Anandaram Dhekial Phukan
Encyclopedia
Anadaram Dhekial Phukan was one of the pioneers of Assamese
literature in the Arunodoi era who joined in the literary revolution initiated by Missionaries with his heart and soul. He was born in 1829 at Guwahati in the famous `Dhekial Phukan’ family. His father Haliram Dhekial Phukan wrote & published `Asom Buronji’ and `Kamakhya Yatrapaddhati’ in Bengali language and distributed those freely. He also contributed in the bengali megazine `Samachar Chandrika’.
. In 1941 the then commissioner Jenkins sponsored him to go to Calcutta & study in Hindu College. After studying for 3 years there, he came back to Guwahati and took further lessions in English from Mr. Blend. He also took up some lessions in Sanskrit
and Urdu
.
He got married in 1846 followed by joining in a government job in the subsequent year. He served as Dewan of the king of Bijani, Munsif, Junior assaistant commissioner etc.
.
In 1847, young Anandaram published `Englandar Biwaran’(Description of England) in Arunodoi. In 1849, he published `Asomiya Lorar Mitra’(Assamese children's friend) in two volumes containing almost 400 pages which is considered a milestone in the history of Assamese
literature. In 1853 when Mr. Moffat Mills came to Assam
to review the economic condition, Anadaram Dhekial Phukan surprised everyone by his brave presentation report written in lucid English which described the political and administrative scenario of Assam, in-depth analysis of problems faced by Assamese language
and education system, reasons and solution to the poor economic condition of Assamese people etc. He published another book titled `A few remarks on Assamese language’ in English in 1855 where he discussed the independent criteria’s of the language and the grievous outcome of imposing Bengali
as official language in Assam. This book mentions about 62 religious books and 40 plays. In addition He started working on two Dictionaries (Assamese to English, English to Assamese) and sent some part of those to Arunodoi but their fate remains unknown.
His love for motherland can be assumed from the following passage taken from the book `Englandor Biworon’- “ He kripaamay jagadiswar; sibilaakar abhaaw aaru durawasthaa jaanibaloi sibilaakok gyaan diyaa, aaru tomaar bichitra shaktire sibilaakok sabhYa karaa, aaru tomaak jaanibar aaru aagyaa paalibar Yogya karaa | Ji samayat Asam haabi guchi phulbaaree haba, noit dongaa guchi jaahaaj haba, ghar baahar guchi shil itaar haba, gaawe gaawe haajaar haajaar parhaashaali haba, giyaanar sabhaa, chikitsaalay, dukheeyaa-daridrar paritraanar aalay haba, aaru ji kaalat loksakale paraspare hinsaa-hinsi nakari aataaye aataaike bhaatriwata cheneh kariba…. Sei samay, he kripaamay jagadiswar sheeghre ghatowaa |“
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
literature in the Arunodoi era who joined in the literary revolution initiated by Missionaries with his heart and soul. He was born in 1829 at Guwahati in the famous `Dhekial Phukan’ family. His father Haliram Dhekial Phukan wrote & published `Asom Buronji’ and `Kamakhya Yatrapaddhati’ in Bengali language and distributed those freely. He also contributed in the bengali megazine `Samachar Chandrika’.
Education and early life
Anandaram started his school life in GuwahatiGuwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
. In 1941
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
and Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
.
He got married in 1846 followed by joining in a government job in the subsequent year. He served as Dewan of the king of Bijani, Munsif, Junior assaistant commissioner etc.
Literary life
Anadaram Dhekial Phulan started his literary life at the young age of 18. From then until his death his sole aim was the development of his land and its people never caring about his own health due to which Col. Hopkins rightly compared him to the great Raja Rammohan Roy of West BengalWest Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
.
In 1847, young Anandaram published `Englandar Biwaran’(Description of England) in Arunodoi. In 1849, he published `Asomiya Lorar Mitra’(Assamese children's friend) in two volumes containing almost 400 pages which is considered a milestone in the history of Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
literature. In 1853 when Mr. Moffat Mills came to Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
to review the economic condition, Anadaram Dhekial Phukan surprised everyone by his brave presentation report written in lucid English which described the political and administrative scenario of Assam, in-depth analysis of problems faced by Assamese language
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
and education system, reasons and solution to the poor economic condition of Assamese people etc. He published another book titled `A few remarks on Assamese language’ in English in 1855 where he discussed the independent criteria’s of the language and the grievous outcome of imposing Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
as official language in Assam. This book mentions about 62 religious books and 40 plays. In addition He started working on two Dictionaries (Assamese to English, English to Assamese) and sent some part of those to Arunodoi but their fate remains unknown.
His love for motherland can be assumed from the following passage taken from the book `Englandor Biworon’- “ He kripaamay jagadiswar; sibilaakar abhaaw aaru durawasthaa jaanibaloi sibilaakok gyaan diyaa, aaru tomaar bichitra shaktire sibilaakok sabhYa karaa, aaru tomaak jaanibar aaru aagyaa paalibar Yogya karaa | Ji samayat Asam haabi guchi phulbaaree haba, noit dongaa guchi jaahaaj haba, ghar baahar guchi shil itaar haba, gaawe gaawe haajaar haajaar parhaashaali haba, giyaanar sabhaa, chikitsaalay, dukheeyaa-daridrar paritraanar aalay haba, aaru ji kaalat loksakale paraspare hinsaa-hinsi nakari aataaye aataaike bhaatriwata cheneh kariba…. Sei samay, he kripaamay jagadiswar sheeghre ghatowaa |“