Monday, May 24, 2021

Kamarupa Yatra

    Kamarupa Yatra, a 10th century Sanskrit work penned in Kamrup (Kamarupa), based on Kalika Purana,Yogini Tantra and Kularnava, deals with the mode of worship of Kamakhya. It records the origin of the name "Pragjyotisha" and "Kamarupa" (Kamrup).


Sources

  1. Das, Nava Kishor (1989), Ethnic Identity, Ethnicity, and Social Stratification in North-east India, Inter-India Publications, ISBN:9788121002189, 8121002184, p.34
  2. Deka, Phani (2007), The Great Indian Corridor in the East, Mittal Publications, ISBN:9788183241793, 8183241794, p.39 
  3. Pathak, Guptajit  (2008), Assam's history and its graphics, Mittal Publications, ISBN:9788183242516, 8183242510, p.47
  4. Indian Anthropological Society (1994), Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society - Volumes 29-30, The Society, p.4
  5. North-east India Ethno-cultural Perspectives and Process (1998), Indian Anthropological Society, ISBN:9788185525020, 8185525021, p.4


Monday, October 5, 2020

Umacal Rock inscription of Surendra Varman

    The Umacal is north-eastern part of Nilachala or Kamakhya hill in modern Guwahati in Kamrup region. The Umacal Rock inscription was issued by Surendra Varman (470-494), also known as Mahendra Varman, the son of king Ganapati Varman and queen Suvrata Devi, who is sixth in line of Varman dynasty of Kamarupa kingdom.

Inscription

Umacal Rock Inscription

Maharajadhiraja Sri
Surendravarma Kritam
Bhagavat Balavadra
Swaminath Idah Griha

Translation

This cave of the illustrious lord Balabhadra has been constructed by Maharajadhiraja Sri Surendra Varman.
 

See also

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Grammatical Sketches of Indian Languages With Comparative Vocabulary And Texts

Dr. Upendranath Goswami, noted linguist, wrote a chapter on Assamese language in Linguistic Survey of India, Census of India 1971. Download

Friday, April 24, 2020

Notable Kamrupi people

Kamrupi people are ethno-linguistic group native to Kamrup region of India. Some of the notable Kamrupi people are mentioned in the list below.


Legendary

  1. Naraka - Founder of Bhauma dynasty of Pragjyotisha
  2. Bhagadatta - Son of Naraka and ruler of Bhauma dynasty of Pragjyotisha 
  3. Vajradatta - Son of Bhagadatta and ruler of Bhauma dynasty of Pragjyotisha 

Ancient

  1. Pushya Varman - Founder of  Varman dynasty of Kamarupa kingdom
  2. Samudra Varman - Son of Pushya Varman and ruler of Varman dynasty
  3. Bala Varman - Son of Samudra Varman and ruler of Varman dynasty
  4. Kalyana Varman - Son of Bala Varman and ruler of Varman dynasty
  5. Ganapati Varman - Son of Kalyana Varman and ruler of Varman dynasty
  6. Mahendra Varman - Son of Ganpati Varman and ruler of Varman dynasty
  7. Narayana Varman - Son of Mahendra Varman and ruler of Varman dynasty
  8. Bhuti Varman - Son of Narayana Varman and ruler of Varman dynasty
  9. Chandramukha Varman - Son of Bhuti Varman and ruler of Varman dynasty
  10. Sthita Varman - Son of Chandramukha Varman and ruler of Varman dynasty
  11. Susthita Varman - Son of Sthita Varman and ruler of Varman dynasty
  12. Supratisthita Varman - Son of Susthita Varman and ruler of Varman dynasty
  13. Bhaskar Varman - Son of Susthita Varman, brother of Supratisthita Varman and ruler of Varman dynasty
  14. Avanti Varman - Ruler of Varman dynasty
  15. Brahma Pala - Founder of  Pala dynasty of Kamarupa kingdom
  16. Ratna Pala - Son of Brahma Pala and ruler of Pala dynasty
  17. Indra Pala - Son of Brahma Ratna Pala and ruler of Pala dynasty
  18. Go Pala - Son of Indra Pala and ruler of Pala dynasty
  19. Harsha Pala - Son of Go Pala and ruler of Pala dynasty
  20. Dharma Pala - Son of Harsha Pala and ruler of Pala dynasty
  21. Jaya Pala - Son of Dharma Pala and ruler of Pala dynasty
  22. Lauhityapada - Litterateur
  23. Daka - Litterateur
  24. Minanatha - Litterateur
  25. Kumarila Bhatta - Preacher
  26. Chand Sadagar - Merchant

Medieval

  1. Ananta Kandali1 - Litterateur
  2. Bakul Kayastha - Litterateur
  3. Bhattadeva1 - Litterateur
  4. Bhusana Dvija - Litterateur
  5. Birdatta Choudhury - Freedom fighter
  6. Chandra Bharati - Litterateur
  7. Damodara Deva - Litterateur
  8. Dvija Kalapachandra1 - Litterateur
  9. Durgabar Kayastha - Litterateur
  10. Kalapachandra Dvija - Litterateur
  11. Gopalacharana Dwija - Litterateur
  12. Gopala Mishra - Litterateur
  13. Haribara Vipra - Litterateur
  14. Haradatta Choudhury - Freedom fighter
  15. Hema Saraswati - Litterateur
  16. Pitambar Dvija - Litterateur
  17. Pitambara Sidhanta Vagisa - Litterateur
  18. Rama Saraswati1 - Litterateur
  19. Rudra Kandali - Litterateur
  20. Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya1 - Litterateur
  21. Sridhara Kandali1 - Litterateur
  22. Vishnu Bharati - Litterateur

Modern

  1. Abani Chakraborty -  Litterateur
  2. Ambikagiri Raichoudhury - Freedom fighter
  3. Banikanta Kakati - Linguist
  4. Bholanath Kakati - Litterateur
  5. Bhumidhar Barman - Thirteenth Chief Minister of Assam, Bharat
  6. Birendra Nath Dutta - Litterateur and singer
  7. Bishnu Ram Medhi - Second chief minister of Assam
  8. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed - Fifth President of India
  9. Himanta Biswa Sarma - Fifthteenth Chief Minister of Assam, Bharat
  10. Indira Goswami - Litterateur
  11. Kaliram Medhi - Linguist
  12. Kalpana Patowary - Singer
  13. Lakhikanta Mishra - Litterateur
  14. Mahadev Deka - Bodybuilder
  15. Mahendra Mohan Choudhry - Fourth Chief Minister of Assam, Bharat
  16. Parbati Charan Das - First Kargil martyr
  17. Pratap Chandra Goswami - Litterateur
  18. Rameshwar Pathak - Kamrupi Lokgeet artist
  19. Ruchinath Kamrupi - Litterateur
  20. Sarat Chandra Goswami - Litterateur
  21. Taranath Chakravarty - Litterateur
  22. Trailakyanath Goswami - Litterateur

Sources

  1. Goswami, Upendranath (1970), A study on Kāmrūpī: a dialect of Assamese, Dept. of Historical Antiquarian Studies, Assam. p. 4 "The other-best known poets and writers of this vaisnavite period namely Rama Sarasvati, Ananta Kandali, Sridhar Kandali, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharyya, Dvija Kalapachandra and Bhattadeva, the founder of the Assamese prose, all hailed from the present district of Kamarupa.''

