Jagannath Barooah (1851–1907) is an Indian scholar, tea planter, philanthropist from

Jorhat Jorhat ( ) is one of the important cities and a growing urban centre in the state of Assam in India. Etymology Jorhat ("jor" means twin and "hat" means market) means two hats or mandis - "Masorhaat" and "Sowkihat" which existed on the opposite ...

, Assam. He is known as the first graduate from upper Assam.

Early life

He was born on 29 October 1851 in Rajhauli,

, to Hemadhar Barooah.

Education

He studied Sanskrit in his fathers guidance and later got into Guwahati English Seminary in 1864. He passed Bachelor of Arts from Presidency University, Kolkata in 1872. As he became the first graduate and upper Assam, people used to call him "B.A. Jagannath".

Work

After returning from Calcutta, Jagannath Barooah appeared successfully for the Native Civil Services in 1875.But some spark of an independent spirit made him pass up a coveted carrier in favour of Asaam Tea Cultivation.

Tea Estates

* Letekujan tea estate * Tipomia tea estate * Bosabari tea estate

Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha

He was the founder of Social-Political organisation Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha in 1884, who later played a major role in

Independence of India The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events with the ultimate aim of ending British Raj, British rule in India. It lasted from 1857 to 1947. The first nationalistic revolutionary movement for Indian independence emerged ...

Personal life

His first wife was Lilawati. They had two children together Swarnasachi and Devendranath. After the death of Lilawati, he married Troilokeshwari.

Honours

The British conferred upon him the title "Raibahadur" in 1902. The Assam Pride

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 ...

at Jorhat was named after him as an honour. The college was established in his

cottage A cottage, during Feudalism in England, England's feudal period, was the holding by a cottager (known as a Cotter (farmer), cotter or ''bordar'') of a small house with enough garden to feed a family and in return for the cottage, the cottager ...

"Borpatra kutir" in 1930.

Death

Jagannath Barooah went to Calcutta for a health check up in February 1907. He died there on 21 April after two months.

References

People from Jorhat district Presidency University, Kolkata alumni Scholars from Assam People from Assam 1851 births 1907 deaths {{India-academic-bio-stub