Numerous missionaries, during the
colonial period, across Europe and America came to India on a mission to spread Christianity. Among them, many missionaries ended up spending
their time more on researching the Indian languages than in their chosen field of
spreading the message of Christ. What made them choose the Indian
languages, altogether a different field ? They were struck by their
richness, beauty and orderly advanced grammar
Doctor Nathan
Brown and his family along with Rev.
Oliver Cutter came to Assam in 1836 from Burma to spread the Gospel of love and engage in a
Christian Missionary work. Fr. Brown was born in New Ipswich, New Hampshire on 22 June 1807 and was impressed by the Assamese language. He spent the next few months to learn the language as it would help him communicate with the natives and in due course gained considerable practical .knowledge. He and his wife and Rev Cutter first arrived in
Sadiya, eastern most part of Assam. Knowing the importance of native
tongue in education, they started schools in Assamese
and Khaamti languages, spoken in that region. They carried a portable printing machine with
them which was quite helpful. So they authored not only the text books, but also
translated 'New Testament' to Assamese. In 1839 it was a tough time for
them due to Khamti rebellions, so, they moved over to Jaipur, now in
Rajasthan. Both Brown and Cutter did not keep quiet there and carried on
their publication work in Assamese with same vigor and vitality.
When Assam came back to normal after rebellion, both Brown and Cutter families returned there to resume their missionary work and, this time, they settled in Sibsagar. In the midst of his work with the Christian mission, he never slowed down in his work on the language. One of the major contributions to Assamese language by Brown is 'Grammatical Notes of Assamese language' that was carefully printed at the Americal Baptist Mission Press in 1848 in Sibsagar and published by Americal Baptist Missionary Union, Both Brown and Cutter were instrumental in publishing the first Assamese magazine 'Orunodoi' in 1846. Brown was editor of the magazine for 9 long years. Brown printed and published some of the important books in Assamese language. 'Axhaam Buronji'(Assam's History) by Kashinath Phukan in 1844, 'Mathematics' two parts by Bokul Kayastha in 1845, 'Chutiya Buronji' in 1850, etc are worthy of mention. Mrs. Eliza Brown who assisted her husband in every possible way, on her part, published a story book, a Mathematics book and a Geography book for the children, besides the Brown family adopted a child from Gohpur, Assam. Their adopted son named Nidhi Libai Farwale helped the Browns in their missionary works. In 1848 the complete translation of 'New Testament' was first published as 'Amaar Traankorta Jisu Christor Natun Niyom'. In 1854 he published 'Christor Biworon and Xhubho Bartaa'.
Upon his return to the US in 1850, Brown was actively involved in the movement for abolition of slaves and established a name. Later he went to Japan and founded a first Baptist church in Tokyo. Brown died in Yokohama on January 1, 1886 in the middle of his missionary work.
Dr. Brown took the honor of printing and publishing many early works in Assamese language. Invariably many missionaries during the colonial period in India played a key role in bringing out the grandeur and beauty of several literary works in various Indian languages, in particular Tamil and Telugu. The pioneering works of Dr. Brown and his associate Rev. Cutter form an important mile stone in the history of Assamese language.
Ref:
http://www.assams.info/people/nathan-brown#ixzz3peM2qAml
http://onlinesivasagar.com/literature/nathan-brown.html
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| Rev Nathan Brown.American Baptist missionary to India.onlinesivasagar.com |
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| Eliza Brown onlinesivasagar.com |
When Assam came back to normal after rebellion, both Brown and Cutter families returned there to resume their missionary work and, this time, they settled in Sibsagar. In the midst of his work with the Christian mission, he never slowed down in his work on the language. One of the major contributions to Assamese language by Brown is 'Grammatical Notes of Assamese language' that was carefully printed at the Americal Baptist Mission Press in 1848 in Sibsagar and published by Americal Baptist Missionary Union, Both Brown and Cutter were instrumental in publishing the first Assamese magazine 'Orunodoi' in 1846. Brown was editor of the magazine for 9 long years. Brown printed and published some of the important books in Assamese language. 'Axhaam Buronji'(Assam's History) by Kashinath Phukan in 1844, 'Mathematics' two parts by Bokul Kayastha in 1845, 'Chutiya Buronji' in 1850, etc are worthy of mention. Mrs. Eliza Brown who assisted her husband in every possible way, on her part, published a story book, a Mathematics book and a Geography book for the children, besides the Brown family adopted a child from Gohpur, Assam. Their adopted son named Nidhi Libai Farwale helped the Browns in their missionary works. In 1848 the complete translation of 'New Testament' was first published as 'Amaar Traankorta Jisu Christor Natun Niyom'. In 1854 he published 'Christor Biworon and Xhubho Bartaa'.
Upon his return to the US in 1850, Brown was actively involved in the movement for abolition of slaves and established a name. Later he went to Japan and founded a first Baptist church in Tokyo. Brown died in Yokohama on January 1, 1886 in the middle of his missionary work.
Dr. Brown took the honor of printing and publishing many early works in Assamese language. Invariably many missionaries during the colonial period in India played a key role in bringing out the grandeur and beauty of several literary works in various Indian languages, in particular Tamil and Telugu. The pioneering works of Dr. Brown and his associate Rev. Cutter form an important mile stone in the history of Assamese language.
Ref:
http://www.assams.info/people/nathan-brown#ixzz3peM2qAml
http://onlinesivasagar.com/literature/nathan-brown.html
