UPSC Assamese Syllabus 2020 For IAS Mains Exam

Assam is the native language of the state of Assam. Assam has a rich history, cultural roots heritage with a deep connection embedded in the Assamese language. This paper can be attempted by those candidates who are well versed in the Assamese language. It is very interesting to note that this language is not just spoken within the state of Assam. It is also widely spoken in the regions of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh within our country.

Assamese Literature consists of two papers 1 & 2 in UPSC Mains. Each paper carries 250 marks, in a total of 500 marks. This article provides you with the latest Assamese Syllabus for IAS Mains 2020. Download the optional syllabus PDF here

UPSC Assamese Syllabus – Optional Paper I

Answers must be written in Assamese

Section-A : Language

• History of the origin and development of the Assamese language-its position among the Indo-Aryan Languages-periods in its history.
• Developments of Assamese prose.
• Vowels and consonants of the Assamese languages-rules of phonetic changes with stress on Assamese coming down from Old Indo-Aryan.
• Assamese vocabulary-and its sources.
• Morphology of the language-conjugation-enclitic definitives and pleonastic suffixes.
• Dilectical divergences-the standard colloquial and the Kamrupi dialect in particulars.
• Assamese scripts-its evolution through the ages till 19th century A.D.

Section-B : Literary Criticism and Literary History

• Principles of Literary criticism upto New criticism.
• Different literary genres.
• Development of literary forms in Assamese.
• Development of literary criticism in Assamese.
• Periods of the literary history of Assam from the earliest beginnings, i.e. from the period of the charyyageets with their socio-cultural background : the proto Assamese-Pre-SankaradevaSankaradeva-post SankaradevaModern period (from the coming of the Britishers)-Post-Independence period. Special emphasis is to be given on the Vaisnavite period, the gonaki and the post-Independence period.

Candidates planning for UPSC Exam may want to check the linked article.

UPSC Assamese Syllabus – Optional Paper II

This paper will require first-hand reading of the texts prescribed and will be designed to test the candidates’ critical ability. Answers must be written in Assamese

Section-A

• Ramayana (Ayodhya Kanda only)-by Madhava Kandali.
• Parijat-Harana-by Sankaradeva.
• Rasakrida-by Sankaradeva (From Kirtana Ghosa).
• Bargeet-by Madhavadeva
• Rajasuya-by Madhavadeva.
• Katha-Bhagavata (Books I and II)-by Baikunthanath Bhattacharyya.
• Gurucarit-Katha (Sankaradeva’s Part only)-ed. by Maheswar Neog.

Section-B

• Mor Jeevan Sonwaran-by Lakshminath Bezbaroa.
• Kripabar Barbaruar Kakatar Topola-by Lakshminath Bezbaroa.
• Pratima-by Chandra Kumar Agarwalla.
• Gaonburha-by Padmanath Gohain Barua.
• Monamati-by Rajanikanta Bordoloi.
• Purani Asamiya Sahitya-by Banikanta Kakati.
• Karengar Ligiri-by Jyotiprasad Agarwalla
• Jeevanar Batat-by Bina Barwa (Birinchi Kumar Barua)
• Mrityunjoy-by Birendrakumar
• Bhattachary-ya
• Samrat-by Navakanta Barua.

Also, Check Other UPSC IAS Optional Subject’s Syllabus

About Assamese Language

The Assamese language finds formal status provided on par with other languages in the constitution of our country. The Assamese language can be traced back to almost 7th century AD. People from the Indo Aryan race were familiar with this language soon after that. Towards the beginning of the 14th century, people even started Assamese literature. Studies have shown that ancient manuscripts dating back to the 14th century have been found abundantly in the region by exploring archaeologists.

Old folklore, popular folk songs and hymns, group ballads, and traditional festival songs and practices have been laid down in the form of songs to showcase the rich tradition and culture that Assam was a part of.

The Prakrit language and the Sanskrit language are the two main ancestral hierarchies for the Assamese language. Many researchers contribute a more significant part of the language to have been narrowed from the original Sanskrit literature. But evidence also shows the presence of Prakrit essence, particularly of the Magadha dynasty ruling period.

Also, Read Other UPSC 2020 Articles