Padmanath Gohain Baruah (Assamese: পদৠমনাথ
গোহাঞি বৰৠৱা; 1871â€"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" (great grandfather) 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.[2]Padmanath
Gohain Baruah was born in 1871 at Nakari village in North
Lakhimpur.[2] He started schooling in a Bengali medium school at his
birthplace. He went to Calcutta in the last part of the 19th century
to pursue higher education. His voyage started off as he became an
active member of Asomiya Bhasar Unnati Sadhini Sabha, established by a
number of Assamese students for the uplifting of Assamese language and
literature. However fate had other plans for him. Gohain Baruah could
not complete his BA examination as he found Latin very difficult to
master. In those days the Indian students were expected to study an
ancient language for their BA course, and Padmanath,who had not
learned Sanskrit in his Bangla medium school, had opted for Latin.
Failing to complete his graduation, Padmanath started preparing for
Bachelor of Law examination, but was barred from appearing in the exam
for being underage. Thus, although he had failed to acquire a formal
degree in Calcutta, his years there had a very formative influence
upon him. It was there that he came into contact with the contemporary
stalwarts of the Assamese literature like Gunabhiram Baruah,
Hemchandra Goswami, his senior fellow student Lakshminath Bezbarua
etc. Moreover, it was Calcutta that he was inspired with a sense of
duty towards his nation.His return to his homeland witnessed his
dedication for the noble cause of the uplift of his mother tongue and
he went on to write a number of books in various styles and forms.[3]
গোহাঞি বৰৠৱা; 1871â€"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" (great grandfather) 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.[2]Padmanath
Gohain Baruah was born in 1871 at Nakari village in North
Lakhimpur.[2] He started schooling in a Bengali medium school at his
birthplace. He went to Calcutta in the last part of the 19th century
to pursue higher education. His voyage started off as he became an
active member of Asomiya Bhasar Unnati Sadhini Sabha, established by a
number of Assamese students for the uplifting of Assamese language and
literature. However fate had other plans for him. Gohain Baruah could
not complete his BA examination as he found Latin very difficult to
master. In those days the Indian students were expected to study an
ancient language for their BA course, and Padmanath,who had not
learned Sanskrit in his Bangla medium school, had opted for Latin.
Failing to complete his graduation, Padmanath started preparing for
Bachelor of Law examination, but was barred from appearing in the exam
for being underage. Thus, although he had failed to acquire a formal
degree in Calcutta, his years there had a very formative influence
upon him. It was there that he came into contact with the contemporary
stalwarts of the Assamese literature like Gunabhiram Baruah,
Hemchandra Goswami, his senior fellow student Lakshminath Bezbarua
etc. Moreover, it was Calcutta that he was inspired with a sense of
duty towards his nation.His return to his homeland witnessed his
dedication for the noble cause of the uplift of his mother tongue and
he went on to write a number of books in various styles and forms.[3]
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.