The Jonaki era began in 1889 with the publication of Jonaki, the mouthpiece of the Asomiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha (ABUSS) formed by Assamese students in Calcutta. Jonaki played a major role in the cultural and literary revival of Assam, continuing the renaissance that had started with Orunodoi. The first editor of Jonaki was Chandrakumar Agarwala.
Although Jonaki did not directly take part in politics, the poems and articles published in it carried strong nationalistic feelings. Many writers highlighted the decline of indigenous industries and commerce under British rule and appealed for economic self-reliance. Writers like Kanaklal Barua and Kamalakanta Bhattacharya often wrote about Assam’s economic backwardness.
Nationalist sentiments also became popular through the works of Lakshminath Bezbarua (such as Mor Desh, Assam Sangeet, Been Boragi) and Ambikagiri Raichoudhury. Eminent writers like Chandrakumar Agarwala, Hemchandra Goswami, and Lakshminath Bezbarua—known as the Trimurti of the Jonaki age—guided the movement.
Thus, the Jonaki era marked the rise of cultural, social, and literary nationalism in Assam and helped awaken Assamese identity.