Assamese Poetry: From Ancient to Modern Period

By Prof. Pranjit Bora | Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, Guwahati

Learners enrolled: 36

Since the days of the unknown folk poets tuning their thoughts and emotions in varied forms, the course of Assamese Poetry remains sturdy and vibrant. That the first ever regional version of the Ramayana was accomplished in Assamese also ascertains the beauty as well as strength of the language still in the 14th century. Indeed, the course of Assamese poetry has been enriched and widened by the magic of these Bhakti poets, but it had to wait up to the threshold of the 20th century to listen to a voice that is really cosmopolitan in spirit and essence. At this juncture we find all those romantic poets who sought inspiration from the West but composed poems with the exact fragrance of the Assamese soil and soul. Of course, it was during the Second World War days that Assamese poetry responded faithfully to the ‘modern’ experience of stark and naked urban realities which reshaped it with search for new subjects as well as techniques well-distanced from those of the romantics. Since then, we have many significant modernist voices contributing in their distinctive ways for making the course of Assamese poetry unique and distinctive in the regional scene of Indian literature.

This course is expected to motivate and inspire students to have a systematic knowledge and understanding of the course of Assamese poetry. Besides, as the course has also incorporated in it the selected texts from each significant period, it will enable learners in critical appreciation of the poets, thus leading to the logical estimate of the history of Assamese poetry as well.

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Not Applicable
Language for course content :	Assamese
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Language
Credit Points :	4
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	01 Jan 2025
End Date :
Exam Date :

Page Visits

Course layout

Week	Module	Topic
Week 1	Module 1.	Assamese Poetry since the Ancient Period: A Bird’s Eye View
	Module 2.	Assamese Folk Poetry-I
	Module 3.	Assamese Folk Poetry-II
Week 2	Module 4.	Charyapada: Its Themes, Language & Philosophy
	Module 5.	Selected Charyapadas
	Module 6.	Charyapada and other Bhakti Literature in Assamese
Week 3	Module 7.	Madhav Kandali: His Times and Contribution
	Module 8.	Notes on Kandali’s Translation
	Module 9.	Bargeet: Introduction
Week 4	Module 10.	Assamese Romantic Poetry: Background and Features
	Module 11.	Chandra Kumar Agarwalla’s Bin-Boragi
	Module 12.	Assamese Sonnets: Features and Hemchandra Goswami’s Priyatamar Chithi
Week 5	Module 13.	Prose-Poetry: An Introduction and Jatindra Nath Duwarah’s Prose-Poem
	Module 14.	Mysticism in Assamese Poetry: Nalinibala Devi’s Natghar
	Module 15.	Assamese Poetry and Rabindranath Tagore
Week 6	Module 16.	Assamese Poetry of the Transition Period
	Module 17.	Debakanta Baruah’s Kalangparat Majnisha
	Module 18.	Debakanta Baruah as a Poet
Week 7	Module 19.	Modern Poetry: Background and Features
	Module 20.	Assamese Modern Poetry: An Introduction
	Module 21.	Hem Barua’s Mamatar Chithi
Week 8	Module 22.	Modern Assamese Poetry: Amulya Baruah and Bhabananda Dutta
	Module 23.	Amulya Baruah’s Kukur
	Module 24.	Bhabananda Dutta’s Rajpath
Week 9	Module 25.	Modern Assamese Poetry and Navakanta Barua
	Module 26.	Navakanta Barua’s Eta Premar Padya
	Module 27.	Modernity in Nabakanta Baruah’s Poetry
Week 10	Module 28.	Nilamani Phukan and His Poetic Thoughts
	Module 29.	Nilamani Phukan’s Muthi Muthikoi Kati
	Module 30.	Nilamani Phukan as a Modern Poet
Week 11	Module 31.	Hiren Bhattacharya and His Poetic Contribution: Hiren Bhattacharya’s Lakhimi
	Module 32.	Nirmalprabha Bordoloi’s Poetry and her Mormantik
	Module 33.	Ajit Barua’s Poetry and his Jengrai 1963
	Module 34.	Harekrishna Deka’s Poetry and His Samudrabheeti
Week 12	Module 35.	Sammer Tanti’s Poetry: Kadam Phular Rati
	Module 36.	Anubhav Tulasi’s Poetry: Doron Phul
	Module 37.	Nilim Kumar’s Poetry: Panit dhou Dhoubor Mas

Books and references

· Ahmed, Kamaluddin (2005); Adhunik Asomia Kabita; Guwahati : Banalata

· Bardoli, Nirmal Prabha (1987); Asomor Loka Kabita; Guwahati : Bina Library

· Bardoli, Nirmalprabha (ed.) (2008); Kavitamanjari; Guwahati : Guwahati University

· Baroua Prahlad Kumar (ed.) (2001); Asomia Loka Sahitya; Dibrugarh : Surbhi Sahitya Kutir

· Baroua, Atul Chandra (1981); Asomia Loka Sahitya; Guwahati : Assam Book Depot

· Baroua, Bhaben (2002); Asomia Kabita: Rupantarar Parba; Guwahati : Books

· Baroua, Lopa (1999); Adhunik Asomia Kabitat Pratik aaru Chitrkalpa; Guwahati : Purbanchal Prakash