Kamrupi people

    The Kamrupi people constitute an ethno-linguistic group primarily residing in the Kamrup region of India, where they speak the Kamrupi language, a distinct Indo-Aryan language. Their cultural heritage is deeply rooted in the traditions of Vedic culture, which continues to influence their daily practices, rituals, and social customs.
 

Culture   

Historical Development - Kamrupi Culture under the Varman Dynasty

    The Kamrupi culture, centered in the ancient kingdom of Kamrup, experienced a significant flourishing during the rule of the Varman dynasty (c. 350–650 CE), one of the earliest and most influential dynasties in the region's history. Established by Pushya Varman (reigned c. 350–374 CE), the Varman dynasty laid the groundwork for a politically robust and culturally vibrant kingdom that played a pivotal role in the historical and cultural landscape of ancient eastern India. The dynasty's patronage fostered advancements in art, architecture, literature, and governance, positioning Kamrup as a prominent center of civilization in the Indian subcontinent.

Historical Context and Foundation

    The Varman dynasty emerged in the mid-4th century CE, with Pushya Varman as its founder. His reign marked the beginning of a structured monarchical system in Kamrup, consolidating regional power and establishing a foundation for cultural and political development. The Varmans claimed descent from the Naraka, a ruler of Pragjyotisha (the ancient name for Kamrup), which lent divine legitimacy to their rule and strengthened their authority.

Cultural and Political Zenith under Bhaskar Varman

    The pinnacle of Kamrupi culture and political influence was achieved during the reign of Bhaskar Varman (c. 600–650 CE), one of the most celebrated rulers of the dynasty. Bhaskar Varman's reign is regarded as a golden era for Kamrup, characterized by significant advancements in governance, diplomacy, and cultural patronage. His court was a hub of intellectual and artistic activity, attracting scholars, poets, and artisans who contributed to the kingdom's cultural legacy.

    Bhaskar Varman is particularly renowned for his diplomatic acumen. He maintained cordial relations with the Gupta Empire, one of the most powerful polities in ancient India, which facilitated cultural and economic exchanges. His diplomatic engagements extended beyond the Indian subcontinent, as evidenced by his interactions with the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim and scholar Hieun Tsang, who visited Kamrup during the 7th century CE. Hieun Tsang's detailed accounts, recorded in his travelogue Da Tang Xiyu Ji (Great Tang Records on the Western Regions), provide valuable insights into the prosperity, administrative sophistication, and cultural richness of Kamrup under Bhaskar Varman's rule. Hieun Tsang described the kingdom as a thriving center of trade, education, and learning, with well-organized governance and a flourishing agrarian economy.

Cultural Contributions

    Under the Varman dynasty, Kamrup emerged as a significant center of learning and artistic expression. The patronage of Sanskrit literature and the promotion of Vedic and traditions were hallmarks of the dynasty's cultural policy. Educational institutions, likely including early forms of monastic universities, thrived, fostering the study of philosophy, astronomy, and literature. The Varmans also supported the construction of temples and other architectural works, many of which incorporated intricate carvings and designs that reflected the syncretic blend of local and pan-Indian artistic traditions.

    The dynasty's patronage extended to the performing arts, with evidence suggesting the encouragement of music, dance, and drama. Kamrup's strategic location along ancient trade routes facilitated cultural exchanges with neighboring regions, including Bengal, Odisha, and the Gangetic plains, enriching its artistic and intellectual traditions. The influence of Kamrupi culture is also evident in the development of early Assamese script and language, which began to take shape during this period, laying the foundation for the region's linguistic identity.

    The Varman dynasty's contributions to Kamrupi culture had a lasting impact on the region's historical trajectory. By establishing Kamrup as a center of learning, art, and governance, the Varmans not only elevated the kingdom's status in ancient India but also set a precedent for subsequent dynasties, such as the Palas of Kamrup, to build upon. The cultural and political frameworks established during their rule continued to influence the region's development well into the medieval period.

    Bhaskar Varman's diplomatic relations with external powers, particularly the Gupta Empire and Chinese scholars like Hieun Tsang, underscore Kamrup's role as a bridge between South Asia and East Asia. The dynasty's legacy is preserved in historical records, archaeological findings, and the enduring cultural traditions of Assam, which continue to reflect the syncretic and vibrant heritage of the Kamrupi civilization.

    Kamrupi culture is distinguished by its contributions across various domains, including science, literature, and the arts. Scholars recognize the Kamrupi people for their advancements in astronomy, which was a prominent field of study in the region. The development of astronomical knowledge likely supported agricultural practices and religious observances, reflecting the integration of science with Vedic traditions.

    In literature, the Kamrupi language fostered a rich tradition of poetic expression. One of the most notable figures in Kamrupi literary history is Daka, a celebrated poet believed to have lived during the ancient period.1 His works, though specific details are scarce, are considered emblematic of the sophisticated literary culture that thrived in Kamrup. The Kamrupi, with its unique phonetic and grammatical features, served as a medium for preserving and transmitting cultural narratives, religious texts, and philosophical ideas.

Social and Religious Practices

    The adherence to Vedic culture is a defining characteristic of Kamrupi society. This is evident in their rituals, festivals, and social organization, which draw heavily from Vedic texts and traditions. The Kamrupi people maintain a strong connection to their spiritual heritage, with practices centered around temples, seasonal festivals, and community gatherings that reinforce their cultural identity.

Festival

    Kamrupi people follow religious and community specific festivals around the year. Manasha Puja, Basanti Puja,2 Durga Puja, Kali Puja and other Pujas; Diwali, Holi, Janmastami, Shivratri etc. are major religious festivals of the Kamrup region. The common popular term to designate the three festivals corresponding to Bihu of Eastern Assam, in Western Assam, except in West Goalpara, is "Domahi", e.g., "Baihagar Domahi", "Maghar Domahi" and "Katir Domahi".3 4 There is hardly any dance and music of the Bihu type so common in Eastern Assam, but a special springtime festival of this region is a fair usually held in the first week of Baihag or third week of April. It is known as "Bhatheli" in northern Kamrup, "Sori" or "Suanri" in southern Kamrup.2 In certain areas the breakers of the "bhatheli-ghar" come from another village, resulting in a sort of mock fight between them and the local youth. In the southern part of Kamrup, where the festival is known as Sori, planting of tall bamboos is not seen, but bamboo posts,with the tuft at the top. People bow before the bamboos in northern Kamrup and they also touch them with reverence, but it does not look like any sort of bamboo worship.5

Religion

    Hinduism is the predominant religion in the Kamrup. It serves as a cornerstone of the region's cultural and spiritual identity, influencing various aspects of daily life, including traditional attire, cuisine, and lifestyle practices. Within the Kamrup region, Hinduism manifests primarily through two major sects: Vaishnavism, which emphasizes devotion to Lord Vishnu and his incarnations, and Shaktism, which centers on the worship of the divine feminine, particularly Goddess Durga, Kamakhya, and other manifestations of Shakti.

