The Quest for Antiquity and Identity: Re-assessing Kanaklal Barua’s History Writing in Twentieth-century Assam

Abstract

Through the works of Kanaklal Barua (1872–1940), this article attempts to explore the trends of history writing in colonial Assam. Produced in the heydays of Indian nationalism, Barua’s writings can be used to reveal the idea of framing Assamese regional identity while pursuing the antiquity of the region. This article also seeks to uncover the way Barua laid emphasis on the ancient kingdom of Pragjyotisha-Kamarupa, in addition to the ‘Ahom past’ which was the prime focus of writing Assam’s history by most of his contemporaries. While writing about the affluence of early Assam, Barua sought the political geography as well as in terms of race, religion and linguistic heritage of the Assamese. If historians are products of their times, then what were the issues and ideas of his time that influenced Barua’s writings? Looking into his writings, this article attempts to answer these queries against the backdrop of early twentieth-century Assam. Although discussed in the regional terms, this article helps to understand the process of making of a regional identity within the wider frame of Indian nationality during the late colonial period.