Assamese literature is the entire corpus of poetry, novels, short stories, documents and other writings in the Assamese language. It also includes popular ballads in the older forms of the language during its evolution to the contemporary form. The literary heritage of the Assamese language can be traced back to the c. 9-10th century in the Charyapada, where the earliest elements of the language can be discerned.
Poets are listed in alphabetical order by their pen name, as rendered in Latin script. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Writer | Sobriquet | Pen name |
---|---|---|
Ambikagiri Raichoudhury | Asom Kesori | [5] |
Ananda Chandra Agarwala | Bhangani Konwar | Sri Harsha |
Ananda Chandra Barua | Bakulbonor Kavi | |
Anandaram Dhekial Phukan | A Native | |
Ambeshwar Chetia Phukan | Kobita Konwar | |
Banikanta Kakati | - | Bhabananda Pathak |
Benudhar Sharma | - | Bihguti Bora |
Bhabendra Nath Saikia | - | Priya Bandhu:Sanjay:Satyapriyo Pathak |
Bhubanmohan Baruah | Kanchan Baruah | |
Binanda Chandra Barua | Dhwoni Kobii | Kerpai Sarma |
Birinchi Kumar Barua | - | Bina Baruah:Rashna Baruah |
Bishnuprasad Rabha | Kalaguru | Bishnupriya Rabha Tahkuria |
Bishnuram Medhi | Lauha Manab | |
Brajanath Sarma | Abhinayacharya | |
Chandra Kumar Agarwala | Pratimar Khonikor | |
Chakreshwar Bhattacharyya | Rajpathar Sil | |
Ganesh Chandra Gogoi | Paporir Kavi | |
Gopinath Bordoloi | Lokapriya | |
Gunabhiram Barua | - | Guru Dutta |
Hem Barua | Tyagbir | Sonaram Chand |
Hiren Gohain | - | Niranjan Phukan |
Indira Goswami | Mamoni RaY som Goswami | |
Jyotiprasad Agarwalla | Roopkonwar | |
Kamalakanta Bhattacharyya | Agnikobi | Astabakra |
Kanaklata Baruah | Birbala | |
Lakshminath Bezbaroa | Roxoraj, Sahityarathi | Kripabar Barbaruah |
Mahendranath Deka Phukan | Monai Boiragi | |
Mafijuddin Ahmed Hazarika | Gyanmalinir Kavi | |
Mahim Bora | Rangajiya kavi | Dhanbor Kai |
Nabin Chandra Bordoloi | Karmaveer | |
Nalinibala Devi | Atindriyabadi Kavi | |
Navakanta Barua | - | Ekhud Kakaideu:Sima Dutta |
Nilmoni Phukan Sr | Bagmibor | |
Pabitra Kumar Deka | - | Rasheswar Hazarika |
Parvati Prasad Baruva | Geetikavi | Hoibor Abhoipuria |
Phani Sarma | Natasurjya | |
Radha Gobinda Baruah | Singhapurush | |
Raghunath Choudhary | Bihogi Kavi | |
Rajanikanta Bordoloi | Upanyash Samrat | Bholai Sarma |
Rebati Mohan Dutta Choudhury | Silabhadra | |
Robin Dey | Porasor | Rongmon [6] |
Rudra Baruah | Luit Konwar | |
Satyanath Bora | Ejon Asomiya | |
Syed Abdul Malik | Ajagar:Swami Abhangananda | |
Surendranath Medhi | Saurav Kumar Chaliha | |
Tarun Ram Phukan | Deshbhakta | |
Kumud Ch. Hazarika | Ranju Hazarika | |
Omeo Kr Das | Lokanayak |
Parvati Prasad Baruva (1904–1964) was a noted poet, lyricist, and dramatist: an icon of Assamese literature and the culture of Assam. Known for his simple and sensitive use of the Assamese language, he is popularly known as the Geetikavi; the lyrical poet of Assam. He was also one of the early pioneering filmmakers of Assamese cinema.
