Assamese Literary Figures: Madhavdev & Ram Saraswati

Mahapurush Sri Sri Madhavdev

• Born in 1489 at Narayanpur, Letekupukhuri
• Parents: Mahudar Bhuyan/Govindagiri and Manorama Aai
• Guardian: Harisinga Bora; Teacher: Rajendra Adhyapak
• Died in 1596 (Madhupur satra/Cooch Behar)
• First literary work: Janmarahasya
• Other literary contributions include: Adikanda Ramayan, Rajasuya jajna/kabya, Bhakti Ratnawali, Naammalika, Naamghosa/Hajari Ghosa (1000 verses)
• Wrote the play Arjun Bhanjan, the first Assamese play.
• His plays were called Jhumura; examples are Sur dhora, Pimpara Gusua, Bhojan Bihar, Bhumi Letua, Kutura Khela, Bhusan Haran, Brahma muhan, Raas jhumura

Ram Saraswati

• Also known as Aniruddha/BharatBhusan/Kabichandra
• Poet at Koch king Naranarayan's court
• Translated Mahabharata and Geet Govinda of Jayadev into Assamese.
• Wrote badh kavyas (battle poems) including Bakaxur badh/Bhagásur/Kulachal/Khatasur/Asvakarna/Jinghasur badh.
• Wrote BhimCarit (ভীমচিৰত).
• Son, Kapalchandra, wrote Radha-carit.
• Also known as Haricharan/Bhagawatcharjya/Chandra Bharati
• Translated the tenth skandha of the Bhagavad Purana.
• Wrote Mahiravan vadh, Britraxur vadh, Harihar yudha, Kumarharan, sitar patal pravesh, sahasra naam brittanta, Jiva stuti, Bharat savitri.

Ananta Kandali, Bhattadev, and Others

• Vaikunthanath Kaviratna Bhagawata Bhattacharya (1558-1638), known as the Father of Assamese prose.
• Wrote Katha Bhagawat, Katha Gita, Katha Ratnawali (in prose).
• Also contributed Nandotsav, Prasangamala, Bishnu Sahasranaam, Bhaktisaar, Bhaktibibek, Bhagawat Adhikaran, Saranmalika (Sanskrit works).
• Sarvabhauma Bhattacharjee wrote Swarga Khanda Rahasya.
• Sridhar Kandali wrote the Ghunusa Yatra chapter in Kirtan Ghosha and Kankhowa.

Post-Shankardev Era

• Carit puthis (চিৰত পুিথ) were written in the 17th century, biographies of Shankardev by his pupils.
• Banshawalis (e.g., Darrang Rajar Banshawali) were also written.
• Katha Guru carit (biography of Sankardev & Madhavdev) was compiled.
• Ramcaran thakur wrote Sankara Carit (most voluminous biography on Sankardev) and Kangshavadh.
• Daityari thakur wrote Guru Carit.
• Several authors wrote Sankaracarit biographies of Shankardev.
• Ramacanta wrote Banamali Dev Carit.
• Gopaldev (Bhawanipuriya Gopal Dev), also known as Kathar Sagar, wrote dramas Janmajatra, Nandotsav, Uddhavjan.
• Padmapriya Aai, daughter of Gopal Dev, was the first woman poet of Assam.
• Aniruddha Dev (established the Mayamara Satra) wrote Bhaktimangal Ghosa, Puranjan Upakhyan, dukuri Bhatima, Nijsashtra.
• PurushottamThakur wrote Na ghosha.
• Bar Jadumonidev wrote Kewalia Ghosha, Geet Mandakini.
• Govind Misra, Gopal Misra, SriRam Aata, Bhagawad Misra, and Ratnakar Misra contributed translations and works emphasizing the Bhagwat Gita and Bhaktibibek, GhoshaRatna, Ghosha Patal, Saswat Tantra, and Vishnu Puran, Gita Kirtan, respectively.
• After Sankardev's death, his ideology was divided into four branches: Brahma Samhati, Purus Samhati, Nika Samhati, Kala Samhati.

Buranjis

• Chronicles
• First Buranji: Sukaphar buranji by Senkalu Mosai
• First Assamese Buranji: Sri Sri Swarganarayan Maharajar Janmakatha.
• Buranji writing charge given to Siring Phukan then Lekharu Barua.
• Written in Xaasipaat.
• Sakarifeti buranji written by Numoli Borgohain.
• A Minister, Kirtichandra Barbarua, burnt buranjis.
• Tripura Buranji, Tungkhungia buranji, Assam buranji puthi, Assam buranji, Belimarar buranji, Koli Bharat Buranji, Asomor Padya buranji.
• Oldest Buranji (in print form): Puroni Axomor Buranji (Hem chandra Goswami in 1922).
• Other Buranjis: Kachari, Jayantia, Kamrupar buranji, Saatsori Axom buranji, Padshah buranji, Deodhai Asaam buranji (Surjya Kumar Bhuyan); Chakarifeti, Azagar, mati feti, kaal feti, mokorajaal, karxola buranji (Nagen Hazarika).