    The Hindu way of life is deeply integrated into the region's cultural fabric, shaping social customs, festivals, and rituals. Traditional clothing, such as the mekhela chador worn by women and dhoti-kurta by men, reflects both religious symbolism and regional aesthetics. Culinary practices are also influenced by Hindu traditions, with an emphasis on vegetarian and satvik (pure) foods in many households, particularly among Vaishnavites, while Shakta communities may incorporate ritual offerings and specific dietary customs during festivals. Festivals like Durga Puja, Janmashtami, and the Ambubachi Mela at the Kamakhya Temple are celebrated with great fervor, reinforcing the region's religious and cultural heritage.

    The Kamakhya Temple, a major Shakta pilgrimage site dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya, is a focal point of religious life in Kamrup, drawing devotees from across India and beyond. Similarly, Vaishnavite institutions play a significant role in promoting spiritual teachings and cultural arts, including music, dance, and theater forms like Bhaona. These religious practices and institutions underscore the integral role of Hinduism in defining the cultural identity of the people of Kamrup, fostering a sense of community and continuity with ancient traditions.

Language

    According to 2011 census of India, 60,000,00 people of Kamrup region identified themselves as speakers of Assamese language. In first half of seventh century Chinese pilgrimage Yuan Chwang visited the region and wrote about language, which convinced Upendranath Goswami and others that "Assamese entered into Kamarupa or western Assam where this speech was first characterised as Assamese. This is evident from the remarks of Hiuen Tsang who visited the Kingdom of Kamarupa in the first half of the seventh century A.D., during the reign of Bhaskaravarman." Kamrupi language is also acts as lingua franca among other groups of the region.

Folk Culture

Kamrupi Lokgeet

    Kamrupi Lokgeet refers to the traditional folk songs of the Kamrup region, a culturally significant area in India. These songs are an integral part of the region's oral tradition, reflecting the social, cultural, and historical ethos of the Kamrupi people. Kamrupi Lokgeet encompasses a variety of themes, including love, nature, spirituality, and daily life, often performed during festivals, rituals, and social gatherings. The melodies are characterized by their simplicity, rhythmic patterns, and use of indigenous instruments such as the pepa (buffalo hornpipe), toka (bamboo clapper), and gogona (jaw harp). These folk songs have been passed down through generations, preserving the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Kamrup region. They often incorporate elements of Assamese language and dialects specific to Kamrup, contributing to their distinct identity within the broader spectrum of Assamese folk music.

Kamrupi Dance Forms

    The dance forms of the Kamrup region, collectively referred to as Kamrupi dance, have evolved significantly from the traditional theatrical performance known as Bhaona. Bhaona, a form of devotional drama introduced by the 16th-century Vaishnavite saint and reformer Srimanta Sankardeva, serves as the foundation for these dance traditions. Performed primarily to narrate stories from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Bhaona integrates music, dance, and dialogue, creating a vibrant platform for artistic expression. Over time, the dance elements of Bhaona developed into distinct Kamrupi dance forms, each with unique characteristics and cultural significance.8

Notable Kamrupi Dance Forms

  1. Falguni: The Falguni dance is a vibrant and expressive form that draws inspiration from the Bhaona tradition. It is typically performed during religious festivals, particularly those associated with the Vaishnavite tradition, and emphasizes graceful movements and narrative storytelling. The dance often depicts episodes from the life of Lord Krishna, accompanied by traditional instruments and rhythmic footwork.

  2. Geeta: The Geeta dance form is closely tied to the recitation and enactment of verses from sacred texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita. Performers use stylized gestures and synchronized movements to convey philosophical and spiritual themes, blending devotion with artistic expression. This form is noted for its lyrical quality and intricate choreography, often performed in group settings during religious gatherings.

  3. Karna-Arjuna: Named after the iconic characters from the Mahabharata, the Karna-Arjuna dance dramatizes the epic rivalry between these two warriors. This form emphasizes dynamic movements and theatrical expressions to portray the intensity of their conflict. It is often performed as part of Bhaona presentations, showcasing the martial and emotional elements of the narrative through choreographed sequences.

  4. Ojhapali: Ojhapali is a prominent folk dance and musical tradition of the Kamrup region, combining elements of dance, music, and storytelling. It is performed by a group led by an Oja (lead performer), who narrates mythological or historical stories through song, while the Palis (supporting performers) accompany with dance and rhythmic movements. Ojhapali performances are often categorized into two types: Biyahar Ojhapali, which focuses on secular themes, and Suknanir Ojhapali, which emphasizes devotional narratives. The dance is characterized by its energetic movements, intricate footwork, and the use of instruments like the khol (drum) and manjira (cymbals).

Cultural Significance

    Kamrupi Lokgeet and dance forms are vital components of region's cultural heritage, embodying the artistic and spiritual legacy. These traditions not only serve as entertainment but also as a medium for preserving historical narratives, religious teachings, and communal values. The influence of Bhaona underscores the deep connection between Kamrupi dance and Vaishnavite philosophy, while the diversity of dance forms reflects the region's rich cultural tapestry. Kamrupi Lokgeet and dance continue to thrive in rural and urban settings, performed during festivals, religious ceremonies, and cultural events, ensuring their relevance in contemporary Kamrupi society.

Cuisine

    Kamrupi cuisine, originating from the Kamrup region, exhibits a degree of culinary homogeneity with the cuisines of neighboring eastern Indian states, such as West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar, due to shared cultural and geographical influences. This regional cuisine is characterized by its robust and distinctive flavors, with a pronounced emphasis on the use of mustard seeds, which are generously incorporated into dishes to impart a pungent and earthy taste. Other key ingredients that define Kamrupi cooking include ginger, garlic, black pepper, and onions, which are extensively utilized to create complex flavor profiles in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian preparations. These ingredients are often combined in spice blends or used as foundational elements in curries, stir-fries, and lentil-based dishes, reflecting the region’s preference for bold and aromatic culinary traditions.

    The preparation of Kamrupi food adheres to traditional methods, with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and time-honored cooking techniques. In rural households, meals are typically prepared using utensils made of bell metal (a traditional alloy of copper and tin), which is valued for its durability and believed to enhance the flavor of certain dishes. These bell metal utensils, such as kadhais (woks), handis (pots), and serving plates, are integral to the region’s culinary heritage and are still used in many traditional households, particularly during festivals and special occasions. However, in modern times, stainless steel utensils have become increasingly common due to their affordability, ease of maintenance, and widespread availability, especially in urban settings. Despite this shift, the use of bell metal remains a hallmark of authenticity in Kamrupi culinary practices, symbolizing the region’s rich cultural legacy.

    Kamrupi cuisine also reflects the region’s agrarian roots, with rice serving as a staple food, often accompanied by an array of lentils, vegetables, and fish, which are abundant in Assam’s riverine ecosystem. The cuisine is further distinguished by its use of indigenous herbs and greens, such as moringa leaves, fiddlehead ferns, which contribute to its unique flavor palette. The preparation of dishes often involves minimal to generous oil, with steaming, boiling, and roasting being common cooking techniques, aligning with the region’s focus on wholesome and nutritious meals. This culinary tradition, while sharing similarities with neighboring states, retains a distinct identity shaped by region’s diverse topography and cultural influences.

