I am indeed very happy in having to introduce Dr. Nirmal This is Kumar Basu's Assam in the Ahom Age to the public. an eminently readable narrative made out of an account of the political and economic conditions, social and cultural developments during the six centuries of Ahom rule in this north-eastern corner of India. Dr. Basu has pleasantly drawn from all available sources, primary, secondary and tertiary, in his attempt to find a continuity in the great historical events. After an useful intro-duction, the political history of Assam is recounted here in one chapter (ch. II) while polity (ch. III) and economy (ch. IV) engage him for two further chapters. The rest of the work forms the real body of his work, which in its original form as Studies in the Social and Cultural Conditions of Assam under the Ahoms was accepted for the Doctor of Philosophy degree of Gauhati University (1967). Here for the first time we get a comprehensive story of the cultural life of the people of Assam during the Ahom period. Some of the Ahom sovereigns prided that they "rendered eleven houses into one." The reader may probably observe the forces which made this integration of many races and tribes possible while the Ahoms, who gave up their own language, religion and way of life, merged into the Assamese people and contributed to the growth of Assamese language, literature and culture. Dr. Basu, depending mainly on secondary sources though, renders an immensely interesting account of society, religion and education; language and literature; traditional sciences and fine arts (music, dance, painting, architecture and sculpture) of the period. In the concluding chapter he tries to assess the contribution of the Age to the cultural life of Assam and the causes which form a controversial subject that brought about the decline and fall of the Ahoms.
I believe that the reader will find an absorbing interest in the thesis, which is characterised by industry, fulness of information and ease and facility of narration.
Born and brought up in Assam, I had a long-cherished desire to know more of the life and culture of the peoples inhabiting this beautiful land than could be possible by casual observation. This desire became keener and I got ready for the arduous search and deep Study involved, nearly ten years ago, when on my expressing a wish to take up some work in Delhi, Shrimati Indira Gandhi, now our Prime Minister, advised that I Should rather take up some work in Assam instead. I have ever since felt grateful for the valuable advice. I began enquiries regarding sources, original and secondary, that might be helpful for the Project. All my colleagues in the Kanoi Colleges of Dibrugarh including Principal Dr. J. R. Basu, Principal L. P. Dutt, Principal S. C. Dutt and Principal B. C. Bhattacharya, Profs. P. C. Jain, B. P. Chakravarty, S. N. Barua, N. Choudhury and M. L. Bose, Profs. (Mrs.) Beena Choudhury and (Mrs.) Sharadamma Rao, Dr. B. N. Choudhury and Dr. C. D. Mishra and others were unfailing in their encouragement to my endeavours, particularly whenever I had worries over the very slow progress of the work, consequent on the unavoidable necessity of continuing the research and my normal teaching and administrative work simultaneously. Principal Basu's researches on Indology, then being carried on, were a great impetus. Principal L. P. Dutt, at present Rector, Dibrugarh University, assisted all along. It was he who personally took the trouble of taking my petition for a Book-Grant to Shillong for submission to the Education Directorate. It was he who later introduced me to Dr. Birinchi Kumar Barua, one of the great scholars of Assam. My heartfelt thanks go to all my colleagues. I gratefully remember the valuable suggestions that Dr. A. K. Barkakoty, Registrar, Dibrugarh University kindly offered regarding my work. Dr. P. C. Goswami, then Assistant Director of Public Instruction, Assam, promptly took action on my petition for a Book-Grant and this facilitated early sanction of a Book-Grant by the Central Govt., which enabled me to purchase much-needed books and journals. I have never tired of expressing my gratitude to Dr. Goswami for this timely help. I feel indebted to the Govt. of Assam and the Govt. of India for the help and encouragement.
Dr. P. C. Choudhury, a most reputed and outstanding Scholar of Assam, and Director, Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies, Gauhati was kind enough to permit me to study in the Department's Library and to consult rare manuscripts preserved there. I gratefully remember his ready advice and assistance in the matter of research generally and of scrutiny and use of manuscripts in particular.
I convey my grateful thanks to Shri Premadhar Choudhury, then Curator, Assam Museum, who was good enough to allow me to work in the Museum and also to consult rare books from his personal Library. I am also grateful to Shri J. Sarma, Librarian, Gauhati University, and Shri Gajendra Nath Phukan, Librarian, Assam High Court, and Shri P. D. Rajkhowa, Librarian, D.H.S.K. College for having always readily helped me with books, journals, manuscripts and Gazetteers etc., which facilitated research and for offering me all opportunities for work in their respective Libraries.
I sincerely thank all my friends, relations, acquaintances, and also Office Staff of D.H.S.K. College and D.H.S.K. Commerce College, Dibrugarh whose help in various ways and encouragement immensely contributed to the progress of this long-drawn Project.
I am also deeply indebted to Dr. Bisheswar Prasad of Delhi University and Dr. J. N. Sarkar of Jadavpur University, renowned scholars for their very kind advice and valuable suggestions regarding my work.
Dr. Birinchi Kumar Barua kindly agreed to guide my research. I remember what he told me once, "Basu, research takes time. There cannot be a rigidly fixed time-schedule for research as in the case of construction of a building. Be patient and carry on." I shall ever cherish as a prized possession the letter that he appeared to have hurriedly written to me, busy as he was, only a few days before his sad, sudden demise and wherein he listed a few books for my careful study.
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