Assamese Language in Higher Education: Importance and Relevance

Himangshu Ranjan Bhuyan (himangshur1989@gmail.com)

Language serves as the bedrock of human cognition,  cultural heritage, and societal progress. For any nation aspiring to intellectual sovereignty, the medium through which knowledge is imparted holds profound significance. In the context of Assam, where the Assamese language has recently been elevated to classical status, the debate over its role in higher education transcends mere pedagogy. This recognition, bestowed by the Indian government in 2024, marks a pivotal moment, underscoring Assamese’s antiquity, richness, and potential as a vehicle for advanced learning. Yet, amid globalization’s relentless push toward English dominance, the integration of Assamese into university curricula and research remains underutilized. This editorial delves into the multifaceted importance and relevance of Assamese in higher education, arguing that its promotion is essential not only for preserving linguistic identity but also for fostering genuine intellectual growth, social equity, and innovative contributions to global knowledge.

The essence of higher education lies in nurturing critical thinking, innovation, and the creation of new ideas. Psychological studies, including those from UNESCO and cognitive linguists like Benjamin Lee Whorf, emphasize that learning in one’s mother tongue enhances comprehension and retention. When students engage with complex concepts in a familiar linguistic framework, neural pathways form more efficiently, allowing deeper assimilation rather than superficial memorization. For Assamese speakers, who constitute the majority in Assam and parts of the Northeast, this means that subjects like quantum physics or macroeconomic theory could be grasped with greater intuition if taught in Assamese. There are many examples from history: Japan, Germany, and South Korea have all done well by putting their native languages first in higher education, translating technical terms, and creating their own curricula. In contrast, India’s colonial hangover has perpetuated a myth that English alone equips students for modernity. This fallacy has led to a paradoxical outcome in Assam—rising enrolment in colleges but stagnant innovation, as evidenced by low patent filings and research output compared to states like Maharashtra or Karnataka.

The classical status of Assamese, aligning it with Tamil, Sanskrit, and others, validates its historical depth. Tracing back over 1,500 years through texts like the Charyapada and the works of Srimanta Sankardev, Assamese boasts a sophisticated vocabulary for philosophy, science, and governance. This heritage refutes claims of linguistic inadequacy for higher studies. Consider Sankardev’s Borgeets and Ankiya Naats, which encapsulate metaphysical ideas akin to those in Western philosophy, or the Buranjis, chronicles that demonstrate analytical historiography. By leveraging this status, Assam can access central funds for language promotion, potentially establishing dedicated Assamese departments in universities like Gauhati University or Tezpur University. Such initiatives could fund translations of seminal works—from Einstein’s relativity to Amartya Sen’s economics—into Assamese, creating a robust academic ecosystem. Moreover, this recognition opens doors to interdisciplinary research, blending ancient Assamese manuscripts on astronomy with modern astrophysics, thereby enriching global scholarship with unique perspectives from the Brahmaputra valley.

Beyond academic efficacy, the relevance of Assamese in higher education ties directly to cultural preservation and national identity. In a region as diverse as Assam, with over 40 ethnic groups, Assamese has historically served as a lingua franca, fostering unity amid plurality. Higher education in Assamese would democratize access, particularly for students from rural and tribal areas where English proficiency is low. Data from the National Sample Survey Office indicates that dropout rates in higher education spike among non-English medium students due to language barriers. By contrast, mother-tongue instruction could bridge this gap, empowering marginalized communities like the Bodos, Mising, or Karbis, who are often bilingual in Assamese. This inclusivity aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates multilingualism and regional languages in higher education. Imagine medical students at Assam Medical College learning anatomy in Assamese, incorporating local ethnobotanical knowledge from ancient texts like the Hastividyarnava. Such an approach preserves indigenous wisdom and innovates, perhaps leading to breakthroughs in herbal medicine tailored to Assam’s biodiversity.