 

Sources

  1. Barua, Prafulla Chandra (1967), Fragments of a lost picture, Self published, p.viii
  2. Goswami, Upendranath (1970), A Study on Kāmrūpī: A Dialect of Assamese, Department of Historical Antiquarian Studies, Assam, p.13,14 Moreover the factors for the integration of different dialects namely war, annual fair, great religious festivals etc., where people of different and adjacent places can mix together and get the chief roughness of different dialects smoothed down, were found lacking between eastern and western Assam. The important festival in eastern Assam called the Bihu festival is not observed in the same manner in western Assam. The Kamrupi word for the festival at the same period is 'dahmi'. The custom of intermarriage between eastern Assam and Kamrup was also not in vogue. Even now-a-days the number of such marriages is not great. In other cultural items also Kamrup and eastern Assam differ considerably. In Kamrup we find 'bhathli', a kind of bamboo worship held in the middle of April. Another interesting custom in Kamrup is the custom of driving mosquitoes in winter in the form of group singing which is known as 'mahoho'. The choral songs, known as 'ojapali, connected with the story of the goddess Manasa, is also confined in western Assam. Manasa even to-day "is a living and powerful cult in Assam and she is worshipped with much adoration and ceremony, particularly in the districts of Kamrup, Goalpara and Darrang". In eastern Assam no parallel is found to these festivals and worship. Thus politically, socially and culturally Kamrup formed a separate unit and its speech also was compelled to take a shape to form a distinct dialect. It is only by chance that this dialect had to lose its prestige and had to remain as a dialect. 
  3. Goswami, Praphulla Dutta (1966), The Springtime Bihu of Assam: A Socio-cultural Study, Lawyer's Bookstall, Gauhati, p. 25
  4. Bīrendranātha Datta, Nabīnacandra Śarmā, Prabin Chandra Das (1994), A Handbook of Folklore Material of North-East India, Anundoram Borooah Institute of Language, Art & Culture, Assam, p. 158
  5. Goswami, Praphulla Dutta (1966), The Springtime Bihu of Assam: A Socio-cultural Study, Lawyer's Bookstall, Gauhati, p. 8 In Assamese the term domahi is more popular than the learned samkranti . Domahi means the junction of two months . Further , in lower Assam , this term tends to replace the use of the name Bihu : the Domahi of Bohag , of Kati , or of Magh .
  6. Sarma, Nabinacandra (1988), Essays on the Folklore of North-eastern India, Bani Prokash, p.64
  7. Baruah, P. N. Dutta (2007). A contrastive analysis of the morphological aspects of Assamese and Oriya. Central Institute of Indian Languages. p. 10.
  8. Banerji, Projesh (1959), The folk-dance of India, Kitabistan, p.72 A new form of dance technique has been evolved from Bhaona which is a sophisticated type of dancing, known as "Kamrupi" dance. Probably this nomenclature was attributed to give a provincial touch to the technique, because it had its birth from Assam. There is a district even now in the State by that name. The famous ""Kamrupi" dances are "Phalguni", "Gita", "Karnarjuna",etc.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Kamrupi glossary

Kamrupi language retained many old Indo-Aryan (O.I.A) words


Kamrupi language   Old Indo-Aryan   Translation


Kurma                                                   Kutumbaka                              Relative

Bari                                                        Vatika                                      Enclosed ground with plantation

Theng                                                     Tanga                                      Leg

Pek                                                         Panka                                     Mud

Phen                                                       Phena                                     Foam

Bar                                                         Vara                                        Bridegroom

Solli                                                       Challi                                       Children

Boni                                                       Bhagini                                    Sister

Dima                                                      Dimba                                      Egg

Kake                                                      Kanikattika                              Comb

Niar                                                       Nihara                                       Fog



Common Kamrupi language words and meaning


Kamrupi language                                     Translation


Gila/Gilak                                                                                                  Plural suffix

Nun                                                                                                           Salt

Sana                                                                                                          Offspring

Taka                                                                                                          Money

Chowk                                                                                                      Town square

Manush/Manhu                                                                                        People

Bazar                                                                                                        Market

Jal/Pani                                                                                                    Water

Dhol                                                                                                         Drum

Kumra                                                                                                      Gourd

Kuchi                                                                                                       Cluster of villages

Logbhat                                                                                                   Feasting on Magh Domahi eve


Behar                                                                                                       Mustard


Mahri                                                                                                       Mosquito curtain




See also

  • Goswami, Upendranath (1957), O. I. A. sibilants in Kāmrupi.
  • Goswami, Upendranath (1957), Onomatopoetic and echo-words in Kamrupi.
  • Goswami, Upendranath (1970), A study on Kāmrūpī: a dialect of Assamese, Dept. of Historical Antiquarian Studies, Assam. p. 312.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Ruchinath Kamrupi

"Ruchinath Kamrupi" was linguist from Kamrup region of India. He was early advocate of distinctness of "Kamrupi language" from Assamese language.


Early life

He was born in later half of eighteenth century, probably in Kamrup.


Notable works

In 1810 he compiled a manuscript of Sanskrit-Asamiya-Kamrupi vocabulary named "Vocabularies of the Ashami and Camarupa Languages" (Sanskrit-Assami-Kamrupi Sabdakosh), which is preserved in the India Office Library, London; where he shown linguistic differences between Kamrupi language and Assamese.   

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Kamrupi dance

    "Kamrupi dance" is group of dances originating in ancient Kamrup,forming one of the cultural norm of Kamrup region.


Origin

Kamrupi dance originated from Bhaona dance.3


Types


    Phalguni, Gita, Karnarjuna and others are variants of Kamrupi dance.3  
"Phalguni" depicts the story of how Arjuna, another name of Phalguni, was invited by the gods in heaven to slay the demons.  He went there and found it difficult to overcome them. Eventually he took help of  the "Pashupat" arrow which was presented to him by Shiva and thus became successful. "Gita" dance executes the theme that Arjuna is unwilling to fight against relations in the battle of Kurushetra. Krishna who acts as his charioteer, takes him aside from battlefield and divulges out his power as supreme god, and teaches him the doctrine of Karma whereby he preaches that Arjuna is the means and is not the actual killer. Thereafter Arjuna joins the fight and expresses from his movements that he is the meas employed by the gods. "Karnarjuna" is a duet dance showing the fight between the two heroes of Mahabharata, Arjuna and Karna.  The Ojapali dance belongs to the Kamrup region, and it is therefore sometimes spoken of as Kamrupi dance.


Sources


  1. Banerji, Projesh (1959). The folk-dance of India. Kitabistan. p. 72. A new form of dance technique has been evolved from Bhaona which is a sophisticated type of dancing, known as "Kamrupi" dance.
  2. Bhavan's Journal, Volume 8, Issues 1-13. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. 1961. p. 49. The devadasis who performed this dance, it may be mentioned, were attached to temples of Shiva as well as of Vishnu. The Ojapali dance belongs to the Kamrup district, and it is therefore sometimes spoken of as Kamrupi dance. There are two types of Ojapali, the Sakta and the Vaisnava
  3. Banerji, Projesh (1959). The folk-dance of India. Kitabistan. p. 72. Probably this nomenclature was attributed to give a provincial touch to the technique, because it had its birth from Assam. There is a district even now in the State by that name. The famous ""Kamrupi" dances are "Phalguni", "Gita", "Karnarjuna",etc.

