Correct Option
After the British East India Company secured the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1765, their administrative and commercial interests expanded. This expansion led to their initial contact with the Khasi tribe, primarily inhabiting the hills of present-day Meghalaya. The British sought to establish control over trade routes passing through the Khasi Hills, which subsequently led to resistance from the tribe. This interaction represents one of the earliest instances of British engagement with mountain tribes in the region following the grant of Diwani.
Incorrect Options
Garos: British contact with the Garo tribe, also residing in present-day Meghalaya, occurred later, primarily in the early 19th century.
Kukis: The British encountered the Kuki tribes predominantly in the regions of present-day Manipur and Mizoram, with significant interactions taking place in the late 19th century.
Tipperahs: The Tipperah kingdom, located in present-day Tripura, had British contact established at a later period compared to the Khasis.