Barua (also spelt as ''Baruah'', ''Barooah'', ''Baruwa'', ''Baroova'', ''Barooa'', ''Baroowa'', ''Borooah'', ''Boruah'', or ''Baroa'') is a common
Assamese surname.
In Assam Valley
History
Originally, the ''Barua'' surname was used as a military rank in the
Sutiya kingdom
The Chutia Kingdom (also Sadiya) was a late medieval state that developed around Sadiya in present Assam and adjoining areas in Arunachal Pradesh."(T)he Chutiyas seem to have assumed political power in Sadiya and contiguous areas falling ...
held by individuals from the ''Buruk'' clan. The historical examples, such as ''Borhuloi Barua'', ''Gajraj Barua'', ''Manik Chandra Barua'' and ''Kasitora Barua'' were ''Sutiya'' officials.
During the Ahom reign, ''Barua'' represented by the Tai word ''Phu-ke''(literally: ''"Leader of 10,000 men"'' in
Ahom language
The Ahom language or Tai-Ahom language is a dead language, that was spoken by the Ahom people, that is undergoing a revival. Ahom is an important language in Tai studies. It was relatively free of both Mon-Khmer and Indo-Aryan influences and has ...
), meant a superintending officer of the
Paik system
The ''Paik'' system was a type of corvee labour system on which the economy of the Ahom kingdom of medieval Assam depended. In this system, adult and able males, called ''paiks'' were obligated to render service to the state and form its militia ...
of the
Ahom Army The Ahom Army consisted of cavalry, infantry as well as naval units based on the Paik system militia of the Ahom kingdom (1228 - 1824). The kingdom did not have standing army units of professional soldiers till late 18th and early 19th centuries, ...
.
Appointments as ''Barua''s were made irrespective of the paik's religion or ethnicity. Among other ethnic groups, there is mention of S''utiya Baruas'' in several instances of
Buranji
Buranjis (Ahom language: ''ancient writings'') are a class of historical chronicles and manuscripts associated with the Ahom kingdom written initially in Ahom Language and later in Assamese language as well. The Buranjis are an example of histor ...
s. For example, there was a ''Sutiya'' revolt against the monarchy led by a ''Sutiya Barua'' in 1673. ''Ahom Barua'' was a position held by the family of the ''Sutiya'' ''Kataki'' who later joined the Ahoms after the defeat of ''Sutiyas''; ''
Kachari,'' ''
Sonowal'' and ''
Thengal Baruas'' were of
Kachari origin, while others like ''Bapu'', ''Bez'' and ''Dewalia'' ''Baruas'' were
Brahmins
Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru o ...
. Besides these, during the
Moamoria rebellion
The Moamoria rebellion (1769–1805) was the 18th century uprising in Ahom kingdom of present-day Assam that began as power struggle between the Moamorias (''Mataks''), the adherents of the Moamara Sattra, and the Ahom kings. This uprising ...
, the
Matak
Matak ( Indonesian: ''Pulau Matak'') is an island in the Anambas Islands of Indonesia, located in the South China Sea between the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. The island is a base for oil companies including ConocoPhillips, Premier Oil and St ...
rebels also appointed Baruas among themselves.
Present
The rank being granted to various people within the Assamese community found its place among the
Ahoms, the
Brahmins
Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru o ...
, the Kacharis (
Sonowals and
Thengals), the
Kalitas, the Koch, the
Morans, the
Motoks, besides the
Sutiyas.
Baruas
*
Amulya Barua
Amulya Barua ( as, অমূল্য বৰুৱা) was a pioneer of modern Assamese poetry. He was born at Jorhat on 30 June 1922. In 1941, he passed matriculation examination from Jorhat Govt. Boys' H.S and M.P. School with letter marks in ...
(1922–1946): Pioneered modern
Assamese poetry
Assamese poetry is poetry in Assamese language. It borrows many themes from Sanskrit literature and is mainly devotional in tone. The origins of Assamese poetry are considered to have taken place in the early 13th century, the ''Bhagavat Purana' ...
.
*
Ananda Chandra Barua
Ananda Chandra Barua (1907–1983) was a writer, poet, playwright, translator, journalist and actor from Assam. He is popularly known as Bokulbonor Kobi (বকুলবনৰ কবি) in Assamese literacy society. He was honoured with, most ...
(1907–1983): Writer, poet, playwright, translator, journalist, an actor from Assam.
