ISSN - 2229-3620 APPROVED UGC CARE AN INTERNATIONAL BILINGUAL PEER REVIEWED REFEREED RESEARCH JOURNAL SHODH SANCHAR BULLETIN Vol. 10, Issue 40, October-December 2020 Page Nos. 1 - 5 The western medicine came into Assam with coming of the British which changed the health system in the province. The western medical practice was started to treat all the deadly diseases like Kala Azar, Dysentery, Malaria, Cholera, Small pox and plague. Before the coming of western the local traditional healer called Oja who gave treatment with different activities such as sprinkling water, putting amulets, binding threads and even spitting on the body. On the other hand, the people belief that all diseases was caused by the evil spirit and angry of god for which practice of puja by chanting different mantras to please the gods to remove the diseases was dominated. In first, British gave treatment their people and then tea labourers to save their own business in Assam. Thereafter, influence of western medicine was extended extensively in Assam due effort of elite group as well as the tireless work of Christian missionaries to remove the social stigma on the western medicine. Keywords: Epidemic, Colonial business, Western medicine, Christian missionaries and Assamese elite INTRODUCTION OF WESTERN MEDICINE IN ASSAM DURING COLONIAL PERIOD BI-LINGUAL INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL Vol. 10 Issue 40 October to December 2020 1 Dr. Jaysagar Wary* ABSTRACT Western medicine bring miracle treatment to the deadly epidemic disease like Kala Azar, Dysentery, Malaria, Cholera, Small pox and plague which are massively killed the people of Assam. There were no proper treatments against these diseases but to please the evils spirit is only way of life saving. The folk medicine was predominated for giving treatment to all diseases including epidemic. The folk medicine occupies a significant place in traditional medical practice of Assam. The folk medicine divided into two first was Magico- religious system and second was base on folk faith, folk ritual and medical practice. The people belief that all diseases was caused by the evil spirit or demon for which pronouncing mantras becomes necessary to satisfy various gods to get relieve from the diseases. The role of traditional healer popularly known as Bej or Oja, who gave treatment with different activities such as sprinkling water, putting amulets, binding threads and even spitting on the body. Beside, the people of Assam full knowledge regarding the using of Ayurvedic medicine treat the common diseases where village doctor have been seen very active in curing disease. The village doctor called “Bezbaruah” title given by the Ahom Royal Court who was supposed to have vast knowledge on Ayurveda. Not only Royal family but common people also received equal treatment from “Bezbaruah”. The dreadful epidemics brought difficulties to the colonial authority to serve their purpose in term of political and economic. Sihabuddin Talish who visited Assam in the 17th century, in his account Tarikh-e-Aasham, had already made various references to the unhealthy climatic condition of Assam ( Talesh, 2009). On the other hand, on the beginning of the British administration in Assam Captain R. P. Pemberton, the Joint Director of Manipur of that time declared Assam as the third unhealthiest place after Arracan and Rangoon (Pemberton, 1991). Moreover, Captain Welsh who was in Guwahati during 1792, mentioned that many people died of epidemic havoc of dysentery and diarrhea ( Barua, 2007). Because of all the havoc diseases, changed British mind in developing their FIS *Department of History, Bodoland University, Kokrajhar, Assam