SHORT STORIES OF THE JONAKI ERA: A SURVEY

Abstract

The Jonaki Era marks a vibrant and transformative phase in Assamese literature, emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries around the literary magazine Jonaki, first published in 1889. The short stories of this era reflect the awakening of modern Assamese consciousness, blending romanticism, nationalism, and social realism. Writers such as Lakshminath Bezbaroa, Hemchandra Goswami, and Chandradhar Barua infused their narratives with deep human emotions, moral reflections, and subtle critiques of societal norms. These stories often explored rural life, cultural identity, and the tension between tradition and modernity. The short fiction of the Jonaki Era not only enriched Assamese prose but also laid the foundation for the modern Assamese short story form, embodying a literary renaissance that mirrored the broader intellectual awakening of Assam during the period.

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