*
Ananda Ram Baruah (1850–1889):
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
scholar, sixth
Indian Civil Service
The Indian Civil Service (ICS), officially known as the Imperial Civil Service, was the higher civil service of the British Empire in India during British rule in the period between 1858 and 1947.
Its members ruled over more than 300 million ...
officer of India, and the first from Assam.
*
Bhubanmohan Baruah
Bhubanmohan Baruah ( as, ভূবনমোহন বৰুৱা; 1914 - 1998) was a novelist, short story writer from Assam. He wrote many novels under the pen-name of Kanchan Baruah (কাঞ্চন বৰুৱা).
Life and works
Baruah ...
(1914–1998): Novelist, short story writer from Assam. He wrote many novels under the pen-name of ''Kanchan Baruah''.
*
Binanda Chandra Barua (1901–1994): Noted Indian writer, poet of
Assamese literature
Assamese literature ( as, অসমীয়া সাহিত্য, translit=ɔxɔmiya xaɦitjɔ}) is the entire corpus of poetry, novels, short stories, plays, documents and other writings in the Assamese language. It also includes the liter ...
*
Birinchi Kumar Barua
Birinchi Kumar Barua (16 October 1908 in Puranigudam, Nagaon, Assam, India – 30 March 1964) was a folklorist, scholar, novelist, playwright, historian, linguist, educationist, administrator and eminent 20th century littérateur of Assam, with ...
(1908–1964): Scholar,
educationist
Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Var ...
, writer, historian,
linguist
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...
,
folklorist
Folklore studies, less often known as folkloristics, and occasionally tradition studies or folk life studies in the United Kingdom, is the branch of anthropology devoted to the study of folklore. This term, along with its synonyms, gained currenc ...
.
*
Chandradhar Barua
Chandradhar Barua (15 October 1874 – 26 October 1961) was an eminent writer, poet, dramatist and lyricist from Assam of Jonaki Era, the age of romanticism of Assamese literature. Barua was born at Dergaon, Golaghat, Assam on 15 October 1878. H ...
(1874–1961): Eminent writer, poet, dramatist and lyricist from Assam.
*
Debo Prasad Barooah
Debo Prasad Barooah was an Indian academician, author, historian and the former Vice-Chancellor ''(the Chief Executive)'' of Gauhati University. Barooah, highly regarded for his knowledge of political science and history of the region had a bri ...
(1930–2013): Eminent intellectual,
academician
An academician is a full member of an artistic, literary, engineering, or scientific academy. In many countries, it is an honorific title used to denote a full member of an academy that has a strong influence on national scientific life. In syst ...
, author, historian and the former Vice-Chancellor (the Chief Executive) of
Gauhati University
Gauhati University, also known as GU, is a collegiate public state university located in Guwahati, Assam, India. It was established on 26 January 1948 under the provisions of an Act enacted by the Assam Legislative Assembly. It is the oldest ...
.
*
Dev Kant Baruah
Dev Kant Barooah (22 February 1914 – 28 January 1996) was an Indian politician from Assam, who served as the President of the Indian National Congress during the Emergency (1975–77).
Early life
Baruah was born on 22 February 1914 to Nilka ...
: President of the
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...
at the time of Emergency (1975–1977).
*
Gunabhiram Barua
Gunabhiram Barua (1837-1894) was a nineteenth century Indian intellectual from Assam who ushered in new ideas of social reform in the early years of colonial rule in Assam. He was deeply influenced by the progressive intellectual currents of the ...
(1837–1894): An enlightened Assamese intellectual, ushered in new ideas about social reform in the early years of
colonial rule in Assam.
*
Hem Barua
Hem Barua (Assamese: হেম বৰুৱা) was a prominent Assamese poet and politician from Assam.
Early life
Born on 22 April 1915, at Tezpur, Hem Barua obtained his M.A. degree from Calcutta University in 1938 and joined the J.B. Co ...
(Tyagbir) (1893–1945):
Indian independence activist
The Indian independence movement consisted of efforts by individuals and organizations from a wide spectrum of society to obtain political independence from the British, French and Portuguese rule through the use of a many methods. This is a l ...
, social worker, writer from
Sonitpur district
Sonitpur district ron: ˌsə(ʊ)nɪtˈpʊə or ˌʃə(ʊ)nɪtˈpʊəis an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters is located at Tezpur.
Etymology
The name of the is derived from a mythological story fo ...
of Assam.
*
Hem Barua
Hem Barua (Assamese: হেম বৰুৱা) was a prominent Assamese poet and politician from Assam.
