Thread by @AssamStories

Assamese Language - The struggle for speaking in your own tongue!

The #AssameseLanguageAgitation (1830s to 80s) & Official Language Movement (1950s & 60s) are often referred to as the Dark Ages of the Assamese language. Are times any brighter now?

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With the British annexation of #Assam in 1826, and its subsequent annexation with Bengal brought in changes to the region the naive indigenous could ever imagine.

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Organisation & reorganisation of areas sometimes into Assam & then to Bengal and back also contributed largely to the population distribution & movement. This had been a major factor in census data and subsequent policy decisions.

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In April 1836, Bengali was declared the language of the courts in Assam, replacing Persian. Bengali was also used as the medium of instruction in the educational institutions of Assam. Within decades, the Assamese began to loose its identity.

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The imposition of Bengali as the language of the court and educational institutions resulted in the slow progress of education. Bengalis were brought in and employed in the schools of Assam. There were no school Assamese and literature suffered.

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Initially the imposition did not meet with any kind of protest. Rather, the Assamese elite used the language in their writings, and even in conversation, and the language policy of the government went unquestioned for almost a decade.

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The Bengali "Amolas" brought their own culture, language, and traditions, and it started to effect the native culture, economy, and eventually political status of the natives. There is a "amolapatty" in almost every major town/city in Assam - a reminiscent of that era.

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American Missionaries were one of the first to take up the cause of the Assamese language. With the idea of spreading Christianity, they started publishing texts in Assamese and initiated the publication of the first Assamese newspaper "Arunodoi" in 1846.

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These inspired a younger generation of Assamese to pursue the cause. Anandaram Dhekial Phukan's 'Axomiya Lorar Mitro', Gunabhiram Barua articles in = 'Assam-Bandhu' were some of the first published texts by the natives.

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Hemchandra Barua's contribution to the development and modernization of the language was immense. He was instrumental in the publication of grammar texts - "Oxomiya Byakoron", "Oxomiya Lorar Byakoron" and dictionaries "Porhaxolia Obhidhan" and "Hemkox"

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When "Hemkox" was first published, it contained about 22,346 words. It still remains the most referred to dictionary of the #Assamese language.

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In 1872, George Campbell, the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal made Assamese the language of education and administration for its native speakers.

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Eventually in 1874, the government revised its earlier language policy and the Commissioner categorically stated that in the primary schools, rather than Bengali, should be the soul medium of instruction.

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However, the Commissioner had no objection to the use of Bengali text books if "the students understood that language" and Bengali continued to be the medium of instruction in middle grades till the end of the 19th century.

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Another important event was "Jonaki". The efforts of the members of "Oxomiya Bhaxa Unnati Xadhini Xobha", a group of students then studying in Calcutta; resulted in the "Jonaki" - the moon light in the midst of darkness.

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The debates & struggles of the natives on the issue of language during the 19th century resulted in increased awareness about the distinctive linguistic, cultural identity of #Assam.

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These were the stepping stones into a long history of struggles that was about to come.

A Thread on the 'Post Partition' language movements shall be posted soon. Do follow. :)

EOT.

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