His life span was too short, of just 29 years, but he is remembered as a true maker of modern Assamese
language till date for his efforts on the upliftment of Assamese language.
Anandaram Dhekiyal Phukan
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Anandaram Dhekiyal Phukan was born in 1829. His father Haliram was also an
author. He wrote two books in Bangla, 'Asaam Buronji' and 'Kamrup Jatra Padhati'. His
grand father Parashuram was orthodox Hindu, so never allowed Haliram to study
english or any other foreign language.
On the contrary, Anandaram Phukan, became an expert of English literature. He first
joined the first English school of Gauhati in 1835. There with the efforts of James
Mathew and Jenkinson he started learning english literature and slowly showed his great strength
in english. Then both British officials sponsored him to Hindu College of Kolkata. Phukan studied
there for three years but came back to Gauhati again in 1844. But he kept learning english from
an Oxford graduate, and also started learning Urdu-Farsi.
Anandaram Dhekiyal Phukan started his literary life from just 17 years with writing articles to
Arunudoi, first Assamese magazine, in 1846. He first wrote 'Axomiya Loraar Mitra'(Assamese children's friend)
based on English text books. He got it printed from Sibasagar and distributed in schools.
At that time British started teaching Bengali in the schools. Anandaram couldn't tolerate it.
In 1847 he joined government job. When Governer Miles came to Assam for an audit in 1853
Anandaram Phukan was the man who submitted an application to him appealing to use Assamese
as a medium in the schools. Miles liked his arguments and supported him.
The same year he was transferred to Nowgon, where he came in close contacts of Missionary
Bronson and Collector Butler. In 1855 Phukan wrote a booklet "A few remarks on the assamese
language, and on the Vernaculer education in Assam". He printed 100 copies of the book in
Baptist press in Sibsagar and distributes to Bengal government and other important state government
of the country. This booklet gave boast to the Assamese language movement against usage of Bengali
Language in the schools of Assam.This small booklet shows his expertise in Assamese, Bengali, Hindi
and verious regional laguages of India.
This brilliant personality left this world too early at the age of just 29 in 1859. Though
his exact contributions to Assamese literatures were less, but his youthful efforts to bring
Assamese language back to the education system always brings to the level of Brown-Bronson in
Assamese society.
You can discuss more about Andaram Dhekiyal Phukan and Assamese literature here.
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