A BRIEF REVIEW ON THE CONTRIBUON OF “ARUNODOI” TO

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ASSAMESE LITERATURE

Deepjyoti Baruah,

Student, Gauhati University

Email-deepjyotibaruahsonti@gmail.com

Deepjyoti Baruah, -- A BRIEF REVIEW ON THE CONTRIBUON OF “ARUNODOI” TO

ASSAMESE LITERATURE -- Palarch’s Journal Of Archaeology Of Egypt/Egyptology 17 (9), ISSN

1567-214x

Abstract

Assam has a rich tradition of culture and as well as literature. Though it is the inhabitant of

various cast and tribes there is a specific unity among all the diversities. The people from various casts,

tribes and traditions are basically connected with one main language called Assamese. The language

Assamese is a developed and distinct branch of MagadhiPrakrita which is originated from Indo-Aryan

Language groups. The language has its Rich trading of written literature from 10

century. The first

instance the written Assamese language form is on the Sarjyapada of Buddha religion. After that the

PrahladCharitra was written by HemSaraswati which is purely in Assamese form. In such way the

Assamese language were grown up with the help of many Baishnav saint like Sankardeva,Madhabdeva

etc. In 1826 the East India Company occupied Assam by the help of the treaty of Yandabo. In 1846 the

Chirstian missionaries were published a magazine named “Arunodoi”. Arunodoi made a Drastic change

on the Assamese literature. It has a great value on the basis of the modernization of Assamese language

and its people. Actually at first Arunodoiopen the door of western knowledge and thoughts to the

Assamese people. In this article we want to analyze those contribution of Arunodoi to the Assamese

language and as well as the Assamese society.

Methodology

In this Article We will used the descriptive method

and analytical method where it needed. As a reference we

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used the printed version of the Arunodoi and some

secondary sources like books, article research papers etc.

INTRODUCTION

Arunodoiis the first Assamese magazine. This was printed

from the Baptist Missionary printing press situated on the

bank of Dikhowriver in Sibsagar District. Arunodoi was

first published in 1846(January). "The Arunodoi, Monthly

Paper, devoted to religion, science and general

intelligence"- was the the punch line of the magazine. It

continued to be published till 1879. First editor ofthis paper

was Dr. Nathan Brown and then A.H. Den forth, Ms. Ward,

Miles Bronson, A.K Gurney, Rev. Clerketc. took over the

charge respectively. ThoughChristianity was the main aim

of the paper, it also included various news related to current

affairs, Science, astrology, history and also trivia. This

paper created a new era to the Assamese literary world.

Assamese people got to know about the western world, its

civilization and the western thought through this paper for

the first time. Arunodoi gave a new confidence to the

Assamese literates to carry forward with Assamese

dictionary , grammar and other essential parts of the

language. This paper gave birth to some prominent

Assamese authors like AnandaramDhekialPhukan,

HemchandraBaruah and NidhiLibaiPharowal. The

Arunodoiused a simple approach instead of borrowing

words from other languages, removing complexity among

various alphabets, mainly pronunciation oriented word

construction etc. Though this effort was not accepted in the

long run, but the Arunodoi opened the gate to the modern

literacy in the Assam.

DISCUSSION

CHRISTIAN WRITTER OF ARUNODOI:

Arunodoi was mainly a product of Christianity

movement. But the officials of American Baptist Mission

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know that language and literature is the main thing to get

connected with the indigenous Assamese people. Therefore

firstly they focused to learnt the Assamese Language and

then broadcast their religion to them. Language and

literature is the most essential element to connect with

people and convey their ideology. Apart from this it is to be

said that most of the officials of American Baptist Missions

were originally interested to the Language and culture.

They wrote many books, articles and language skill related

books like grammar, dictionary etc. The name of such

missionaries are Nathan Brown, Miles Bronson, A K

Gurney, Elija Brown, NidhiLibai Farwell etc. Here is a

brief description about the mentioned authors of Arunodoi-

Nathan Brown- in 1836 Nathan Brown came to the Assam

from America. At first he lived in Sadiya and by writing

some useful textbooks he used to teach the children there.

But for some reasons he get back to Joypur and in 1843 he

moved back to Assam, Sibsagar Again. He published the

Assamese translated version of “New Testament” As

NatunNiom in 1849 and KhristarBiboronAruHuvjatra in

1848.Brown also

wroteJoseforKahiniAndJikhukhristorJiboni. He also

translatedJohn Banion’s book Prillgrim’s Progress

AsJatrikorJatra. Apart from this he had a great

contribution on collecting and publishing some valuable

Assamese books. He collected and published the

AsomBuronji of KashinathTamuliPhukan and

BakulKayaosth’sGonitorPuthi. The Most Crucial

contribution of Nathan Brown is a book about Assamese

grammar named Grammatical Notices of the Assamese

Language.

