Hemchandra Baruwa

Indian writer

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Hemchandra Barua was an influential Assamese writer, playwright, and lexicographer. He is recognized for his contributions to early modern Assamese literature, particularly for his plays that addressed social issues. One of his notable works is Kaniyar Kirtan (1861), which focused on the theme of opium addiction. Barua also authored Bahire Rongsong Bhitare Kowabhaturi (1861), translated as Fair Outside and Foul Within. His work marked a significant step in the development of Assamese prose and drama, paving the way for future literary advancements in the region.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

South Asian arts
Assamese
Assamese literature began with Hemchandra Baruwa, a satirist and playwright, author of the play Bahiri-Rang-Chang Bhitare Kowabhaturi (1861; “All That Glitters Is Not Gold”). The most outstanding among the early modern writers was Lakshminath Bezbaruwa, who founded a literary monthly, Jōnāki (“Moonlight”), in 1889, and was responsible for infusing…
Read More
Assamese literature began with Hemchandra Baruwa, a satirist and playwright, author of the play Bahiri-Rang-Chang Bhitare Kowabhaturi (1861; “All That Glitters Is Not Gold”). The most outstanding among the early modern writers was Lakshminath Bezbaruwa, who founded a literary monthly, Jōnāki (“Moonlight”), in 1889, and was responsible for infusing…
Read More