( 16 DEC. 1044 )
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+ +++ A OTE ON ASSAMS LAGAG AND LITERATURE, - - - Bx SRIJps EMGHANDRA Goswar AND PADMANATH BORAIN-BARtA. ' [The following concise and succinct note on Assamese language and literature was sompiled by Srijute Hemchandra Goswami and Rai Sabib Padmanath GohainBarua, and was submitted in 107 to Mr. F, W.. Sidmersen, B.A. (London), Principal Cotton College, Gauhati, gud some- time Follow of the toute [niversity, who was then engaged in writing a short monograph on the Assamese language for the Government of Assam. The covering letter over the signatures of the two collaborators, dated Tezpur, July 8, 1907, ran & follows, * We beg to forward herewith a note on the Assamese language and literature as requested in your letter of the 8th May, 1907. In the preparation of this note & number of authori- ties had to be consulted which will explain the delay." Mr. Sidmereen, before he left Gauhati for good in December, 19, handed over to me the typewritten manuscript of the original note with Mr. Goswami corrections and additions, saying it would be of use to me in future. | Mr. Sidmersen's book w& published by the Assam Government in 1908 under the title Note # the dayee datgage. Though small in bulk it helped in dispelling many of the grroneous notiogs relating to the identity and status of the Assamese language, and practically set at rest the controversy which had long tauded to undermine the very existence of that sweet and dignited speech. Mr. sidmersen's opinions and suggestions counhed in hia characteristically terse and vigorons style drew the attention of the powers that he, and were partly respon- sible for the inclusion of Assamese in the list of the Indian Vernaculars up to the B.A. stage of the Calcutta University. | The two writer of this not are men of outstanding position in the domain of modern Assamese literature, Mr. GohainBarue is the author of a large nombo of Assamese historical drams as well as of vernacular taxtbooks, and is the first Assamese man of letters to receive a specis} literary pension from the Government. Though the present note of Mess, Goawmi and Gohain-Barua was written long before the formera
