in Assamese memory. It left deep scars on the social and political fabric of the region. The invasion was a direct result of the internal weakness of the Ahom state caused by the Moamoria Rebellion and factional conflicts among Ahom nobles.
The Burmese army invaded Assam multiple times between 1817 and 1826. They established brutal control over the region and committed widespread atrocities against the local population. The inability of the Ahom rulers to resist the Burmese forces led them to seek help from the British East India Company. This eventually resulted in the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826) and the signing of the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826. Through this treaty the Burmese agreed to withdraw from Assam. However this also marked the beginning of British colonial rule in the region. For students preparing for APSC and other competitive exams this topic holds great importance.
30 MCQs on Burmese Invasion of Assam – History of Assam
1. The Burmese invasion of Assam took place during which century?
A) 17th century
B) 18th century
C) 19th century
D) 16th century
2. The Burmese invasion of Assam is locally remembered by which Assamese term?
A) Maan Yudh
B) Maan Run
C) Maan Kranti
D) Maan Aakraman
3. Which internal conflict of the Ahom Kingdom directly invited the Burmese intervention in Assam?
A) Koch-Ahom conflict
B) Moamoria Rebellion and factional rivalry among Ahom nobles
C) British-Ahom war
D) Mughal invasion
4. Which Ahom nobleman invited the Burmese to intervene in Assam’s internal affairs?
A) Purnananda Buragohain
B) Badan Chandra Borphukan
C) Maniram Dewan
D) Haradatta Chakravarty
5. Badan Chandra Borphukan held which administrative position in the Ahom Kingdom?
A) Borbarua
B) Buragohain
C) Borphukan
D) Borgohain
6. In which year did the first Burmese force enter Assam?
A) 1815
B) 1817
C) 1819
D) 1821
7. Who was the Ahom king during the first Burmese invasion of Assam?
A) Kamaleswar Singha
B) Chandrakanta Singha
C) Gaurinath Singha
D) Purandar Singha
8. The Burmese forces that invaded Assam belonged to which dynasty?
A) Pagan dynasty
B) Toungoo dynasty
C) Konbaung dynasty
D) Ava dynasty
9. Who was the Burmese general who led the main invasion force into Assam?
A) Alaungpaya
B) Mingi Maha Bandula
C) Maha Tilwa
D) Bodawpaya
10. The Burmese occupation of Assam lasted approximately from which period?
A) 1817 to 1826
B) 1810 to 1820
C) 1800 to 1826
D) 1820 to 1830
11. During the Burmese occupation the people of Assam faced which of the following?
A) Economic prosperity
B) Religious freedom
C) Extreme cruelty and oppression
D) Political independence
12. Which war was fought between the British and the Burmese that led to the expulsion of Burmese forces from Assam?
A) Second Anglo-Burmese War
B) First Anglo-Burmese War
C) Third Anglo-Burmese War
D) Anglo-Ahom War
13. The First Anglo-Burmese War took place during which years?
A) 1820-1822
B) 1822-1824
C) 1824-1826
D) 1826-1828
14. Which treaty ended the First Anglo-Burmese War?
A) Treaty of Alinganar
B) Treaty of Rangpur
C) Treaty of Yandaboo
D) Treaty of Guwahati
15. The Treaty of Yandaboo was signed in which year?
A) 1824
B) 1825
C) 1826
D) 1828
16. Where was the Treaty of Yandaboo signed?
A) Rangoon in Burma
B) Yandabo near Ava in Burma
C) Calcutta in India
D) Guwahati in Assam
17. Under the Treaty of Yandaboo the Burmese agreed to which of the following?
A) Pay war indemnity and withdraw from Assam
B) Annex more territories in Northeast India
C) Form an alliance with the Ahom king
D) Share power with the British in Assam
18. After the Treaty of Yandaboo who gained control over Assam?
A) Ahom dynasty was restored permanently
B) The British East India Company
C) The Burmese king
D) The Koch dynasty
19. Purandar Singha was installed as the Ahom king by the British in which year?
A) 1826
