Assamese

The Department of Assamese at Visva-Bharati is the only Department of Assamese functioning in a Central University outside Assam. Since its inception, it has been committed to expanding the horizons of Assamese language, literature, and culture among students belonging to diverse linguistic backgrounds. As a dynamic academic and cultural hub, the department regularly organises national and international seminars, workshops, art exhibitions, cultural programmes and lecture series. Since 2009, it has actively represented the rich heritage of Assamese culture in several inter-university events, consistently attracting enthusiastic participation from non-Assamese learners and scholars.

 

1. Establishment of the Srimanta Sankardeva Chair (Government of Assam Funded):

    The Srimanta Sankardeva Chair, funded by the Government of Assam, has been established as part of the Department (MoU signed on 29 August 2025).

    This has elevated the Department as a national hub for Sankardeva Studies.

 

2. UGC Recommendation for Teaching Positions:

    The Department has successfully secured UGC recommendation for four teaching positions, thereby providing a strong academic foundation for its future growth.

 

3. National Recognition of Faculty:

    Dr. Sangita Saikia, Teacher-in-Charge, received the Dhrupadi Bhasha Utkarsha Sadhan Award (January 2025, Asom Sahitya Sabha, Sivasagar Division) for her significant contributions towards securing     

    Classical Language Status for Assamese.

 

4. Research Excellence:

    Four research scholars have been awarded Ph.D. degrees from the Department.

    Notably, Fency Chutia earned the first Ph.D. on “Elements of Classical Language in Assamese: An Analytical Study” in June 2025, marking a pioneering milestone in Assamese linguistic research.

 

5. Academic and Cultural Leadership:

    Since 2013, the Department has been regularly organizing national and international seminars, unique cultural programs, and art exhibitions, positioning itself as an active contributor to the academic and     

    cultural life of Visva-Bharati.

 

6. Student Engagement under NEP 2020:

    Since 2023, the Department has witnessed a large enrollment of students across the university in FYUGP-NEP courses, reflecting the growing academic interest in Assamese studies.

 

7. Integration of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS):

    The Department has initiated IKS-based syllabi by including Srimanta Sankardeva Studies in both FYUGP-NEP courses and Ph.D. coursework, beginning from the current academic session.

 

8. Translation and Publication Initiatives:

    Students and faculty of the Department are regularly translating and publishing Tagore’s works into Assamese, as well as Assamese literary works into Bengali, establishing a unique practice of cultural and          linguistic exchange within Visva-Bharati.

 

The Department of Assamese, Visva-Bharati has grown from a small unit into a recognized centre of excellence, with national awards, UGC recognition, government collaboration, pioneering research, cross-cultural translation initiatives, and strong student participation under NEP 2020.