Social equity forms another cornerstone of this argument. The current English-centric system perpetuates elitism, dividing society into those who attend convent schools and those confined to vernacular mediums. In Assam, this manifests in urban-rural disparities: Guwahati’s elite institutions produce graduates fluent in global discourse, while rural colleges struggle with underprepared faculty. Promoting Assamese would level the playing field, reducing the mental tax of code-switching and allowing students to focus on content mastery. Research from the World Bank highlights that countries investing in native-language education see higher GDP contributions from educated workforces. For Assam, this could translate to better-prepared professionals in agriculture, the tea industry, or disaster management—fields intrinsic to the state’s economy. Furthermore, classical status facilitates international collaborations; for instance, partnerships with institutions studying Indo-Aryan languages could position Assamese as a bridge between South and Southeast Asian studies, attracting scholars and funding.

Critics often cite the scarcity of Assamese resources in higher education as a barrier. Indeed, textbooks in advanced subjects are sparse, and technical terminology lacks standardization. However, this is a solvable challenge, not an insurmountable one. The classical tag unlocks grants from the Ministry of Education for corpus development, similar to those for Kannada or Telugu. Assam could establish a Language Commission to coin neologisms—drawing from Sanskrit roots or local dialects—for terms like “quantum entanglement” or “blockchain”. Digital tools amplify this potential: AI-driven translation software, bolstered by platforms like Google Translate’s recent Assamese enhancements, can accelerate content creation. Universities could mandate bilingual theses, where Assamese summaries accompany English abstracts, gradually building a repository. This mirrors successful models in Finland, where Finnish dominates higher education despite English’s global role. In Assam, initiatives like the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council’s push for vernacular options in competitive exams could extend to UGC-NET or civil services, incentivizing Assamese-medium graduates.

The digital era further underscores Assamese’s relevance. With AI and machine learning reshaping education, languages with classical roots like Assamese are prime for digitization. Projects under the Digital India initiative could digitize ancient palm-leaf manuscripts, making them accessible via apps for students. Semantic web technologies could link Assamese terms to global databases, enabling seamless research. For example, a student analyzing climate change impacts on the Majuli river island could use Assamese interfaces to query satellite data, blending local narratives with scientific rigour. This integration counters the risk of linguistic extinction; UNESCO warns that without active use in education and technology, regional languages fade. By embedding Assamese in MOOCs or virtual labs, Assam can nurture a generation of digital natives who innovate in fields like bioinformatics or renewable energy, drawing from cultural motifs like the Xorai or Bihu rhythms for creative problem-solving.

Implementation, however, demands concerted action. Policymakers must prioritize faculty training, offering incentives for professors to adopt Assamese pedagogy. Collaborations with bodies like the Sahitya Akademi could curate curricula that infuse classical literature into modern disciplines—teaching ethics through Madhavdev’s Namghosa alongside Kantian philosophy. Community involvement is crucial: NGOs and literary societies in towns like Jorhat or Dibrugarh could host workshops, fostering a grassroots movement. Economic viability cannot be overlooked; employers in Assam’s public and private sectors should recognize Assamese-medium qualifications, perhaps through affirmative policies in recruitment. The state government, led by Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, has already signalled support for post-classical status, but sustained investment is key. Challenges like dialectal variations—between Upper and Lower Assamese—require inclusive standardization, ensuring no subgroup feels alienated.

Globally, the push for linguistic diversity in education gains momentum. The United Nations’ International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032) advocates protecting tongues like Assamese from marginalization. In higher education, this means resisting homogenization; Assamese can contribute unique insights, such as eco-spiritualism from Vaishnavite traditions, to discourses on sustainability. Students educated in Assamese would embody hybrid identities—rooted yet cosmopolitan—capable of navigating international forums while advocating for regional issues like flood management or biodiversity conservation. This relevance extends to diaspora communities in the US or UK, where Assamese programs in universities could preserve heritage while promoting cultural diplomacy.

Ultimately, the importance of Assamese in higher education rests on its power to humanize learning. Education devoid of cultural resonance breeds alienation; in Assamese, it cultivates belonging. As Assam stands at this crossroads, embracing its classical language promises a renaissance—where knowledge flows not as imported wisdom but as an organic evolution. Failure to act risks consigning Assamese to folklore, eroding the very soul of Assamese identity. The time is ripe for bold reforms: let higher education in Assamese become the catalyst for a vibrant, self-assured Assam, contributing meaningfully to India’s mosaic and the world’s intellectual tapestry.