[5] AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONARIES AND THE MAKING OF MODERN ASSAM: EDUCATION, LANGUAGE, AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION (1836–1947) : How to Cite the Article: Daimalu Brahma (2026). American Baptist Missionaries and the Making of Modern Assam: Education, Language, and Social Transformation (1836–1947). International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research & Reviews, 5(6),39-45.  https://doi.org/10.56815/ijmrr.v5i6.2026.39-45

Daimalu Brahma

Authors

Daimalu Brahma Research Scholar, Department of History, Krishnaguru Adhyatmik Visvavidyalaya Nasatra, Barpeta, Assam.

Abstract

The arrival of American Baptist missionaries in Assam during the nineteenth century marked a significant turning point in the social, educational, and linguistic development of the region. Beginning with the establishment of missionary activities in Sadiya in 1836, the missionaries played a crucial role in promoting modern education, printing technology, vernacular literature, and social reform. Their contributions extended beyond religious evangelism and had a profound impact on the formation of modern Assamese identity. This article examines the role of American Baptist missionaries in the development of education, the revival of the Assamese language, and broader social transformation in Assam between 1836 and 1947. Using historical and secondary sources, the study analyzes how missionary interventions contributed to literacy, educational modernization, literary production, and social change. The findings suggest that while missionary activities were intertwined with colonial expansion, their contributions significantly influenced the intellectual and cultural modernization of Assam.