B) 1830
C) 1833
D) 1838
20. Purandar Singha was later removed by the British in which year?
A) 1835
B) 1838
C) 1840
D) 1842
21. The Burmese invasion of Assam led to which long-term political consequence?
A) Restoration of Ahom sovereignty
B) Beginning of British colonial rule in Assam
C) Independence of Assam
D) Formation of a democratic government
22. Which British officer played a role in driving out the Burmese from Assam during the Anglo-Burmese War?
A) Captain Welsh
B) David Scott
C) Colonel Richards
D) Lord Cornwallis
23. David Scott held which position during the Anglo-Burmese conflict in the Northeast?
A) Governor-General
B) Agent to the Governor-General for the North-East Frontier
C) Commander-in-Chief of the British Army
D) Chief Justice of Bengal
24. The Burmese forces also invaded which other regions of Northeast India besides Assam?
A) Manipur and Cachar
B) Meghalaya and Mizoram
C) Tripura and Nagaland
D) Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim
25. What was the main reason behind Badan Chandra Borphukan’s decision to invite the Burmese?
A) To fight against the British
B) To defeat his political rivals in the Ahom court
C) To establish trade relations with Burma
D) To spread Buddhism in Assam
26. Badan Chandra Borphukan was assassinated by whom?
A) Burmese soldiers
B) British officers
C) A group of Ahom nobles
D) Moamoria rebels
27. After the Burmese withdrawal from Assam how did the British treat Upper Assam initially?
A) They immediately annexed it
B) They placed Ahom princes as puppet rulers
C) They returned it to Burma
D) They declared it an independent state
28. The Treaty of Yandaboo had how many articles?
A) 5
B) 8
C) 11
D) 15
29. Which Burmese king was ruling Burma during the invasion of Assam?
A) Alaungpaya
B) Bagyidaw
C) Mindon Min
D) Thibaw Min
30. The Burmese invasion of Assam is best described as which of the following?
A) A peaceful cultural exchange between Burma and Assam
B) A military occupation that caused immense destruction and ended Ahom sovereignty
C) A trade mission that went wrong
D) A religious expedition from Burma
Correct Answers
- C) 19th century
- B) Maan Run
- B) Moamoria Rebellion and factional rivalry among Ahom nobles
- B) Badan Chandra Borphukan
- C) Borphukan
- B) 1817
- B) Chandrakanta Singha
- C) Konbaung dynasty
- B) Mingi Maha Bandula
- A) 1817 to 1826
- C) Extreme cruelty and oppression
- B) First Anglo-Burmese War
- C) 1824-1826
- C) Treaty of Yandaboo
- C) 1826
- B) Yandabo near Ava in Burma
- A) Pay war indemnity and withdraw from Assam
- B) The British East India Company
- C) 1833
- B) 1838
- B) Beginning of British colonial rule in Assam
- B) David Scott
- B) Agent to the Governor-General for the North-East Frontier
- A) Manipur and Cachar
- B) To defeat his political rivals in the Ahom court
- C) A group of Ahom nobles
- B) They placed Ahom princes as puppet rulers
- C) 11
- B) Bagyidaw
- B) A military occupation that caused immense destruction and ended Ahom sovereignty
Conclusion
The Burmese Invasion of Assam was a turning point in the history of the region. It brought an end to nearly 600 years of Ahom rule and opened the doors for British colonialism in Assam. The suffering endured by the people of Assam during the Burmese occupation remains deeply etched in the collective memory of the Assamese people. The Treaty of Yandaboo formally ended the Burmese presence but transferred power to a new colonial master.
For aspirants preparing for APSC, UPSC, and other state-level competitive examinations, this topic is frequently asked in the history section. The 30 MCQs provided above cover the causes, events, personalities, and consequences of the Burmese invasion. Regular practice with such questions will help strengthen your preparation. We recommend reading standard Assam history textbooks for a more detailed study of this period.