Assamese Literature
Assamese literature is an important topic in the Assam History and Culture section of the ADRE 3.0 Grade IV General Knowledge and Assam GK paper. The literature of Assam has a long history, beginning with the Charyapada of the early period and passing through the Vaishnavite age of Srimanta Sankardeva and Madhavdev to the modern age of newspapers, novels, poetry and drama. This topic tests the candidate's knowledge of the great writers, their famous works, the early newspapers and journals, and the awards won by Assamese writers. Because the questions are usually direct and name-based, a well-organised list of authors and books is the surest way to score here.
Meaning and Time-line of Assamese Literature
Assamese literature means the body of writing produced in the Assamese language over many centuries. The earliest known examples are the Charyapada, a collection of mystical Buddhist songs composed around the tenth to twelfth centuries, which are regarded as the oldest specimens of the language. The literature then passed through the Vaishnavite age, when Srimanta Sankardeva and Madhavdev wrote devotional works, plays and songs. In the modern period the establishment of the printing press and the growth of newspapers and schools gave birth to prose, novels, poetry and drama, and Assamese literature became rich and varied.
Early and Vaishnavite Literature
- The Charyapada, the oldest known Assamese and Bengali songs, composed in the early period.
- Srimanta Sankardeva, the great Vaishnavite saint, who wrote the Kirtan Ghosa, the Ankiya Naats and many Borgeets.
- Madhavdev, the chief disciple of Sankardeva, who wrote the Naam Ghosa and the Bhakti Ratnavali.
- The Charit Puthis, or biographies of the Vaishnavite saints, written in prose.
- The Buranjis, the historical chronicles of the Ahom period, which are an important source of history.
The Beginning of Modern Assamese Literature
Modern Assamese literature began with the arrival of the printing press and the work of the American Baptist missionaries. The first Assamese newspaper, Arunodoi, was started in 1846 by the missionaries, and it played a big role in the growth of prose. Hemchandra Barua wrote the Hemkosh, the first standard Assamese dictionary, and worked for the reform of the language. Anandaram Dhekial Phukan and Gunabhiram Barua were other early writers who helped to shape modern Assamese prose. The Jonaki era, beginning with the magazine Jonaki in 1889, brought a new romantic spirit to Assamese poetry and literature.
Great Writers of the Modern Age
The modern age of Assamese literature produced many great writers. Lakshminath Bezbaroa, often called the father of modern Assamese literature, wrote short stories, plays and essays and edited the magazine Banhi. Hemchandra Goswami, Chandrakumar Agarwala, Raghunath Choudhury and Kamalakanta Bhattacharya were leading poets of the Jonaki era. Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, the great poet, playwright and filmmaker, gave Assam its first film, Joymoti. Bishnu Prasad Rabha, a poet, singer and revolutionary, is remembered as Kalaguru. These writers shaped the language and gave it a modern form.
Awards and Recognitions
Assamese literature has won national recognition. Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya won the Jnanpith Award for his novel Mrityunjay. Indira Goswami, also called Mamoni Raisom Goswami, won the Jnanpith Award for her work on the Assamese novel and was an important figure in modern Assamese writing. Nilamani Phukan and Harekrishna Deka are among the other Jnanpith and Sahitya Akademi awardees. The Asam Sahitya Sabha, founded in 1917, is the leading literary organisation of Assam and works for the development of the language and literature.
How This Topic Appears in the Examination
The topic is usually asked as a small group of one-mark objective questions. The questions ask the name of the author of a famous book, the founder of a newspaper, the name of a dictionary, the winner of an award or the title of a novel. Because the questions are direct and tied to well-known names, this topic gives good returns for the time spent, and a candidate who remembers the authors and their works is unlikely to lose marks.
Memory Tips
Link each great writer with one famous work, such as Sankardeva with the Kirtan Ghosa, Madhavdev with the Naam Ghosa, Hemchandra Barua with the Hemkosh and Lakshminath Bezbaroa with the magazine Banhi. Remember Arunodoi, started in 1846, as the first Assamese newspaper, and Jonaki, started in 1889, as the beginning of the romantic age. Keep the Jnanpith awardees in a short list, with Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya for Mrityunjay and Indira Goswami for her novels. A chart of authors and works is the best revision aid.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing the Charyapada with later devotional literature.
- Mixing the names of Sankardeva and Madhavdev and their works.
- Forgetting the year and the founders of Arunodoi.
- Confusing the Jonaki era with the Vaishnavite age.
- Mixing the Jnanpith awardees with Sahitya Akademi awardees.
How to Prepare This Topic
- Draw a timeline of Assamese literature from the Charyapada to the modern age.
- For each period, note the main writers and their famous works.
- Learn the early newspapers and journals and their founders.
- Prepare a list of the awards and the winners from Assam.
- Test yourself with objective questions once a week.
Additional Points to Remember
The Charyapada is important because it is the oldest specimen of the Assamese language and shows the early development of the language's roots. The Kirtan Ghosa of Sankardeva is regarded as the greatest work of Assamese devotional literature. The Buranjis are important not only as literature but also as historical records of the Ahom kingdom. Hemchandra Barua's Hemkosh standardised the spelling and vocabulary of the language. The Jonaki era brought romanticism and new forms of poetry, and the modern age added novels, short stories, drama and film. Together these periods show the continuous growth of Assamese literature.
Advanced Tips
When a question mentions a book, connect it with the author, because questions often ask who wrote a particular work. When a question mentions a newspaper or a magazine, remember the year and the person who started it. Do not confuse the two great Vaishnavite writers, Sankardeva and Madhavdev, and remember that the Naam Ghosa was written by Madhavdev. Keep the Jnanpith awardees separate from the Sahitya Akademi awardees. Revising a single chart of authors, works and years helps to fix the whole topic in memory.
Related Topics
Assamese literature is closely related to the other topics of Assam's History and Culture. It connects with the Ahom and Koch kingdoms, because the Buranjis and much of the early literature belong to that period. It connects with folk culture, because Sankardeva's plays and songs are part of both literature and culture. It connects with the freedom struggle, because many leaders were also writers and the press played an important role. It also connects with the study of ancient Assam, since the earliest inscriptions and grants are among the oldest examples of the language. Studying these topics together gives a complete picture of Assamese culture.
Quick Revision Checklist
- Charyapada is the oldest known specimen of the Assamese language.
- Srimanta Sankardeva wrote the Kirtan Ghosa; Madhavdev wrote the Naam Ghosa.
- Arunodoi, the first Assamese newspaper, was started in 1846.
- Hemchandra Barua wrote the Hemkosh, the first standard Assamese dictionary.
- Lakshminath Bezbaroa is called the father of modern Assamese literature.
- Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya and Indira Goswami won the Jnanpith Award.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the oldest specimen of the Assamese language?
The Charyapada, a collection of mystical Buddhist songs composed in the early period, is regarded as the oldest known specimen of the Assamese language.
Who wrote the Kirtan Ghosa and the Naam Ghosa?
Srimanta Sankardeva wrote the Kirtan Ghosa, and his chief disciple Madhavdev wrote the Naam Ghosa.
Which was the first Assamese newspaper?
Arunodoi, started in 1846 by the American Baptist missionaries, was the first Assamese newspaper and played a big role in the growth of Assamese prose.
Who wrote the Hemkosh?
Hemchandra Barua wrote the Hemkosh, which was the first standard Assamese dictionary and helped to standardise the spelling of the language.
Which Assamese writers have won the Jnanpith Award?
Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya won the Jnanpith Award for his novel Mrityunjay, and Indira Goswami, also called Mamoni Raisom Goswami, was another Jnanpith awardee from Assam.