The first event to celebrate 200 years of Assam Tea took place at Jorhat on 7th Jan which was organised by North Eastern Tea Association (NETA). The meeting started with a welcome speech from Chairman NETA, Kamal Jalan. A publication, “Genesis of Assam Tea Industry” written by Arup Kumar Dutta and published by NETA was released by Swapna Sarmah and Bidyananda Barkakoty, both belonging to one of the oldest tea planters’ families of Assam. Genesis of Assam Tea industry is virtually the genesis of Indian tea industry since Assam is the birthplace of Indian tea.
A book “Two hundred years of Assam Tea 1823-2023 : the genesis & development of Indian Tea” written by tea researcher and writer, Dr Pradip Baruah, and published by NETA, was released by Prabhat Bezboruah, former Chairman of Tea Board and Tea Research Association (TRA) along with Chairman, Vice Chairman and many other past chairmen of Assam Tea Planters’ Association (ATPA), Bharatiya Cha Parishad (BCP) and North Eastern Tea Association (NETA).
“This book is a comprehensive account of the tea industry of Assam and India for two hundred years since the discovery of tea growing wild in Assam, in 1823 by Robert Bruce with the help of Maniram Dutta Baruah. It also has the complete chronology of two hundred years of the tea industry from 1823 to 2023. The book also carries a message from Chief Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma”, said Bidyananda Barkakoty, Adviser, NETA.
To commemorate 200 years of Assam Tea, a cake was cut by Dr Nirmal Kr Sahewalla, eminent Doctor and owner of the historical Jaipur Tea Estate (in Assam); O.P. Gattani, author, philanthropist and owner of Bokakhat Tea Estate; and Ashish Shah of Amit Ashish Enterprises which is one of the oldest tea buying firms registered at Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC). The beautiful cake was made by Ayushi Todi of Padumani Tea Estate, Golaghat.
Coinciding with 200 years of Assam Tea, NETA has launched a “Tea Academy” with Manoj Jallan as its first Director. Tea Academy will carry out long term and short term courses to create trained manpower for the tea industry.
Large number of tea planters gathered at Jorhat with great enthusiasm to celebrate the first event of 200 years of Assam Tea, which ended with a vote of thanks from Vice Chairman NETA, Ajay Dhandharia.
