On his 125th death anniversary we would like to commemorate the life and legacy of Dutiram Hazarika, one of Assam’s prolific historians, who belonged to the Baniya community of Assam. Dutiram Hazarika was born on September 22, 1806 and died on July 1, 1901. The history of Assam in the 19th century cannot be written without engaging with Dutiram Hazarika’s profound historical work.
Dutiram Hazarika received his early education from Bhayaram Barpujari’s tol at Jorhat. As a disciple of Dihing Satradhikar, Dutiram learned the arts that were essential to become a skilled Bhakat. Dutiram was also well read in the Assamese scriptures and the ecclesiastical history of the region. He composed music and took part in Bhawans, and acted in Vaisnava dramas.
Dutiram was a well-trained goldsmith. From a very early age, Dutriam was skilled at the intricate process of making various kinds of gold jewellery and he also mastered the art of Minakara, a process of setting delicate jewels on green surfaces. As an expert goldsmith, he gained entry into the inner circle of King Purandar Singha’s household.
Dutram had a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the history of Assam. Ahom King Purandar Singha would invite Dutiram to his palace without any hesitation to hear the stories of Assam history from Dutiram. Moreover, the King Purandar Singha asked his son Kameswar Singha Juvaraj to share with Dutiram all traditions preserved in Ahom royal families which immensely enriched Dutiram’s knowledge on Assamese factlore. Dutiram Hazarika was commissioned to compile a history of Assam by Kameswar Singha and as a result Dutiram Hazarika produced the Kali Bharat Chronicle. He worked rigorously on the Kali Bharat chronicle even after the death of Purandar Singha in 1846 and his son, Kameswar Singha in 1852. Although the exact date of composition of Kali Bharat cannot be ascertained, yet it can be assumed that author Dutiram Khazarika was working till 1862 when the last incident was recorded in the book. He was revising the book even after 1862 and the final copy of the Kali Bharat was produced after 1873 (Bhuyan, 2008).
Dutiram titled his book as Kali Bharat, which literally means epic of Bharat in the Kali Age. Dutiram’s book, Kali Bharat Buranji can be regarded as a complete history of Assam from 1679 to 1858 as it incorporates events from the accession of the Sulikpha Ratnadhwaj Singha Lora Raja in 1679 to the transfer of territories of the Honourable East India Company to the Crown in 1858 (Bhuyan, 2008).
In his Kali Bharat Buranji, Dutiram Hazarika had himself narrated about his auto-biography in the chapter, “গ্রন্থকাৰৰ আত্মপৰিচয়।” (Author’s Autobiography) from pages 183-186. The author, Dutiram Hazarika, regrets that he was not born within the pale of four castes. For which he was discriminated against or stigmatised as Akulin or a casteless one. In his words:
“কহো পুনৰপি মই আমাসাৰ কথা
কাৰ বংশে ভৈলোঁ জাত আছিলোহোঁ কেথা।।
নভৈলেক জন্ম মোৰ চাৰি জাতি ঘৰে।
অকুলীন বুলি মোক সবে নিন্দা কৰে।। ১০০৫।।”
The author also stated that his name is Dutiram and he is Banik (or Baniya ) by caste and his gram, his place of residence, is Jorhat and his father was Sonbar Hazarika. Dutiram also says that his grandfather was also a Hazari, who were bestowed with the immunities enjoyed by non-paik subjects under the reign of King Lakshmi Singha. Dutiram says,
“জাতি-কুল বর্ণিক যে নাম দুতিৰাম।
জন্মৱধি বাসা মোৰ যোৰহাট গ্রাম।।
পিতা মোৰ সোণাবৰ হাজাৰি বোলয়।
পিতামহ সমাজে হাজাৰি যাক কয়।। ১০০৬।।”
