In the annals of history, certain figures emerge whose stories resonate across time, leaving an indelible mark on the pages of the past. This month of Independence, ABP Live presents more such narratives from the northeastern region of our nation.So, this is the tale of Maniram Dutta Baruah, affectionately known as Maniram Dewan. Born on April 17th, 1806, he served as a loyal counselor and confidant to Ahom King Purundar Singha. He also became the first Indian to cultivate a tea garden in Jorhat, Assam.Once an ally of the English East India Company, Dewan later turned to resistance, ignited by the Opium War which altered the tea trade dynamics between the British and China. The discovery of tea bushes on Assam's soil led to a new chapter in history.Dewan was also a trusted confidante of the English East India Company. However, this loyalty was short-lived. Amid the Opium War, the lucrative tea trade between the British and China encountered setbacks. As tea bushes were discovered in Assam, the British initiated tea cultivation, overthrowing Purandar Singha and seizing control of administration.When the uprising of 1857 unfurled, Maniram perceived it as an opportunity to restore Ahom rule in Assam. With fellow freedom fighters, he strategized an anti-colonial movement, rallying Ahom rulers and Assam Light Infantry sepoys. Yet, the British unveiled the plot before it could unfurl.Dewan faced arrest and conviction, culminating in his public execution by hanging at Jorhat jail on February 26, 1858.Though his voice may have been silenced, his legacy resounds through time.Follow #NEWay on ABP Live this month for more tales of valor from Northeast India.