Guwahati: In a classroom at Barnagar College in Assam’s Sorbhog on Saturday, the conversation was not merely about literature, films or folk traditions—it was about reclaiming the dignity of a language that has long been confined to comic sketches and exaggerated accents.
Artists, writers, filmmakers and digital creators working in Kamrupi gathered to explore how the language of western Assam can become a medium for serious creative and intellectual expression.
The programme created a rare platform where practitioners from literature, visual arts, cinema, culture and digital media reflected on their work in Kamrupi while examining the opportunities and obstacles of creating in a linguistic variety that has historically remained outside the cultural mainstream.
A recurring theme throughout the discussions was the need to move beyond the perception of Kamrupi as merely a dialect used for humour. Participants argued that despite its rich literary and cultural heritage, the language has often struggled to receive the same recognition and legitimacy as standard Assamese in creative and academic spaces.
Among the speakers, Amiya Mahanta shared insights into her ongoing work of compiling a dictionary of words used across the region, describing documentation as an important step towards preserving the linguistic heritage of Kamrupi.
Popular YouTube creator Riki Bharali spoke about using digital platforms to document the traditional food culture of western Assam. He highlighted how many indigenous recipes and culinary practices are gradually disappearing as younger generations become increasingly disconnected from their cultural roots.
Cartoonist Nituparna Rajbangshi reflected on portraying Kamrupi culture through visual art, while filmmaker Kangkan Deka discussed his Kamrupi-language film Upasarga, describing it as an attempt to demonstrate that the language of lower Assam is capable of carrying complex fictional narratives and contemporary cinematic storytelling.
Poets Jugajyoti Das, Ajay Kumar Ray and Ziaul Islam also shared their experiences of writing poetry in Kamrupi and publishing their work in popular literary magazines, speaking about both the challenges and the growing acceptance of regional linguistic expression.
The gathering formed part of a project led by Jyotirmoy Talukdar of Ashoka University. The Foundation Project is being implemented by the India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) under its Arts Practice programme with support from HudumDeo.
HudumDeo, a socio-cultural organisation, works towards researching, restoring and promoting Assam’s folk art, literature and cultural traditions while creating spaces for discussions on indigenous heritage, local languages and regional literature.
According to the organisers, the project aims to connect a largely unorganised community of Kamrupi speakers and creative practitioners whose mother tongue has historically remained culturally marginalised. By bringing together artists, writers and researchers, the initiative seeks to build confidence in using Kamrupi not only in artistic practice but also in everyday communication.
An important concept discussed during the programme was what Talukdar describes as the “declownisation” of Kamrupi. The idea seeks to challenge longstanding portrayals of the language that reduce it to comic performances through exaggerated accents and stereotypes. Participants argued that such representations have overshadowed its literary richness and discouraged its use in serious artistic and intellectual work.
The initiative also encourages creators to tell stories rooted in their own linguistic and cultural landscape rather than feeling compelled to adopt standard Assamese because of its greater institutional acceptance.
With growing conversations around linguistic diversity and cultural inclusion, organisers believe initiatives like this have acquired renewed relevance.
They noted that the rapid expansion of digital media offers unprecedented opportunities to document, preserve and popularise marginalised linguistic traditions, opening new possibilities for languages such as Kamrupi to flourish across literature, cinema, visual arts and online platforms.