Friday, July 12, 2019

The Dark Age of Kamrupi language

    The introductory Indo-Aryan language of the Assam province is Kamrupi language, employed in North Bengal, Western Assam and parts of Central Assam, which since antiquity was exclusive literary language of the region.  
    The dark age of Kamrupi language come into being in nineteenth century, when Christian missionaries led by Nathan Brown inappropriately standardised Assamese language based on dialect of Sivasagar district, subsequently colonial government secured it as official language of entire province,overlooking objection of Kamrupi and Goalpariya intelligentsia, and missionaries working in Kamrupi language speaking territories, such as Brother Danforth. 


The Petition

    In 1873, the Kamrupi elites submitted a petition to lieutenant governor of Bengal, signed by 1,226 cross section of people from the region objecting imposing of Assamese language. It reads :

The Upper Assam dialect we beg respectfully to submit is spoken only by a small portion of the population of Assam, viz., those who reside in the two districts of Dibrooghur and Sibsagur and is altogether unimportant and meagre, and its capabilities and chances to make itself the language of this entire province are extremely limited, as its comparative poverty in respect to written and published works does conclusively show. The languages in vogue in the rest of the province, though presumptuously stigmatized by the Upper Assam people as provincial (Dhekie), on the contrary does manifest a remarkable and marked superiority in this respect over its rival, as the large majority of written works and all the most approved publications together with the sacred and religious writings of the people of Assam are found to have been composed in it, the conclusion evidently to be based on these reasons is that the claims and the prospects of the patois of Upper Assam to be made and adopted as the common language of the entire people of Assam are altogether unfounded and chimerical....The Upper Assam patois, the claims of which to be made the court language of the whole province have been advanced by certain agitators at Sibsagar is comprehended by the uneducated classes of Lower Assam with almost the same amount of difficulty as the Bengali. The people therefore instead of reaping advantages by the change will continue still under the old accustomed abuses such as being misunderstood by the judge and of being cheated by the Amlah....The presumption of the Upper Assam people to force their own patois to the acceptance to the people of whole Assam would bear an air of absurdity had their wishes not be seconded by noise of the noise created by missionaries who, we are sorry to witness, have already made a sad havoc with our language by adopting an abused  system of spelling by phonetic representation, and by publishing a highly objectionable dictionary and one or two filmsy grammatical primers. ......the Lower Assam languages which is enriched with literature, and which is spoken over the larger part of the country and by the majority of the  people be allowed  to be enforced in all the courts throughout Assam.  

Sources

  1. Letter from the people of Lower Assam, signed by 1226 persons, to the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, Fort William, (enclosed in the letter from the Officiating Inspector of Schools, Assam Circle, to Colonel Hopkinson, Agent, North East Frontier and Commissioner of Assam, 30 January 1873), Assam Commissioner's File no.471, ASF, State Archives, Guwahati

Monday, July 8, 2019

Kamrup Bhawan

In a meeting of "Abibhakta Kamrup Sahitya Loka Sanskriti Mancha" held in November 2017 in Guwahati, stressed the need for preserving and promoting the culture of Kamrup region of India. The meeting resolved to put up statues of eminent Kamrupi writers and artistes like 'Sarat Chandra Goswami', 'Indira Goswami', 'Rameshwar Pathak' etc. It has taken the initiative to construct a "Kamrup Bhawan" in Guwahati.


References

Friday, July 29, 2016

Kumar Bhaskar Varman Kshetra

    ''Kumar Bhaskar Varman Kshetra'', also Kumar Bhaskar Barman Kshetra is upcoming cultural park in Guwahati, Kamrup, as announced on 27.07.16. Named after monarch Kumara Bhaskara Varman (600-650), the bachelor king who was also known as lord of Eastern Bharata, the complex is expected to be a cultural hub of local Kamrupi culture, stretching from antiquity to present.
 

See also

Sunday, July 17, 2016

The Early Period of Kamrup Kingdom

''The Early Period of Kamrup kingdom'' stretches from 4th A.D. to the 7th century A.D.

Genealogy

In the Nidhanpur plate of King Bhaskar Varman the genealogy of the kings mentioned therein is traced from Naraka, his son Bhagadatta and his grandson Vajradatta. There is really no inherent impossibility in the same dynasty ruling from the time of the Mahabharata war down to the seventh century A.D. It is known that a Paurava kin, who must have descended from Puru, the remote ancestor of Yudhisthira of the Mahabharata fame, ruled over a part of the Punjab in the fourth century B.C. when Alexander the Great invaded India. Pragjyotisha was a frontier kingdom of India, girt on all sides except the west, by natural defences. 

It is possible that its kings, after Vajradatta, either acknowledged the overlordship of other more powerful kings of northern India or, being out of the way, were not molested by any of them but, as already stated, the fact that the kingdom came to play no part in the history of northern India within historical times from the rise of Bimbisara in Magadha, in the sixth century B.C. down to the time of Samudra Gupta in the fourth century A.D, is rather striking and leads one to suppose that probably there might have been some upheaval within the kingdom which reduced it to an insignificant position. Anyway, in the absence of clear proof to the contrary, it can assume as correct Bhaskar Varman's claim of descent, in unbroken line, from Naraka, as stated in the Nidhanpur copper-plate inscription.


Similarity in naming process

It is rather significant that the names of some of the Kamarupa kings follow closely those of the illustrious emperors of Aryavarta. Pushyamitra Sunga usurped the Mourya throne about 185 B.C. He revived the ancient horse sacrifice or Aswamedha and became renowned. He died about 149 B.C. The name of the Kamarupa king Pushya Varman was probably given after the renowned Sunga king of Magadha. Similarly it find Pushya Varman's son named Samudra Varman after Samudra Gupta, the famous Gupta emperor who ruled from 330 to about 385 A.D. Even Samudra Varman's queen bore the same name as the queen of Samudra Gupta. This goes to show that Samudra Varman probably ruled a short time after Samudra Gupta whose illustrious name was then green in the memory of the people of northern India.


Epigraphic records

The first epigraphic record which mentions Kamarupa is the famous Allahabad inscription of Samudra Gupta which was once regarded as posthumous but which historians now believe to have been engraved during the life time of the famous emperor. In this inscription Kamarupa is mentioned as a frontier kingdom along with Samatata, Davaka, Nepala and Kartripura the kings of which fully gratified the imperious commands of Samudra Gupta "by giving all kinds of taxes and obeying his orders and coming to perform obeisance". The "pratyanta nripati" of Kamarupa who submitted to Samudra Gupta was very probably no other than Pushya Varman. Gait has placed him tentatively in the first half of the fifth century but this is probably not correct, as his accession to the throne took place no later than 380 A.D. 

