The Importance of Christian Missionaries in the Progress of Assamese Language and Literature: an Analytical Study

International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology Vol. 29, No. 4s, (2020), pp. 3719 - 3722

The importance of Christian Missionaries in the Progress of Assamese Language and Literature: An analytical study

Jonmoni Das Research Scholor, Gauhati, University Department of Foreign Languages

Abstract

On, 1836, Christian Missionaries came to Assam. Mainly they came to Assam to spread Christ religion. But they saw that the situation in Assan is not right at that time, and they faced many problems. They realized that if it was to spread religion in Assam, it would be possible only through the Assamese language. So, they tried to learn the Assamese language and started spreading religion through the Assamese language. Due to this they composed many texts, composition of grammer, dictionary etc. In the same was, the dead Assamese language gradually started coming alive.

Objective: Through this paper we will mention about the contribution of missionary people in Assamese society. We will try to explain the social situation of Assam at that time and I will try to explain that in this debilitating situation, how the Assamese writer also supported them.

Source: To explain this paper, we will take help of various texts and historical books also and will take the help of various journals, reference.

Methodology: The sources of data, that are used in this study will be both Primary and secondary. The data will be acquired from various books, journals and articles. Analytical method in mainly used in this study.

Main topic: According to the treaty of Yandaboo to be held in the year 1826, the British people came to Assam. Already the state of Assam was weakened by Mana. Mana in invaded Assam about seventeen times and due to this many Assamese people were found dead. British had done a complete loss of economics, policy of politics and Assamese literature and language. At the same time, Assam had the prevalence of Bengali language in addition to the Assamese language. On 1836 the Bengali Language was introduced in the office, court, school replacing the Assamese language in Assam. Meaning the state of Assam was completely broken. But when the Christian Missionaries people arrived in Assam on 1836, the Assamese language started becoming stronger. When Dr. Nathan Brown, Dr. Miles Bronson, ot cuttar, Nidhiram farwell, Eliza Brown, Robinson came to Assam to appease Christ and when they came to Assam they saw that Assam‟s language and literature was in crisis. In the first they began to learn the Assamese language because they had decided that it was only by learning the Assamese language that they would transmit the Christy religion. After learning the Assamese language, they started to writing articles, books in this language. Gradually the crisis Assamese language started coming alive. It was 1813 that according to Reverand carey‟s order Atmaram Sharma translated the Bible in Assamese language. Robinon Saheb was the first grammer writer on Assamese language which name was „A Grammer of Assamese language‟ (1839). Dr. Nathan Brown also wrote the „Grammatical notices of the Assamese language.‟ For the progress of Assamese language and in addition the Christion Missionary Dr. Brown also translated John Bunyan‟s „pilgrims progress‟ into Assamese‟ the name of the Assamese text was „Yatrikor Yatra‟. Christian Missionary used to collect the old book of Assam and light it in a new form. Through this

ISSN: 2005-4238 IJAST 3719 Copyright ⓒ 2020 SERSC International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology Vol. 29, No. 4s, (2020), pp. 3719 - 3722 the progress of Assamese language started increasing. Dr. Brown gave a new light to the Assam history, chutiya History etc. His wife Eliza Brown also wrote some use full Assamese book for children. Like wise moral book, geography book, Maths book etc. Miles Bronson composed a dictionary in the assamese language. The dictionary contained approximately fourteen thousand Assamese words. Thus they worked a lot for the progress of Assamese language. Christion Missionaries A.K. Garmi also worked a lot for the progress of Assamese language. Garni came to America in 1874 and spread religion in Sivasagar Assam. Garni lived in Assam from i874 to 1907 and spread religion in the Assam and composed usefull articles. Garni translated the old testament book from Hibru to Assamese language, the name of the treatise is „Ancient rule.‟ Apart from this, 1905 Garni took out the monthly journal which name is „Dipti‟. Christion Missionaryes Nidhiuram farwel did a lot for progress of Assamese language. Nidhiram wrote the treatise of „Binoy Boson, Swargr Biworan, Narokon Biworan etc. Nidhiram translated the Indian Council act into Assamese in 1865.

Basically Christian Missionaries did the followings for the progress and advancement of Assamese language—