Padmanath Gohain Baruah (1871–1946) was the first president of Asam Sahitya Sabha and a prominent name in the early part of modern Assamese literature. He was a novelist, poet, dramatist of excellence, analyst and a thought provoking writer. Considering his towering personality and profound knowledge, he is regarded as the "Pitamaha" in Assamese literary world. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Assamese literature and society, the British government gave him Raibahadur title, a rare honour conferred for the first time to an Assamese person. He was also the first literary pensioner of Assam.
The Assam Valley Literary Award was conceived in the year 1990 by Williamson Magor Education Trust to honour creative writers who have enhanced Assamese literature.
Nakul Chandra Bhuyan (1895–1968) was an Indian historian, playwright, essayist and a short story writer of Assamese language.
Prof Bhabananda Deka was a pioneer Assam economist and author who conducted novel research on the economy of the far eastern part of India. He was also a leading Indian-Assamese litterateur of the famed 'Awahon-Ramdhenu Era' of Assamese literature during the mid-20th century. He was the author of a total of 115 English and Assamese books including textbooks on a range of fifteen subjects including economics, ancient Assamese literature, philosophy, education, religion, mythology, archaeology, tribal study, poetry, drama, memoirs, civics, political science, biographies; he also edited books and journals. He also authored a variety of research papers and articles about the state of Assam, a state in the north-eastern part of India. He pioneered the writing of books on Economics in Assamese. His Assamese book Axomor Arthaneeti was the first ever research-based comprehensive book on Assam Economics, which was published for the first time in 1963. He was conferred with the honorary title of 'Asom Ratna' -- 'Jewel of Assam' by the intellectuals of Assam on 19 August 2007 at a public meet held under the presidency of Prof. (Dr) Satyendra Narayan Goswami.
Gunabhiram Barua (1834-1894) 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. He was among the few Assamese publicists who had formally entered the Brahmo Samaj. All his life he propagated its liberal ideas through his writings.
Gariyoshi is an Assamese language monthly literary magazine published by the Sahitya-Prakash, Tribune Building, Guwahati. It was founded by Chandra Prasad Saikia, who was also the first editor. The magazine is published monthly. Goriyoshi is instrumental in nurturing and projecting several talented short story writers and poets including Dhanada Debi, Jayanta Kumar Chakraborty, Arnab Jan Deka, Manikuntala Bhattacharya, Birinchi Kumar Rabha, Jiban Narah, Neelim Kumar and others. The magazine also collaborated with the Katha International Short Story Festival in 2004 in creating the All-India Katha-Goriyoshi Awards for best Assamese short stories. Dhrubajyoti Sarma, Arnab Jan Deka and Ratna Bharali Talukdar were the recipients of those awards, whose short stories were translated into English and read over in the presence of an international galaxy of story writers and literary critics at Katha International Short Story Festival 2004.
Literature from North East India (Assamese: উত্তৰ-পূৱ ভাৰতৰ সাহিত্য is literature in the languages of North East India and the body of work by English-language writers from this region. North East India is an under-represented region in many ways. The troubled political climate, the beautiful landscape and the confluence of various ethnic groups perhaps have given rise to a body of writing that is completely different from Indian English literature. North-East India was a colonial construct and continues to be one by virtue of having a historically difficult relationship with the Indian nation state.
Mahim Bora was an Indian writer and educationist from Assam. He was elected as a president of the Assam Sahitya Sabha held in 1989 at Doomdooma. He was awarded most notably the Padma Shri in 2011, the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2001 and the Assam Valley Literary Award in 1998. Assam Sahitya Sabha conferred its highest honorary title Sahityacharyya on him in 2007.He also participated in the Quit India Movement of 1942 held in Kaliabor town in the Nagaon district of Assam.
Ganesh Gogoi was a poet of Assam and then he is remembered also as a lyricist, composer, playwright, actor and football player. He is also known as Papori Kobi.
Benudhar Rajkhowa (1872-1955) was a prominent writer, poet and dramatist from Assam. He was the president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha in 1926 held at Dhuburi district, Assam. When he was studying at Calcutta, he had done a pivot role for development of Asamiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha, a literary organization from Assam. He was honoured with Rai Bahadur title by the ruling British government.
