International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Drawing the Line: Cartography, Surveying and Colonial Boundary Formation in Colonial Assam

The 19th century British colonization of Assam brought significant and lasting changes to the region's political landscape. A key part of this shift was the establishment of strict borders, replacing the previous fluid and often contested territorial definitions. This process was closely tied to the use of cartography and surveying, which appeared objective but were essential for creating, legitimizing, and enforcing colonial boundaries in Assam. This paper examines the crucial, though often overlooked, role these fields played in shaping territorial control. Rather than viewing mapmaking as a simple reflection of reality, this study investigates how cartography and surveying actively defined, marked, and allowed for the domination of territory. It reviews the approaches taken by British surveyors and cartographers, illustrating how their work impacted traditional socio-economic systems, access to resources, and the daily lives of Indigenous communities. Through a detailed exploration of the relationship between the claimed objectivity of scientific knowledge, the harsh realities of colonial power, and the experiences of local populations, this paper argues that cartography and surveying were not neutral tools. Instead, they were powerful instruments used by the British colonial government to shape and reinforce their authority over Assam. Their use fundamentally changed the region's territorial identity, altered its connections to the outside world, and significantly affected the lives of its people, resulting in a legacy that remains relevant today. This paper will discuss how this process redrew borders and created new social and economic divides, solidifying British dominance and transforming Assam into a vital part of the British Raj.