Dutiram later narrated that he had an ancestor in the past who was a Bhuiyan from the North (bank of Brahmputra) named Balo Kath. Balo Kath had eight sons (viz., Chiran, Niban, Bakatiyal, Maria , Biseswar, Sundhar, Rupdhar and Naga). Among them the eldest one was called Chiran and the youngest one was Naga. (Naga’s son was Saha Hazarika. Saha Hazarika’s son was Sonabar Hazarika. Sonabar was the father of Dutiram Hazarika. And Dutiram had two sons, they were Kamalapati Hazarika and Premananda Hazarika). Dutiram explains,
“বলো কাথ নামে ভূঞা আছিল পূর্ব্বত।
তান হন্তে আঠজন পুত্র ভৈল জাত।। ১০১০।।
সিসবৰ জ্যেষ্ঠ যিবা চিৰণ বোলয়।
উত্তৰপাৰত ঘৰ সর্ব্বলোকে কয়।।
হুয়াছিল বৰুৱা ৰাজাৰ আজ্ঞা পাই।
চাঙ্গৰ ডফলা বশ কৰিয়া সিঠাই।। ১০১১।।”
Chiran was promoted to the rank of a “Barua” by King Siva Shingha and was given the task of controlling Duflas in the north bank (of Brahmaputra). Chiran had four score wives which implies that he had as many as eighty wives and would live like a prince. Chiran enjoyed great power and privileges over the masses. Rupchandra Barbarua, the chief officer King Siva Singha was not able to tolerate this. People would also complain to the King against Chiran for extorting money from them and for making their wives and daughters feel insecure by his aggressive behavior. King Siva Singha overlooked the complaints against Chiran. On the contrary, out of jealousy and intolerance, Rupchandra obtained a royal order upon the authority of which Chiran’s ears were chopped off and gave an impression (of lower caste status of Baniya) on his forehead. Chiran’s seven brothers were also punished along with him. Dutiram says, thus, cruel Rupchandra Barbarua reduced them to this plight (of lower caste). In his words:
“গৈল বৰবৰুৱা পাচে পানীদুৱাৰক।
কাটিলেক কাণ কম্পালত দিলে আঁক।।
আসিয়া আছিলা লগে সপ্তজন ভাই। সিসবকো দিলা দণ্ড তাতে ছল পাই।। ১০২১।।
…
ৰূপচন্দ্ৰ বৰবৰুৱা নিদাৰুণ আতি। তাহানে কৰিলা আমাসাৰ এহি গতি।। ১০২২।।”
Dutiram also states that Chiran and his descendants were allowed to use the title of “Deka” as a humble token of their former position and rank under the rule of Siva Singha. Further, Dutiram was filled with remorse that he was unable to devote himself wholeheartedly to the worship of Hari (God) because he was hindered by the attractions of the world.
Apart from Kali-Bharat, Dutiram Hazarika authored the following manuscripts:
- Rasik-puran, containing a satirical account of the origin and evils of the intoxicating drugs , tobacco, opium, bhang, dhutur etc., commonly used by the Assamese
- Baniya – Sakal Asamaloi Ahar Vrittanta, an account of the advent of the Baniyas to Assam
- A transcript of Burha- Bhashya by Ramchandra Das was written by Dutiram.
- Dihing Satrar Buranji
- Dihing Satrar Bangsawali
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With regard to his personality, historian SK Bhuyan notes, “Dutiram represented an accomplished Assamese gentleman of the older type thoroughly impregnated with the ideals of indigenous culture” (p.xvi, Bhuyan, 2008).
There is no historian who could live up to the legacy of Dutiram Hazarika who belonged to the Bania Community , an indigenous (Scheduled Caste ) of Assam. As Historian S.K. Bhuyan remarks:
“The fact that the Baniya community could produce a man of Dutiram’s erudition and culture in the beginning of the British connection is of considerable significance” (p.xvi, Bhuyan, 2008).
Authors:
Dr Jyoti Bania, PhD, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
Rina Dholua Das, a descendant of historian Dutiram Hazarika & Secretary, Dutiram Swarnakar Hazarika Memorial Committee.
Views expressed are that of the author and do not reflect EastMojo’s stance on this or any other issue.
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