It is known that Samudra Gupta celebrated the horse-sacrifice but it does not appear that his son Chandra Gupta II, who assumed the title Vikramaditya, performed the same ceremony. In the traditional accounts of Kamarupa it is however stated that a king of the Naraka dynasty named Subahu detained the sacrificial horse of Vikramaditya who then invaded Kamarupa and put Subahu to flight. Subahu might have been the popular name of Pushya Varman as Mriganka was the popular name of Susthita Varman and Samudra Gupta was the Vikramaditya referred to in the traditional account. It is quite possible that, following the ancient custom, Samudra Gupta, in his digvijaya, prior to the Aswamedha, led his sacrificial horse and challenged all the kings to detain the horse. Those who accepted the challenge had to fight while those who wanted to avoid fight acknowledged the overlordship of the conqueror and allowed the horse to pass unrestricted. Pushya Varman, otherwise known as Subahu, having stopped the horse had to fight and being worsted acknowledged the suzerainty of the Gupta emperor and performed obeisance. 


Pushya Varman was succeeded by his son Samudra Varman who was perhaps the contemporary of Chandra Gupta II Vikramaditya and the celebrated poet Kalidasa. In the Nidhanpur inscription it is stated that there was no "matsyanyaya" in his kingdom and that Samudra Varman was like the fifth ocean. The word "matsyanyaya" has been explained as anarchy due to the absence of a strong ruler when the powerful people oppress the weak just as the larger fish devour the smaller fry. The mention of this word seems to indicate that there was such anarchy during the reigns of his predecessors. It may be that after such anarchy was ended Pushya Varman rose to power or that after the accession of Pushya Varman the anarchy ended.



Kalidasa poetry references

Some scholars believe that the poet Kalidasa who was in the court of Chandra Gupta II Vikramaditya, really narrated in canto IV of his Raghuvansha, the conquering tour (digvijaya) of Samudra Gupta under the poetic disguise of Raghu. At any rate, Kalidasa in the beginning of the fifth century A.D. must have recorded the facts concerning the countries of India mentioned in his book according to his own knowledge of those countries. For instance, the hydrographical condition of Bengal at that time is clearly referred to in canto IV, verses 34 to 38. The poet mentions that Raghu's son Aja selected the king of Kamarupa as his best man in his marriage with Indumati. This shows that the king of Kamarupa of his time, who was probably Samudra Varman, was a very important monarch belonging to an old and reputed dynasty; otherwise the poet would not have made him the best man of the son of his hero.


Kashmir Chronicles

With regard to the next king Bala Varman I, the son of Samudra Varman by his queen Datta Devi, the Nidhanpur inscription states that "his irresistible troops constituted his armour". It appears therefore that he was a powerful king and a conqueror. There is mention in the Kashmir chronicle Rajatarangini that king Meghavahana of Kashmir married a Pragjyotisha princess named Amritaprabha. It is stated that the king of Pragjyotisha held a svayamvara for the marriage of the princess. Of all the princes assembled Amritaprabha's choice fell upon the Kashmir prince Meghavahana. It is recorded that "there in the presence of the kings Meghavahana received from the princess Amritaprabha the bridegrom's garland while the parasol of Varuna cast its shade upon him. By this the people knew his future greatness as by the west wind the gathering of clouds. Because this parasol, which king Naraka had carried away frown Varuna cast its shade on no one but a sovereign of the whole globe. This parasol or umbrella is mentioned also in the Harsha Charita of Bana wherein it is stated that it was an heirloom of the kings of the dynasty of Naraka. It is also stated there that King Bhaskar Varman, through his envoy Hangshavega, presented this umbrella to Sri Harshavardhana. It is stated that queen Amritaprabha erected in Kashmir a lofty Vihara for the benefit of the foreign bhiksus and that this Vihara was known as Amritabhavan. It is further stated that Amritaprabha took to Kashmir a Tibetan Buddhist scholar named Stunpa who was a preceptor of her father, the Kamarupa king. This Stunpa erected a stupa in Kashmir known as "Lo-stunpa". 

If the above statements are to be believed as true it would appear that Buddhism had spread into Kamarupa long before the visit of Yuan Chwang, that a remote ancestor of Bhaskar Varman was a Buddhist and that the cultural connection between Kamarupa and Tibet, began as early as fifth century A.D. According to Kahlan, the author of the Rajatarangini, Meghavahana was succeeded by Sresthisena and the latter by Toramana. If this Toramana is identical with the Ephthalic king Toramana, the father of the famous Mihiragula, the king of the white Huns who ruled over the Punjab and possibly also over Kashmir, then he cannot be placed earlier than the third quarter of the fifth century A.D. The identification would probably be correct for, according to Kahlan, Toramana struck coins in his name extensively and such coins have, as a matter of fact, been discovered in large quantities. These bear the name Toramana in characters of the Gupta period. This being so, Meghavahana may be placed about the second quarter of the fifth century though Kahlan's chronology places him in the first century and he was probably the son in law of the Kamarupa king Bala Varman I. This matrimonial alliance and the celebration of the Svayamvara indicates that Pragjyotisha or Kamarupa was then an important kingdom in northern India and that it was no longer a mere frontier kingdom as in the days of Pushya Varman.



Other accounts

Vincent Smith mentions that in the year 428 A.D., during the reign of emperor Kumara Gupta, an embassy was sent to China by an Indian king named Yue-ai (Moon-loved) who was lord of the Ka-pi-Ii country. Lt. Col. Wilson has identified Ka-pi-li with the Kapili river of Assam named in the Kalika purana as Kapila-Ganga, and Vincent Smith has tentatively accepted this identification. As it is already suggested, the Kapili valley, which is still called Davaka, may be identified with the kingdom of Davaka mentioned in the Allahabad inscription of Sumudra Gupta. The embassy may therefore have been sent by the king of Davaka whose name was either Chandra Priya or Chandra Vallabha. It should however be mentioned that there was a king of Kamarupa named Chandra-mukha (moon-faced) who was the great-grandfather of Bhaskar Varman. He cannot, however, be assigned to the second quarter of the fifth century. It seems that in the sixth or the seventh century this kingdom of Davaka was absorbed by Kamarupa, for according to Yuan Chwang's account the Kapili valley was included in Kamarupa. The kings after Bala Varman were Kalyana Varman, Ganapati Varman, Mahendra Varman and Narayana Varman who do not appear to have been much renowned.


Copper plate seals and inscriptions

According to the Nidhanpur inscription, Ganapati Varman was generous in his gifts while Narayana Varman was like king Janaka, deeply versed in the knowledge of the self. Narayana Varman was succeeded by his son Mahabhuta Varman who is named in the Harsha Charita as Bhuti Varman. It was he who granted, to a large number of Brahmans, lands in the Chadrapuri vishaya. The copper-plate relating to this grant having been destroyed by fire his great great grand son Bhaskar Varman recorded, what is known as the Nidhanpur grant, to confirm the gift made by his ancestor. Originally only three plates of this inscription were discovered by Pandit Padmanath Bhattacharya Vidya Vinod who contributed a paper on them in Epigraphia Indica vol XII. Subsequently two more plates found were described by Pandit Vidyavinod in XIX of the Epigraphia Indica. The third lost plate was again discussed by him in the same journal. One more plate is still missing. The newly discovered plates mention the names of Chandrapuri vishaya, Kausika River and Mayura-Salmala agrahara. The occurrence of the word "agrahara" seems to indicate the existence of a temple for the maintenance of which and its Shebaits the lands were granted. As the inscription begins with the adoration of ashbesmeared Mahadeva it is clear that these Kamarupa kings were all devotees of Siva. As a matter of fact Siva is invoked in the inscription as the istadevata of the donor. Further in the Harsha Charita it is stated that Bhaskar Varman worshiped only the lotus-feet of Siva. So it may be assumed that the agrahara mentioned in the inscription was no other than a Siva temple. 