1. Bengali language was opposed in Assamese literature. 2. Knowledge of western literature was given. 3. The simple people of Assam had given knowledge of the country and aboard. 4. Assamese language was made poewerful. 5. Christian Missionaries had given encouragement to Assamese writer. 6. Christian Missionaries had given impetus to the birth and progress of Assamese Magazine, paper etc. Thus, the Assamese language was prevalence on full speed. In Orunodoi period apart Christian Missionaries, some Assamese writer was also in it. The names of the Assamese writer was- Hem Chandra Barua, Gunabhiram Barua, Anandaram Dhekial Phukan for over eight years. In 1948, he published „Axomiya Loaran Mitra‟ on Orunodoi papar. At 1853 when Moffat mills came to inquiry Assam, Ananda Ram gave a beautiful analysis of the Economic situation of Assam. In 1855 he composed a treatise called „ A Few remarks on Assamese language‟in English. In the same way Hemchandra also raised his voice in favour of the progress and advancement of the Assamese language. In 1859 he wrote Assamese Grammer, in 1873 Aadipath, in 1886 „Axomiya Lorar Mitra‟, in 1892‟ phoraxoliya Abdidhan. His best work is a „Ham Kosh‟ it was published in 1900. He also wrote „Kaniyar Kirtan‟ and „Bahire Rang Shang bhitore Kowa Bhaturi‟. It‟s a comic drama. Through this he had established all the major problems of Assam. He criticize and satirise the Assamese society and thus he try to progress of the Assam‟s people. He was the editor of Assam news paper. He also wrote a treatise called „Assamese Marriage system.‟ Through this book he described the marriage system of Assamese society‟ the rules of marriage and all the practices of Assam society.Along with these people and with the Christian Missionaries‟ Gunabhiram also wrote for the progress of Assam society. In 1857 he published a drama which name is „Ram Nabami‟ and through this he try to describe about the misery of women in society. Through he made a process to remove all the wrong practices of Assamese society. Like this, Christian Missionaries and some Assamese writer formed new methods for the advancement of Assamese language and development of Literature. Christian people

practiced literature using the upper Assam spoken language. Thus the Christian Missionaries had to suffer a lot for the complete progress of Assamese language. We will always be grateful for them. In this way Christian missionaries reconstructed the Assamese language. In this struggle Anand Ram Dhekial Phukan, Hemchandra barua, Gunabhiram Barua had work very hard and this way they make powerful Assamese language. At the same time as Arunday some educated youth of Assam founded the Assamese Literary society. In 1888 this society was renamed as Axomiya Bhaka Unnoti Shadini Sabha. When these Christian missionaries went from village to village for the progress of Assamese language they came to face many problems. But they grew up by encroaching everything. It was written on the top page of the Arunaday is- “Orunodoi, A monthly magazine devoted to religion, science and general intelligence.” In this paper were many topics was written in prose. Through this Orunodoi paper we can get a group information about the Assam‟s economics, social policy, religious system, and the collective introduction of Assam. If that time those Christian missionaries did not work for the progress for Assam, then today the Bengali language would have become the state language. Just as some Assamese writers were accompanied by Christian missionaries, in the same way some Assamese writers were free from this influence. But they also did a lot for the progress of the Assamese language and literature. Some Assamese writer like Dutiram Hazarika, Dinanath Bezbaruah, Gopinath Chakraborty, Ragudev Goswami, Lalit Chandra Goswami did not have any connect with Orunodoi writers. Dutiram composed „Kali Bharat‟ in ancient times on the orders Kameshwar Singha. From this book, we get a historical account of Ahom. Dinanath Bezbaruah from Sivasagar also composed „Aishwarya Sanghita‟ and „Utkal Khanda‟. Both of these texts have based on religions. Ragudev Goswami, who lives in the Nagaon also wrote „Hitopadesh‟ and Gopinath Chakraborty of Kamrupa wrote „Radha Kalank Bhanjan.‟ Lalit Chandra Goswami a resident of Nalbari, also wrote „Keli Rahashya‟ this text was based on Radha Krishna‟s story‟ That is, it is a religious book. In the same way, that time Assamese or non Assamese writer wrote a lot of books to uplift the Assamese language. But at the same time, there was such a negative site of Assamese language that the description or alphabet of Assamese language was not used properly. Because Christian missionaries had only primary education in Assamese language and they could not able to learn the correct form Assamese alphabet. But they brought the dead Assamese language alive. For the progress of the Assamese language Christian missionaries used to provide primary education in Assamese language to the Assamese child by establishing schools at different places and they provided education also. If those people had not done such work for the Assamese language today this language would have died. We will always remember the Christian missionaries who worked for the progress of the Assamese language at that time. Even in the current times, the progress of Assamese language is not going well. A lot of other language influence has come into the Assamese language. Language transition, illegal arrival of foreigners, has expanded its influence in the Assamese language. If we try to progress of Assamese language goes to present date, then we will have to do the education of the Assamese language, will have to do the Assamese language writing progress, Assamese society, literature, culture has to be protected.

Bibliography: [1] Barua, Hem : Assamese literature, National Book trust, 1965 [2] Barua, Birinchi Kumar : History of Assamese Literature, New Delhi, 2003 [3] Barua, B.K. : Modern Assamese literature, Gauhati, 1957, Lawyers book stall. [4] Bhuyan, S.K. : Studies in the literature of Assam, Guwahati, 1962. [5] Mills, Moffat : Report on the province of Assam, publication Board, Assam, 1984. [6] Neog, D. : New light on the History of Asmiya literature, Swani Prakas, 1962. [7] Saikia, Nagen : background of modern Assamese Literature, Omsons publication, 1988.