Miles Bronson- Miles Bronson(1812–1883) was one of the

first American Baptist missionaries who came to Sadiya

and Jaipur in Assam, India. His mission was to preach

about Christianity in these parts of the world. Since there

were too many tribal people who knows only Assamese, he

learnt Assamese and spent a lot of time among the tribal

people. He also wrote number of books on those tribal

people and their lives. The groundbreaking contribution of

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Miles Bronson to the Assamese community is the

Dictionary of Assamese. In 1867 he published the book and

it contained 14000 of Assamese words. Since the dictionary

is the key element of any Language so it is to be said that

he made the pillar of the Assamese Language. Apart from

this he translated many chapters from the holy Bible and

wrote some other Articles.

A.K Gurney – A.K Gurney gave his first step in Assam in

1874. He edited the magazine Arunodoi for many years,

translated New Testament from Hibru Language to the

Assamese language. He also wrote

RoothAruJoseforKahini(1881) KaniBeheruwarKotha

(1878) ElakeshiBeshyarKotha (1877) and

KaminikantorCharitra (1877). Garney Edited and

published one more magazine named Dipti in 1905.

NidhiLibaiFarwel – NidhiLibaifarwell is originally an

Assamese whose name is NidhiramKeot. In 1841 he

baptized in Christian and changed his name to

NidhiLibaifarwell. He was regular writer of Arunodoi

magazine. He wrote many valueable article like Binoy

Boson,HorogorBiboron,NorokorBiboron,TirthorBiboron,

hindustanorBuronjee etc. In 1855 he published a book

namedPadarthoVidyaSar.

Apart from this EngrajiAsomiyaSabsokoshOf S.R

ward and EngrajiAsomiyaSabdakosh Of Mrs. Katter are

the two most valuable book of this time.Besides this Henri

AruTeorLoguwa, AporimitasarorPorinam, JoseforKahini,

AmerikaAbiskar, PanditAruDharmoprosar, 220 Ta

Stutigeet, BibelorHadhu, RamgotirKahiniDharmikSoha,

MauriSuwali, AfrikarKowar, Krishna AruKhirstorTulona,

ApottiNakhok, SwarupAsroy, HubornorTul, NistarorUpay,

SrirtiAruProloy, Guru AhilAruTomakMatise,

PaapKhemaPoaSuwali, Pabitra Avatar,

DharamPuthirBiboron are the most valuable contribution

of Arunodoi era.

NON CHRISTIAN WRITTER OF ARUNODOI

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Apart from American Baptist missionaries there

were many Assamese writer who wrote many valuable

article on ArunodoiMagazine. They were not related the

Arunodoiand Christian Missionaries group directly. Since

there were only one magazine of Assamese language at that

time so they had to write in that magazine. They were not

in support of Arunodoi’s easy spelling system and raised

their voice on it. In spite of that there were a vital role of

non Christian writers to the Arunodoi era. Some renown

writers of that era was-

AnandaramDhekialPhukan :(1829–1859) was one of the

pioneers of Assamese literature in the Arunodoi. He joined

in the literary revolution initiated by missionaries. He was

remembered for his efforts in promoting Assamese

language. He played a major role in replacing the Bengali

language with the Assamese language as the official

language in Assam.

AnandaramDhekialPhukan started his literary life at the age

of 17.From then until his death his sole aim was the

development of his land and its people. In 1847,

Anandaram published EnglandorBiwaran in Arunodoi. In

1849, he published AsomiyaLorarMitra in two volumes

which contained almost 400 pages. It is considered as one

of the milestone of the Assamese literature. In 1853, when

Moffat Mills came to Assam to review the economic

condition, AnandaramDhekialPhukan presented him with a

report written in lucid English describing the political and

administrative situation of Assam, in-depth analysis of

problems faced by the Assamese language and education

system, and reasons and solutions to the poor economic

condition of the Assamese people. He published another

book, A few remarks on Assamese language, in English in

1855. In this book he discussed the independent criteria of

the language and the grievous outcome of imposing

Bengali as the official language in Assam. This book

mentions about 62 religious books and 40 plays. In

addition, he started working on two dictionaries (Assamese

to English, English to Assamese) and sent some parts of

these to Arunodoi but their fate remains unknown

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GunabhiramBarua (1837-1894) was a nineteenth century

Indian intellectual from Assam who ushered in new ideas

of social reform in the early years of colonial rule in

Assam.He was deeply influenced by the progressive

intellectual currents of the Bengal Renaissance.

The first social drama of Assamese Ramnavami was

written by GunabhiramBarua in 1857 and published as a

book in 1870. Gunabhiram is also remembered as a

historian and biographer. In 1887 he published an Assam

Buranjee,KathinShobdorRohasyhaBakhya is a humorous

work by Barua, published posthumously in 1912.

