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08 JULY 2015
– Sarita Dasgupta
T
he Bargang Tea Company Limited, incorporated
on 10 January 1896, originally comprised the
Bargang and Kettela estates in present Sonitpur
district, Assam. Financed by the Mercantile Bank of India
Ltd, the company had R. B.Magor, Esq as Chairman and
D. Landale, Esq, H. Tod, Esq and A. G. Watson, Esq on
the Board of Directors.
Messrs Williamson, Magor & Company were the
company’s Agents in Calcutta while Messrs George
Williamson & Company served as Secretaries.
In 1896, the estates comprised 793 acres planted out, of
which 670 were four years old. At present, Bargang T.E.,
comprising three Divisions – Rungaghur, Bargang and
Borbheel – covers 1005.88 Ha. The estate is HACCP,
Rainforest Alliance and ISO22000 certified, and produces
18,50,000 kg tea annually.
Legend has it that Ronga Bora, Army Chief of the Ahom
ruler,Maharaja Rudra Singha, was given the responsibility
of controlling the Dufflas who used to come down from
the neighbouring hills and create a great deal of trouble
for the plains people living east of the Bharali River.
Ronga Bora defeated the Dufflas and chased them up the
hills, thus bringing peace to the area.The grateful populace
named the place Ronga Bora in his honour.
When the British planted tea in the adjoining area they
named the estate Ronga Bora too, but in the course of
time, Ronga Bora became Rongaghora and then
Rungaghur T.E. Much later, the Rungaghur estate
merged with Bargang T.E. and became one of its
Divisions.
Old Factory at Borbheel