Jonaki (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Jonaki was an Assamese language
magazine published from Calcutta in 1889. It was also the mouthpiece of the then Assamese literary society Oxomiya Bhaxa Unnati Xadhini Xobha
in which the society’s aim and objectives were regularly expressed. The first editor of the magazine was Chandra Kumar Agarwala.
, after its formation in 1888, decided to publish a new monthly Assamese magazine. But the bigger problem was to finance it since all the associated members of the society were students. Chandra Kumar Agarwala, who belonged to a rich business family, came forward to finance the magazine and named it "Jonaki" ("Moonlight"). Agarwala was a FA student in Presidency College then and also a member of the society. He put forward two conditions to publish and edit the magazine:
If those conditions were not met by anyone, a fine of Rs 15 would be imposed on him. The society accepted the conditions and the first issue was published. The exact publication date is not known, since only the Assamese month ‘Māgho
’ and the year of publication 1889 were mentioned in the magazine, but the first edition is believed to have been put out on 9 February 1889. The printing of the magazine continued until 1898. Publishing resumed in Guwahati
in 1901 and continued until 1903. Satyanath Borah and Kanaklal Baruah were the editors of the Guwahati editions.
, Priyotomar Sithi (Letter from the beloved), by Hemchandra Goswami, were published in the magazine. Hemchandra Goswami’s Kaku Aru Hiya Nibilau (No More of my Heart to Anybody) was a unique poem of its kind. A regular humorous column titled Kripabor Boruar Kakotor Topola, by Laxminath Bezbarua
, was also included. Kamalakanta Bhattacharjya’s Pahoroni (Oblivion) and Chandrakumar Agarwala’s Niyor (Dew-drops) were two epoch-making poems published in the first year of the magazine. The joint efforts of these pioneers established a new era in Assamese literature: The Jonaki Era, or the romantic age. The writers of Orunodoi
chose the medium of prose, but the poetic grandeur in Assamese literature was achieved by the poets of the Jonaki group and their contemporaries.
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
magazine published from Calcutta in 1889. It was also the mouthpiece of the then Assamese literary society Oxomiya Bhaxa Unnati Xadhini Xobha
Oxomiya Bhaxa Unnati Xadhini Xobha
Oxomiya Bhaxa Unnati Xadhini Xobha was a literary organization formed on Saturday the 25th August 1888 . It is the precursor of the Asam Sahitya Sabha. The first secretary of this society was Shivaram Sarma Bordoloi. The prime objective of forming this society was the development of Assamese...
in which the society’s aim and objectives were regularly expressed. The first editor of the magazine was Chandra Kumar Agarwala.
History
The Oxomiya Bhaxa Unnati Xadhini XobhaOxomiya Bhaxa Unnati Xadhini Xobha
Oxomiya Bhaxa Unnati Xadhini Xobha was a literary organization formed on Saturday the 25th August 1888 . It is the precursor of the Asam Sahitya Sabha. The first secretary of this society was Shivaram Sarma Bordoloi. The prime objective of forming this society was the development of Assamese...
, after its formation in 1888, decided to publish a new monthly Assamese magazine. But the bigger problem was to finance it since all the associated members of the society were students. Chandra Kumar Agarwala, who belonged to a rich business family, came forward to finance the magazine and named it "Jonaki" ("Moonlight"). Agarwala was a FA student in Presidency College then and also a member of the society. He put forward two conditions to publish and edit the magazine:
- Every member must take care of Jonaki;
- Every member must write an article for Jonaki.
If those conditions were not met by anyone, a fine of Rs 15 would be imposed on him. The society accepted the conditions and the first issue was published. The exact publication date is not known, since only the Assamese month ‘Māgho
Maagha
Maagha is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Maagh is the eleventh month of the year, beginning in January and ending in February....
’ and the year of publication 1889 were mentioned in the magazine, but the first edition is believed to have been put out on 9 February 1889. The printing of the magazine continued until 1898. Publishing resumed in Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
in 1901 and continued until 1903. Satyanath Borah and Kanaklal Baruah were the editors of the Guwahati editions.
Aim and objectives
One unusual feature of the magazine was that it did not have an editorial. Rather, it contained a regular column called Atmokotha (Self-sketches) in which the ideology of the magazine as well as the society was expressed. The aim and objective of the magazine as expressed in this column in the first edition was (English translation: Uddipan Dutta):The Jonaki Era
Jonaki marked the dawn of romanticism in Assamese literature. The first romantic poem, Bon Kunwori (The Wood Nymph), by Chandra Kumar Agarwala, and the first Assamese sonnetSonnet
A sonnet is one of several forms of poetry that originate in Europe, mainly Provence and Italy. A sonnet commonly has 14 lines. The term "sonnet" derives from the Occitan word sonet and the Italian word sonetto, both meaning "little song" or "little sound"...
, Priyotomar Sithi (Letter from the beloved), by Hemchandra Goswami, were published in the magazine. Hemchandra Goswami’s Kaku Aru Hiya Nibilau (No More of my Heart to Anybody) was a unique poem of its kind. A regular humorous column titled Kripabor Boruar Kakotor Topola, by Laxminath Bezbarua
Laxminath Bezbarua
Lakshminath Bezbaruah was a great Assamese personality in Assamese literature. He gave a new impetus to the Assamese literature that had stagnated for some time and enriched it through his essays, plays, fiction and poetry. As a sensitive artist he responded to the influences of social environment...
, was also included. Kamalakanta Bhattacharjya’s Pahoroni (Oblivion) and Chandrakumar Agarwala’s Niyor (Dew-drops) were two epoch-making poems published in the first year of the magazine. The joint efforts of these pioneers established a new era in Assamese literature: The Jonaki Era, or the romantic age. The writers of Orunodoi
Orunodoi
Orunodoi or Arunodoi is the first Assamese language magazine published from Sibasagar, Assam in 1846. This magazine created a new era in the world of Assamese literature and gave birth to notable authors like Anandaram Dhekial Phukan, Hemchandra Barua, Gunabhiram Barua and Nidhi Linai Pharowal...
chose the medium of prose, but the poetic grandeur in Assamese literature was achieved by the poets of the Jonaki group and their contemporaries.
People associated with the magazine
The most notable members associated with the magazine were:- Laxminath BezbaruaLaxminath BezbaruaLakshminath Bezbaruah was a great Assamese personality in Assamese literature. He gave a new impetus to the Assamese literature that had stagnated for some time and enriched it through his essays, plays, fiction and poetry. As a sensitive artist he responded to the influences of social environment...
(1864–1938) - Chandra Kumar Agarwala (1867–1937)
- Devakanta Baruah
- Kamalakanta Bhattacharjya
- Hemchandra Goswami (1872–1928)
- Padmanath Gohain Barua (1871–1946)
- Satyanath Bora (1860–1925)
- Kanaklal Barua (1872–1940)
- Anandachandra Agarwala (1874–1940)
- Dharmeswari Debi Baruani (1892–1960)
- Nalinibala Devi (1898–1977)
- Raghunath Choudhury (1879–1968)
- Ambikagiri Roychoudury (1885–1967)
- Jatindranath Dowerah (1892–1964)
Issues
The total number of issues of Jonaki published during 1889–1898 is 69.- 1st year: 11 issues
- 2nd year: 12 issues
- 3rd year: 10 issues
- 4th year: 11 issues
- 5th year: 7 issues
- 6th year: 11 issues
- 7th year: 6 issues
- 8th year: 1 issue
External links
- Theatrical movement in Assam by Babul Tamuly, Editorial, The Assam Tribune.