GunabhiramBarua published and edited the short-lived but

hugely influential literary journal Assam-Bandhu(1885-

1886).

Hemchandra Barua was a prominent writer, social activist

of Assam. He was the compiler of the first exhaustive

Assamese dictionary Hemkosha, where spellings based on

Sanskrit were first introduced. It was the second dictionary

of the Assamese language which was published in 1900

after his death.Some of his other works are -

'ÔxômiyaByakôrôn' (1859), 'Adipath' (1873),

'Pathmala'(1882), 'Ôxômiyalôrarbyakôrôn'(1886). These

four books were recognizeas text books for schools at that

time. Besides this he also wrote

'PôrhaxôliyaÔbhidhan'(1892),'Bahirêrôngsông,

bhitôrêkûwabhaturi','KaniyarKirttôn'(1861),

'Xasthyôrôkhyabagabhalêrakhibôrupay' (Way to

health)(translated), 'Assamese Marriage System'

All the above mentioned writers were worth mentioned

person for the growth and development of the Assamese

literature. They all were worked hard to give the Assamese

literature a new dimension. And this all were possible

through Arunodoi magazine mainly. Therefore we have to

be grateful for the literary work published through

Arunodoi. I already mentioned that Arunodoi was the

gateway of all the western thought and culture. Because of

that there were many reforms came to the Assamese

Society and its education system through the Arunodoi

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also. The main Contribution of Arunodoi can be mentioned

as follows-

 It can be said that Arunodoi revive the almost ended

Assamese language from a crucial situation. They helped to

re established the Assamese language as a medium of

learning and governance by fighting with the government.

They worked hard to established the peculiarity of the

Assamese language and tried to convinced the importance

of mother language for basic education of Assamese

people.

 Grammar and Dictionary which is the key role for any

language, they published that types of books to strengthen

the basic structure of the Assamese language.

 They were the first who published a magazine in Assamese

language. And through this they opened the door of western

knowledge and thoughts to the Assamese People.

 They collect some very precious Assamese old book and

publish it through their missionary press. Now these are the

most valuable gems of Assamese literature for whom all

Assamese people can be proud.

 Arunodoi Enrich the word Stock of Assamese language by

creating some new words with the help of English Word

and some other foreign words. Apart from that some

Assamese word which was going to be defunct, they take it

again and inspire the use of those words.

 Arunodoi magazine has created some prominent author of

Assamese language like GunabhiramBarua,

HemchandraBarua, AnandaramDhekialPhukon etc. they are

like a blessings for the growth and development of the

Assamese language and the community also.

 Only through Arunodoi Assamese people found a new idea

of wider world. Geography, History, Education, Science

and technology, new invention of science these all were

introduced to Assamese people only through Arunodoi

firstly.

 The learning of English literature has started through the

missionaries for the first time. And through this language

modernity comes to the Assamese society. With the help of

that modern thought the new genre of literature is

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introduced in a basic form for the first time in Assamese

language.

 Before Arunodoi starts the main subject of the Assamese

language was religion centric and daily life related. But

from the Arunodoi era Assamese literature has earned the

capacity to express the feelings and desire of common

people through literary works. Of course it has to be accept

that religious thought was also one of the part of Arunodoi

magazine, Yet there were many more for which Assamese

people have to be grateful forever.

CONCLUSION

In the history of growth and development of

Assamese language and literature there is great impact of

ArunodoiMagazine.This magazine give a new extent to the

people of Assam and its literature. Though their prime aim

was to preaching the Christian religion to the Assamese

people, they knew full well that Language is the main thing

to get connected with people and convey their ideology.

Therefore at first they learnt the Assamese language and

then they try to broadcast their ideology by the help of the

literature. In such way Assamese people and its literature

were mostly benefitted. They gave a new way of thinking

to the Assamese people, new knowledge and new structure

to the literature of Assamese. Only because of Arunodoi,

The Assamese literature was formed in a modern way. In

1813 the first printed book was published in Assamese font

only because of the missionaries related with Arunodoi. For

these whole reasons The First magazine of Assamese

literature Arunodoi be remembered by the each and every

people of Assamese community.

REFERENCES-

1.Borua, B.K. (1988). ―AsamiyaBhasaaruSangskriti‖,

Journal Amporium.

2.Borgohain, H.(1993). ―AsamiyaSahityarBuranji‖,(Ed.),

Guwahati, ABILAC

3. NeogMaheswar (2008) --- AsamiyaSahityarRuprekha,

Chandra Prakash, Guwahati.

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4. SarmaDoloiHarinath (2000) ---

AsamiyaSahityarPurnaItihas, Padmapriya Library,

Guwahati.

5.Sharma, S. (2006).

―AsamiyaSahityarSamikhyatmakIttibritta‖, Guwahati

:SoumarPrakashan.