Mafizuddin Ahmed Hazarika (1870-1958) was an Indian poet belonging to the Jonaki era of Assamese Literature. He was popularly known as 'Gyan Malinir Kobi' among the people of Assam. He was elected as the president of the 12th Asam Sahitya Sabha in 1930 held at Golaghat district, Assam. He was one of the organizers of Dibrugarh Sahitya Sabha and served as its secretary from 1904 to 1934. He also presided over the "Chatra Sanmilan" held at Sibsagar in 1930.
Chandra Kumar Agarwala was a writer, poet, journalist from Assam. He is a pioneer of the Jonaki Era, the age of romanticism of Assamese literature. Agarwala was titled as Pratimar Khonikor in Assamese literature. Agarwala was the first editor and financer of the Jonaki magazine and a founder member of Asamiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha, a literary organization of Assam with his intimate friends Lakshminath Bezbarua and Hemchandra Goswami. Agarwala, along with his friend Lakshminath and Hemchandra, are known as "Trimurti of Assamese literature" for their remarkable contribution to the very beginning of modern Assamese literature. Chandra Kumar Agarwala was the brother of writer and poet Ananda Chandra Agarwala and uncle of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, a noted poet, playwright, composer, lyricist, writer and first Assamese Filmmaker.
Ananda Chandra Agarwala (1874–1940) was a writer, poet, historian, translator and administrative officer from Biswanath District of Assam. He is known as Bhangoni Kunwor for his translation of several English poems into Assamese. He was elected as a president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha in 1934 held at Mangaldoi. He was honoured with the title of Raibahadur by the ruling British Government. Ananda Chandra Agarwala was the brother of noted Assamese poet Chandra Kumar Agarwala and uncle of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, a poet, playwright, composer, lyricist, writer and first Assamese Filmmaker.
Satyanath Borah (1860–1925) was an Assamese grammarian, essayist and music composer. He write sometimes in the pen name of Ejon Asomiya. Bora participated in India's freedom struggle and also associated with the Jonaki and Usha magazine. He is the author of Gitabali, a book consisting of 28 modern Assamese song. Other literacy works of Bora are Sarathi, Kendra Sabha (1925), Chintakoli and Akash-rahasya, Jivanar omiya, His grammatical works include Bohol Byakoron, a book on the Assamese grammar.
Ananda Chandra Barua (1907–1983) was a writer, poet, playwright, translator, journalist and actor from Assam. He is popularly known as Bokulbonor Kobi in Assamese literacy society. He was honoured with, most notably the Padma Shri title and Sahitya Akademi award.
Sarat Chandra Goswami (1887-1944) was a prominent writer of Assam who enriched the Assamese literature with his short stories. Goswami was a founder member of Asam Sahitya Sabha and elected as a Secretary of the Sabha for the first time. He continued in the same post from 1920 to 1927.
Professor Maheswar Neog was an Indian academic who specialised in the cultural history of the North East India especially Assam, besides being an Assamese-language scholar and poet. He was a top Indologist, and his work covers all disciplines of Indian studies, folk-lore, language, dance, history, music, religion, drama, fine arts, paintings, historiography and hagiography, lexicography and orthography, epigraphy and ethnography. His research includes multi-dimensional features of Vaishnava renaissance in Assam through Srimanta Sankardev, Madhabdev, Damodardev, Haridev, Bhattadev and other Vaishnava saints of Assam.
Nalini Prava Deka was an author, poet, storyteller, actress and playwright from Assam, a state in India encompassing the Brahmaputra Valley. She was honoured at a 2012 gathering in Ledo by the Assam Sahitya Sabha. Deka promoted Assamese heritage, traditional customs, weaving and fabric art, cooking and folk music with her husband, Bhabananda Deka. They researched traditional Assamese lifestyle, art, literature and culture. Deka was the first female editor and publisher of a children's magazine, Phul (Flower), and wrote 30 critically praised books. All India Radio broadcast Deka's radio plays on issues related to women and children.