Buranji
Encyclopedia
Buranjis are a class of historical chronicles written in the Ahom
and Assamese
languages. The first such Buranji was written on the instructions of the first Ahom king
Sukaphaa
who established the Ahom kingdom
in 1228. Many such manuscripts were written by scribes under the office of the Likhakar Barua, which are based on state papers, diplomatic correspondences, judicial proceedings, etc. Others were written by nobles or by people under their supervision, very often their identities are not revealed. Not only do these documents reveal the chronology of events, but they reflect the language, culture, society and the inner workings of the state machinery of the kingdom. They were written in "simple, lucid and unambiguous but expressive language with utmost brevity and least exaggeration." The tradition of writing Buranjis survived more than six hundred years well into the British period, till a few decades after the demise of the Ahom kingdom.
Literally, Buranji means "a store that teaches the ignorant" (in the Ahom language
: bu ignorant person; ran teach; ji store). The Buranjis not only describe the Ahom kingdom, but also the neighbors (Kachari, Sutiya, and Tripura Buranjis) and those with whom the Ahom kingdom had diplomatic and military contacts (Padshah Buranji). They were written on the barks of the Sanchi tree or aloe wood. Though many such Buranjis have been collected, compiled and published, an unknown number of Buranjis are still in private hands.
Mainly the Mohan(Mohung),Deodhai(Changbun)and Bailung(Moplong),the ahom people who are even today not Hindus and follow their own religion i.e. FRA-LUNG try to preserve their buranjis to retain their ethnic identities and hesitate to hand these over to research scholars in the fear of misuse.
During the reign of Rajeswar Singha, Kirti Chandra Borbarua
had many Buranjis destroyed because he suspected they contained information on his lowly birth.
Ahom language
The Ahom language is an extinct Tai language spoken by the Ahom people who ruled the Brahmaputra river valley in the Indian state of Assam between the 13th and the 18th centuries.- Other names :...
and 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...
languages. The first such Buranji was written on the instructions of the first Ahom king
Ahom Dynasty
The Ahom Dynasty ruled the Ahom Kingdom in present-day Assam for nearly 600 years. The dynasty was established by Sukaphaa, a Shan prince of Mong Mao who came to Assam after crossing the Patkai mountains...
Sukaphaa
Sukaphaa
Chaolung Sukaphaa , also Siu-Ka-Pha, the first Ahom king in medieval Assam, was the founder of the Ahom kingdom. A Tai prince originally from Mong Mao, the kingdom he established in 1228 existed for nearly six hundred years and in the process unified the various tribal and non-tribal peoples of...
who established the Ahom kingdom
Ahom kingdom
The Ahom Kingdom was a medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam that maintained its sovereignty for nearly 600 years and successfully resisted Mughal expansion in North-East India...
in 1228. Many such manuscripts were written by scribes under the office of the Likhakar Barua, which are based on state papers, diplomatic correspondences, judicial proceedings, etc. Others were written by nobles or by people under their supervision, very often their identities are not revealed. Not only do these documents reveal the chronology of events, but they reflect the language, culture, society and the inner workings of the state machinery of the kingdom. They were written in "simple, lucid and unambiguous but expressive language with utmost brevity and least exaggeration." The tradition of writing Buranjis survived more than six hundred years well into the British period, till a few decades after the demise of the Ahom kingdom.
Literally, Buranji means "a store that teaches the ignorant" (in the Ahom language
Ahom language
The Ahom language is an extinct Tai language spoken by the Ahom people who ruled the Brahmaputra river valley in the Indian state of Assam between the 13th and the 18th centuries.- Other names :...
: bu ignorant person; ran teach; ji store). The Buranjis not only describe the Ahom kingdom, but also the neighbors (Kachari, Sutiya, and Tripura Buranjis) and those with whom the Ahom kingdom had diplomatic and military contacts (Padshah Buranji). They were written on the barks of the Sanchi tree or aloe wood. Though many such Buranjis have been collected, compiled and published, an unknown number of Buranjis are still in private hands.
Mainly the Mohan(Mohung),Deodhai(Changbun)and Bailung(Moplong),the ahom people who are even today not Hindus and follow their own religion i.e. FRA-LUNG try to preserve their buranjis to retain their ethnic identities and hesitate to hand these over to research scholars in the fear of misuse.
During the reign of Rajeswar Singha, Kirti Chandra Borbarua
Borbarua
Borbarua was one of the five patra mantris in the Ahom kingdom, a position created by the Ahom king Prataap Singha...
had many Buranjis destroyed because he suspected they contained information on his lowly birth.
List of well known Buranjis
| No. | Name | Author |
| 1 | Assam Buranji | Harakanta Baruah |
| 2 | Assam Buranji | Kasinath Tamuli Phukan |
| 3 | Asamar Padya Buranji | (Buranji of Assam in verse) |
| 4 | Ahom Buranji | Golap Chandra Barua |
| 5 | Changrung Phukanar Buranji | |
| 6 | Deodhai Asam Buranji | |
| 7 | Padshah Buranji | |
| 8 | Purani Assam Buranji | Hemchandra Goswami |
| 9 | Satasari Assam Buranji | |
| 10 | Tungkhungia Buranji | Srinath Duara Barbarua |