The further discovered plates contain the names of the donees, who number more than 200. From this list it can find such names as Vishnu-Ghosha, Arka-Datta, Rishi-Dama, Dama-Deva, Dhurva-Soma, Vishnu-Palita, Gayatri-Pala, Yajna-Kunda, Padma-Dassa, Tosha-Naga and Gopala-Nandi. It is curious that the surname Ghosha, Datta, Dama, Deva, Soma, Palita, Pala, Kundu, Dasa, Naga and Nandi are now confided to Kayasthas of Bengal but not to Brahmans. One authority named Dr. Bhandarkar has pointed out that identical surnames were used by the Nagar-Brahmans. It is not known when and how such a colony of Brahmans came to be settled in Kamarupa near the Kosi River as early as the beginning of the sixth century. Pandit Vidyavinod's surmise that most of the Brahman families in the neighbouring province of modern Bengal are the descendant; of these Brahmans from Kamarupa seems to rest on good foundation. The Nidhanpur inscription is an epigraphic record of very great historic value. 


In the first part of the sixth century during the reign of Narayana Varman or his son Mahabhuta Varmran, Yasodharman king of Malwa, who defeated Mihiragula, the leader of the white Huns, is said to have conquered the whole of northern India from the Brahmaputra to the western ocean. This is recorded in his Mandasor pillar inscription wherein it is emphasized that Yasodharman conquered territories which even the Guptas (on the east) and the Huns (on the west) failed to penetrate. It is possible to detect here a reference to Kamarupa which was always outside the Gupta Empire. The invasion of Kamarupa by Yasodharman is here indicated. It is not known how far this invasion was successful. Anyway, the conquest of Eastern India by Yasodharman, in the early part of the sixth century, shows that about that period the Gupta power in Magadha was nearly extinct.



Boundaries

As a matter of fact the Imperial Guptas ceased to rule after the close of the fifth century and, as remarked by Vincent Smith, that line passed by an obscure transition into what is known as the dynasty of the "Later Guptas of Magadha." This dynasty did not exercise sovereignty even over the whole of Magadha, part of which came under the sway of the Varmans of Maukhari. Taking advantage of the decline of the Gupta power the Kamarupa kings appear to have extended their kingdom towards the west. Down to the end of the fifth century the tract of country between the Teesta and the Kosi formed the Pundravardhana Bhukti of the Gupta Empire. In the first quarter of the sixth century it can find this tract within the Kamarupa kingdom. 

Mahabhuta Varman's grant referred to above may be dated about 525 A.D. This grant consisted of lands in the Chandrapuri Vishaya within the present district of Purnea for, according to the Nidhanpur inscription, the lands granted were on the banks of the old channel of the Kausika or Kosi. Rennell's map of Bengal (1783) shows the position of the old channel of the Kosi. It appears that this river originally took an easterly course and flowing to the west of Purnea fell into the Ganges at Rajmahal or nearly forty miles below its present confluence with the Ganges. It appears from the Nidhanpur inscription that the river had already abandoned its old channel by the time Bhaskar Varman confirmed his ancestor's grant. That the Kausika, mentioned in the inscription, is the Kosi River in modern Bihar admits of no doubt, but certain writers have attempted to identity Kausika with the Kusiara river in Sylhet. These writers conveniently forget that in the ninth century another Kamarupa king, named Vanamala, granted lands adjoining the Chandrapuri Vishaya and, in order to localize the lands more definitely. He stated in his inscription that the lands lay to the west of the Teesta (Trisrotayah paschimatah). After this, any attempt to locate the Chandrapuri Vishava anywhere in the Sylhet district cannot but be regarded as childish.



Confrontation with Guptas

Towards the close of the sixth century the dynasty of the Later Guptas produced a powerful king 'named Mahasena Gupta. By checking the Maukharis in mid-India he re-established the Gupta power to some extent. After this he turned his attention towards the east where the Kamarupa kings had appropriated to themselves the whole of the Pundravardhana bhukti. He was therefore compelled to declare war against the then Kamarupa king Susthita Varman, the father of Bhaskar Varman. It appears that Susthita Varman sustained a crushing defeat and Mahasena Gupta earned a Treat victory which was glorified by his grandson in the Aphshad inscription. It is stated in this inscription that Susthita Varman was defeated by Mahasena Gupta "whose mighty fame, marked in honour of victory over the illustrious Susthita Varman (and white) as a full-blown Jasmine flower or water-lily, or as a pair of necklace of pearls pounded into little bits, is still constantly sung on the banks of the Brahmaputra, the surfaces of which are (so) cool, by the Siddhas in pairs, when they wake up after sleeping in the shade of the betel plants that are in full bloom". This panegyric was justified for the victory had really important political consequences. Mahasena Gupta recovered the whole of the Pundravardhana bhukti and the Kamarupa boundary was pushed back to the Teesta- Karatoya. The result was that the territories which included the lands donated by Mahabhuta Varman in the previous century were lost to Kamarupa. When in the early part of the seventh century Sasanka was overthrown, Bhaskar Varman re-acquired the lost tracts and confirmed the grant of his ancestor. This explains why the confirmation was issued immediately after the overthrow of Sasanka and from the victorious camp itself where Bhaskar Varman was "accompanied by a fleet of war-boats, war-elephants, cavalry and infantrv." Susthita Varman, though defeated, was a great king and therefore in the Aphshad inscription he is described as "illustrious". The victory over him and the recovery of the territories were therefore regarded as a great triumph as the text of the inscription indicates. Susthita Varman could not retalliate the defeat during his lifetime. He left this duty to his worthy son Bhaskar Varman.


Alliance with Harsha

The starting fixed point in the above chronology is the reign of Bhaskar Varman, the contemporary of Harshavardhana – Siladitya or Sri Harsha and the Chinese pilgrim Yuan Chwang. Sri Harsha ruled from 606 to 648 A.D. It appears that Bhaskar Varman was older than Sri Harsha, for in the procession at Kanauj in 644 A.D. Sri Harsha himself dressed as Indra while Bhaskar Varman personated as Brahma. The role of Brahma would not have been assigned to Bhaskar Varman if he was not older than Sri Harsha. It can therefore place Bhaskar Varman's accession to the throne about 600 A.D. From this point, by allowing on an average 20 years for the reign of each king it can place Pushya Varman's accession about 380 A.D., but probably he ruled earlier. The allowance of 20 years for each reign cannot be considered extravagant in view of the long reign of Bhaskar Varman himself which covered nearly fifty years. The names of the above mentioned kings, as given in the inscription, can be partly verified from two sources. The first is the clay-seal of Bhaskar Varman which was discovered during excavation of the Nalanda ruins. This seal contains the names of all the kings and queens from Ganapati Varman to Bhaskar Varman. The second is the Harsha Charita of Bana who flourished in the court of Sri Harsha and was therefore a contemporary of Bhaskar Varman. In this work the names of the Kamarupa kings and queens from Mahabhuta Varman are given. The only difference is that Mahabhuta Varman is mentioned in the Harsha Charita as Bhuti Varman. As a matter of fact, in line 51 of the Nidhanpur inscription itself Mahabhuta Varman is referred to as Bhuti Varman. Evidently he was popularly known as Bhuti Varman.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Standardisation of Kamrupi language