Other Works and Poets

• Kitabat manjari, Lilavati– Bakul Kayastha
• Kaviraj Ramnarayan Chakraborty—court poet of RudraSingha, SibaSingha, Phuleswari
• Brahmaboiwarta Puran, Sankhachur vadh, Geetgovinda, Shakuntala, Bhaswati—by Chakraborty
• Hastirvidyarnava (book on elephants) by Sukumar Borkaith
• Ghora nidaan (book on horses)

Modern Assamese Literature

• 1813: First Assamese printed book—New Testament of Bible by Atmaram Sharma (called Dharmapustak).
• 1836: Bengali became the language of the court and medium of instruction in Assam.
• First missionaries: Nathan Brown and O.T. Cutter
• 1836: First printing press in Sibsagar.
• 1836–1873: Dark Age of Assamese language.
• 1839: W. Robinson’s Grammar of Assamese language.
• 1848: Nathan Brown’s Grammatical Notices of the Assamese language.
• 1867: Miles Bronson’s first Anglo-Assamese dictionary.

Anandaram Dhekial Phukan, HemChandra Barua, and Gunabhiram Barua

• Anandaram Dhekial Phukan, 1829–1859, born in Guwahati, wrote in Assamese.
• HemChandra Barua, 1835–1896, born in Jorhat, wrote Axomiya bhaxar Oja.
• Axomiya Byakaran (first Assamese Grammar written in Assamese).
• Hemkosh(first Assamese dictionary).
• Kaniyar Kirtan, Bahire rong song Bhitore kuwabhaturi (first satire).
• Axomiya lorar byakaran, Tulanamulok Byakaran, Axomiya Lorar Adipath, Paath Mala, Swasthya Rakhya, Assamese Marriage System.
• Gunabhiram Barua, 1837-1894, wrote Ram Navami (first social drama), Assam buranji, Kathin Xobdor Rohosyo Byakhya.
• Assam Bandhu (1885–1886), a publication.

Jnanadabhiram Barua, Arunudoi, Jonaki

• Bilator Sithi, Venishor saud.
• Translated Burhi Aai r Xadhu into English
• Karunabhiram Barua, edited the magazine Lora Bandhu, the first children's magazine
• Arunudoi, first Assamese magazine, 1846–1883, printed from Sibsagar Baptist Press, Nathan Brown as first editor.
• JONAKI, 1889–1903, first editor Chandra Kumar Agarwala.
• Bon Kuwori (first Assamese romantic poem), Priyotomar Sithi (first Assamese sonnet), Xeuti (first Assamese short story), Jonaki Jugor Trimurti by Chandra Kumar Agarwala, Hemchandra Goswami, and Lakshminath Bezbaruah.

Lakshminath Bezbaruah, Chandra Kumar Agarwala, Hemchandra Goswami

• Lakshminath Bezbaruah (Rasraj/Xahityorothi), 1864-1938: Natak- Litikai, Kripabor Baruah, Mur jibon xuworon (Autobiography), Burhi AairXadhu, Kokadeuta aru natilora, Junuka, Surabhi, Xadhukothar kuki, junbiri, kehukoli (story collections), kodomkoli, padumkoli (poetry collections), padumkunwori (novel).
• Baanhi (started in 1909), first editor Lakshminath Bezbaruah, O Mur Apunar Dex by L Bezbaruah (published in Baanhi 1909) tune by Kamal Prasad Agarwala
• Chandra Kumar Agarwala (Pratimar Khanikar): Pratima, Bin Boragi, Chandramrit
• Hemchandra Goswami: Akon (child magazine), Priyotomar Sithi

Rajanikanta Bordoloi (Upanyax Samrat) and Others

• Rajanikanta Bordoloi (Upanyax Samrat): MiriJiyori.
• Padmanath Gohain Baruah (Pitamah of assamese literature): Bhanumoti, Lahori. Teton Tamuli
• Assam Sahitya Sabha – first session (1917), first president–Padmanath Gohain Baruah, first secretary Sarat Chandra Goswami, Theme song.

Sobriquets/Nick Names, Pen Names, and Awards

• Descriptions of sobriquets, pen names, and prominent literary figures.
• Jnanpith Award winners from Assam (Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya-1979, for Mrityunjay; Mamoni Raisom Goswami—2000, for writing about subalterns and marginalized groups)
• Other literary awards.

Explore the significant contributions of Mahapurush Sri Sri Madhavdev and Ram Saraswati in Assamese literature. This quiz covers their birth, works, and influence on Assamese culture, including plays and translations of epic texts. Test your knowledge on their life and legacy.