Ahom language
Explanation
Buranjis are a distinct class of historical chronicles associated with the Ahom Kingdom of medieval Assam. They are significant because they represent a tradition of secular history writing in India, recording events, conflicts, and administration with chronological precision, unlike the mythological style prevalent in other parts of early India.
Detailed Analysis
- Origin and Tradition: The Ahoms migrated to the Brahmaputra Valley from the Shan region (present-day Myanmar and China) in the 13th century (1228 CE). They brought with them the tradition of recording historical events.
- Language of Composition:
- The original Buranjis were composed in the Ahom language (a Tai-Kadai language), which was the mother tongue of the Ahom rulers and the initial court language.
- Over time, as the Ahoms assimilated with the local population and culture of the Brahmaputra Valley, the Assamese language became the language of the court and administration. Consequently, later Buranjis were written in Assamese.
- Comparison with Other Options:
- Persian: This was the court language of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire, not the Ahom Kingdom.
- Sanskrit: While influential in religious and literary spheres across India, it was not the language of the early Ahom historical chronicles.
Key Takeaway
Buranjis were historical chronicles of the Ahom dynasty, originally written in the Ahom language (Tai-Ahom) and later composed in Assamese.