    The Kamrupi language, a significant linguistic and cultural heritage of the Kamrup region in India, is currently the subject of a proposed standardization effort. This initiative aims to refine and formalize the language, positioning it as a suitable candidate for designation as the official language of the Kamrup region. Drawing inspiration from the successful standardization of the Hindustani language, which evolved into Hindi and now serves as an official language of India, the Kamrupi standardization proposal seeks to adapt and modernize the language to meet contemporary administrative and cultural needs. This article explores the historical context, current state, and proposed modifications for the Kamrupi language, as well as its potential to serve as an official language.
 

Historical Context of the Kamrupi Language

    The Kamrupi language has a rich history, having served as a standard language in the Kamrup region and beyond during ancient to medieval times. As a member of the Indo-Aryan language family, Kamrupi has deep roots in the linguistic traditions of land, closely related to other regional languages such as Assamese. During its historical prominence, Kamrupi was used in literature, administration, and cultural expressions, establishing itself as a vital medium of communication in the region.

    The language’s historical significance is evident in its literary contributions, including poetry, prose, and inscriptions that reflect the cultural and intellectual life of the Kamrup region. However, with the passage of time and the influence of colonial and post-colonial linguistic policies, Kamrupi’s role as a standardized language diminished, giving way to other dominant languages like Assamese and Bengali in official and educational contexts. Despite this, Kamrupi has retained a strong presence in the cultural fabric of the region, particularly through its modern literary forms and traditional folk songs known as Lokgeets.

Current State of Kamrupi

    In its present form, Kamrupi continues to thrive as a vibrant spoken and literary language among the people of the Kamrup region. The modern literary form of Kamrupi, which includes written works such as poetry, short stories, and essays, retains much of the standard character of its medieval predecessor. Additionally, Lokgeets, the traditional folk songs of the region, serve as a living repository of Kamrupi’s linguistic and cultural heritage. These songs, passed down through generations, encapsulate the region’s folklore, values, and social history, making them a cornerstone of Kamrupi identity.

    Despite its cultural significance, Kamrupi faces challenges in its current form that prevent it from being immediately suitable as an official language. The lack of a standardized script, inconsistent orthography, and variations in dialect across different parts of the Kamrup region pose significant hurdles. Furthermore, the language has not been formally integrated into modern administrative, educational, or legal frameworks, limiting its practical utility in official contexts.

The Need for Standardization

    The proposed standardization of Kamrupi aims to address these challenges by establishing a unified linguistic framework that can support its adoption as an official language. Standardization involves several key aspects, including the development of a consistent writing system, standardized grammar, and a standardized vocabulary that can accommodate modern administrative and technical requirements. This process is critical to ensuring that Kamrupi can function effectively in official communications, education, and governance.

    The standardization of Hindustani into Hindi provides a compelling model for Kamrupi’s transformation. Hindi, as it exists today, emerged from a deliberate effort to standardize the Hindustani language by adopting the Devanagari script, codifying grammar, and expanding its vocabulary to suit modern needs. This process enabled Hindi to become a unifying language for millions of speakers and a cornerstone of India’s administrative and cultural identity. Similarly, the standardization of Kamrupi could elevate its status, ensuring its preservation and relevance in a rapidly modernizing world.

Proposed Modifications for Kamrupi

To prepare Kamrupi for its role as an official language, several modifications are necessary. These include:

  1. Adoption of a Standardized Script: While Kamrupi is primarily written in the eastern nagari script, variations in orthography and regional preferences have led to inconsistencies. A standardized script, potentially based on the old Kamrupi script with modifications to accommodate Kamrupi’s unique phonetic characteristics, would ensure uniformity in written communication.

  2. Codification of Grammar and Syntax: A comprehensive grammar for Kamrupi, addressing its syntax, morphology, and phonology, must be developed. This would provide a clear framework for educators, writers, and administrators, ensuring consistency in usage.

  3. Vocabulary Expansion: To meet the demands of modern governance and education, Kamrupi’s vocabulary needs to be enriched with terms for technical, legal, and administrative concepts. This could involve borrowing from related languages, reviving archaic terms, or creating new words rooted in Kamrupi’s linguistic traditions.

  4. Dialect Harmonization: The Kamrup region encompasses several dialects of Kamrupi, each with distinct phonetic and lexical features. Standardization would require harmonizing these dialects into a unified form that retains the language’s diversity while ensuring mutual intelligibility.

  5. Development of Educational Resources: To promote Kamrupi’s use in schools and universities, standardized textbooks, dictionaries, and digital resources must be created. These materials would facilitate the teaching and learning of Kamrupi, fostering its adoption among younger generations.

  6. Official Recognition and Policy Support: For Kamrupi to be established as an official language, it must receive formal recognition from regional authorities. This would involve integrating Kamrupi into government documentation, legal proceedings, and public services, supported by policies that promote its use.

Cultural and Social Implications

    The standardization of Kamrupi is not merely a linguistic exercise but a cultural and social endeavor. By elevating Kamrupi to the status of an official language, the Kamrup region can strengthen its cultural identity and foster a sense of pride among its speakers. The language’s rich literary and folk traditions, including Lokgeets, would gain greater visibility, ensuring their preservation for future generations.

    Moreover, the recognition of Kamrupi as an official language would empower local communities by giving them a voice in governance and administration. It would also promote inclusivity, ensuring that speakers of Kamrupi have access to education, employment, and public services in their native language. This aligns with India’s broader linguistic diversity, where multiple languages coexist as official mediums of communication.

Challenges and Considerations

    The standardization of Kamrupi is not without challenges. Resistance from speakers of other regional languages, logistical difficulties in implementing a standardized framework, and the need for financial and institutional support are significant hurdles. Additionally, care must be taken to ensure that standardization does not erode the linguistic diversity of Kamrupi’s dialects or alienate speakers who identify with regional variations.

    To address these challenges, a collaborative approach involving linguists, educators, policymakers, and community leaders is essential. Public consultations and awareness campaigns can help build consensus and ensure that the standardization process reflects the needs and aspirations of Kamrupi speakers.

    The proposed standardization of the Kamrupi language represents a significant step toward its recognition as the official language of the Kamrup region. By drawing on the historical legacy of Kamrupi, preserving its literary and folk traditions, and adapting it to modern needs, this initiative has the potential to revitalize the language and secure its place in the cultural and administrative life of the region. Like the standardization of Hindi, the transformation of Kamrupi into a formalized language could serve as a unifying force, empowering its speakers and enriching the linguistic tapestry of India. With careful planning, community support, and institutional backing, Kamrupi can reclaim its status as a vibrant and official language of the Kamrup region.