· Baroua, Prahlad Kumar (2001); Adhunik Asomia Kobitrar Gati Boichitra; Dibrugarh : Bani Mandir

· Barthakur, Satyakam (ed.) (2015); Bezbarooah Samagra (Vol- VI); Jorhat : Premanand Trust

· Bora, Mahendra (1987); Ramanyashbad; Guwahati : Student Emporium

· Chakraborty, Manju and Deka Hazarika, Karabi (1992); Charyapadas aaru Bargeets; Guwahati : Banalata

· Das, Babul (ed.) (2011); Kamarupi Lokageet; Guwahati : Students Stores

· Das, Dhiren (1994); Goalparia Lokasanskriti aaru Lokageet; Guwahati : Chandra Prakash

· Deka Hazarika, Karabi (2008); Asomia kabi aaru Kabita; Dibrugarh : Banalata

· Deka Hazarika, Karabi (2008); Asomia Kabita; Guwahati : Students Stores

· Dutta, Bhabananda (1997); Asomia Kabitar Kahini; Guwahati : Lawyers Book Stall

· Dutta, Birendra Nath (1974); Goalparia Lokageet Sangrah; Jorhat

· Duttabarua, Harinarayan (ed.)(1999); Saptakanda Ramayana; Guwahati : Dattabarua Publishing Co. Pvt Ltd

· Gogoi, Leela (1968); Asomia Loka Sahityar Rurrekha; Golaghat : Nabin Pustak Bhandar.

· Gohain, Hiren (2007); Nirbachita Samalochana; Guwahati : Assam Prakashan Parishaad

· Goswami, Narayan Chandra (2000); Brajabali bhashar byakarn aaru abhidhaan; New Delhi : Horizon Printers

· Goswami, Praful Dutta (1986); Asomia Jana Sahitya; Guwahati : Bani Prakash Pvt

· Hazarika, Parikshit (2004); Charyapada; Guwahati : Banalata

· Kakati, Banikant (1968); Purani Asomia Sahitya; Guwahati : Lawyers Book ̧Stall

· Lekharu, Upendra Chandra (1948); Asomia Ramayan Sahitya; Guwahati

· Mahant, Keshada (1984); Asomia Ramayani Sahitya; Jorhat

· Malik, Syed Abdul (2003); Asomia Zikir aaru Jari; Guwahati : Guwahati University

· Neog, Maheshwar (1985); Asomia Geetisahitya; Guwahati : Banimandir

· Neog, Maheshwar (1986); Asomia Sahityar Ruprekha; Guwahati : Bani Mandir

· Neog, Maheshwar (1991); Purani Asomia Samaj aaru Sanskriti; Guwahati : New Book Stall

· Neog, Maheshwar (ed.) (2006); Sanchayana; New Delhi : Sahitya Akademi

· Phukan, Kabin (1995); Asomia Kabitar Prabah (Part I); Guwahati : Students Stores

· Saikia, Nagen (1996); Asomia Kabita aaru Anyanya Bishoy; Guwahati : Chandra Prakash

· Sharma, Hemant Kumar (1998); Asomia Lokageet Sanchayan; Guwahati : Bina Library

· Sharma, Satyandranath (2009); Purani Sahitya Adhyayan; Guwahati : Bani Prakash

· Sharma, Satyendra Nath (1995); Asomia Sahityar Samikashatamka Ittibritta; Guwahati. Souma Prakash

· Sharma, Satyendra Nath (2013); Ramayanr Ittibritta; Guwahati : Bina Library

· Sharma, Shashi (1993); Asomor Loka Sahitya; Guwahati : Students Stores

· Sharma, Shashi (2001); Madhab Kandalir Ramayan; Nalbari : Journal Emporium

· Talukdar, Nanda (2006); Kabi aaru kabita; Guwahati : Banalata

· Ullah, Imdad (1980); Srijan aaru Manan; Guwahati : Guwahati Book Stall

· Ullah, Imdad (1987); Kabitar Sobisesh; Asom Sahitya

Instructor bio

A Ph.D. from Gauhati University (2010) on The Poetry of

Anna Akhmatova and the Great Russian Tradition, Professor Pranjit Bora had previously taught Assamese

Literature in Dibrugarh University. He was also the Chairperson of Centre for

Studies in Philosophy, Dibrugarh University since 1 January, 2018—31 December,

2020, and the Chairperson of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Centre for Studies in

Performing Arts, Dibrugarh University, July 1, 2015 -- December 31, 2017.

Besides he worked as the Deputy Coordinator of CAS-II (under SAP of UGC),

Department of Assamese, Dibrugarh University, during 2019-20. His areas of

interest include Assamese Literature, Comparative Literature, Creative Writing,

Literary Theory and Criticism, Folk Poetry, World Literature and Translation

Studies. He has to his credit more than fifty papers in different research

journals published from time to time. He has published more than fifty books

till date.

For details, please follow: http://kkhsou.in/web_new/viewDocuumentPdf.php?pdf=faculty/profile/Assamese/Pranjit%20Bora.pdf&q=Pranjit%20Bora

Course certificate

SWAYAM Helpline / Support