Q. Who was the first native planter to establish a tea garden in Assam?
Answer: Maniram Dewan
Notes: Maniram Dewan was the first native Assamese to establish a commercial tea garden around 1839. The tea industry in Assam began in the early 19th century. Charles Alexander Bruce was a British pioneer who supported tea cultivation but was not native. Maniram Dewan is called the "Father of Assam Tea" for his entrepreneurial role.