Contribution of Anandaram Dhekiyal Phukan to the reinstatement of the Assamese language: a critical study

Language is an emotive issue. Assamese language for the Assamese people was no exception. During the colonial rule, a language as alien as Bengali, was introduced as the official language of Assam, stirring a commotion in the society. Assamese language was mired in different controversies as to its distinctness. Anandaram Dhekiyal Phukan is known in the annals of history as the greatest votary of the Assamese language. He is credited with the laurel of bringing Assamese to its rightful position. The paper tries to examine his role in the reinstatement of the Assamese language. Did he achieve it single handedly or in conjunction with like minded allies as the American Baptist Missionaries? It also explores other factors which may have incidentally helped in the reinstatement of the Assamese language.