Early life
Born on 22 April 1915, at Tezpur, Hem Barua obtained his M.A. degree from Calcutta University in 1938 and joined the J.B. Co ...
(1915–1977): Prominent poet, politician from Assam.
*
Hemchandra Barua
Hemchandra Barua ( as, হেমচন্দ্ৰ বৰুৱা; ''Hêmsôndrô Bôruwa''), also known as Hem Barua was a prominent writer, social reformer of Assamese of the 19th century. He hailed from Sibsagar District of Assam. His fat ...
(1836–1897): Prominent writer,
social reformer
A reform movement or reformism is a type of social movement that aims to bring a social or also a political system closer to the community's ideal. A reform movement is distinguished from more radical social movements such as revolutionary move ...
of Assamese of the 19th century.
*
Jagannath Barooah: Tea-Planter, popularly known for
Jagannath Barooah College
Front view of JB college
Jagannath Barooah College (popularly known as ''J.B. College'') is an autonomous college located in Jorhat, Assam, India. It was founded on 19 August 1930. The College is affiliated to Dibrugarh University and recogniz ...
.
*
Jnanadabhiram Barua (1880–1955): Notable writer, dramatist, translator of Assam, and a participant in
India's freedom struggle
The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events with the ultimate aim of ending British rule in India. It lasted from 1857 to 1947.
The first nationalistic revolutionary movement for Indian independence emerged from Bengal. ...
.
*
Kanaklal Barua (1872–1940): Prominent writer (mainly in English language), essayist, historian, and politician from Assam.
*
Kanaklata Barua
Kanaklata Barua (Assamese : কনকলতা বৰুৱা ; 22 December 1924 – 20 September 1942), also called Birbala and Shaheed (martyr), was an Indian independence activist and AISF leader who was shot dead by the Indian Imperial Po ...
:
Indian freedom fighter
The Indian independence movement consisted of efforts by individuals and organizations from a wide spectrum of society to obtain political independence from the British, French and Portuguese rule through the use of a many methods. This is a l ...
from Assam.
*
Lakshminath Bezbaroa
'
Lakshminath Bezbarua (, 14 October 1864), was an Assamese poet, novelist and playwright of modern Assamese literature. He was one of the literary stalwarts of the Jonaki Era, the age of romanticism in Assamese literature when through his e ...
(1868–1938): Assamese author, essayist, playwright, poet, and satirist.
*
Navakanta Barua (1926–2002): Prominent Assamese novelist and poet.
*
Padmanath Gohain Baruah
Padmanath Gohain Baruah ( as, পদ্মনাথ গোহাঞি বৰুৱা; 1871–1946) was the first president of Asam Sahitya Sabha and a prominent name in the early part of modern Assamese literature. He was a novelist, poet, dram ...
(1871–1946): First president of
Assam Rhetorical Congress, novelist, poet, dramatist,
analyst, and a thought provoking writer.
*
Pradan Baruah
Pradan Baruah is an Indian politician who is member of Parliament and elected to 16th Lok Sabha from Lakhimpur seat since November 2016. He won the by-election in November 2016, after the seating member Sarbananda Sonowal resigned from the sea ...
: Indian politician, former member of
Assam Legislative assembly
The Assam Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Indian state of Assam. It is housed in Guwahati, the capital city of Assam, geographically situated in present Western Assam region. The Legislative Assembly comprises 126 Me ...
,
member of parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...
of
Lakhimpur Lok Sabha.
*
Rituparna Baruah, Indian politician
*
Rudra Baruah
Luit Konwar Rudra Baruah was one of the foremost music pioneers of Assam. He was an actor, composer, lyricist, singer and musician. He served with Govt. of Assam in the Public Relations Department (since renamed as Directorate of Information and ...
(1926–1980): Actor, composer, lyricist, singer and musician.
Notes
References
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Other Links
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Barua (Bangladesh)
The Barua ( bn, বড়ুয়া, ''Boṛua''; Arakanese: မရမာကြီး), are an ethnic group native to Chittagong Division in Bangladesh, Rakhine State in Myanmar, where they are known as the Maramagyi or Maramagri, and parts ...
people of Bangladesh are from the Buddhist stock. They spoke Pali initially and later shifted to Bengali. However, it is presumed that originally they were Assamese and later moved to Bengal and Bangladesh, and adapted their culture.
External links
{{Assam
Assamese-language surnames
Social groups of Assam
Ahom kingdom