The Asomiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha was formed in 1888 by Assamese students in Calcutta to protect and promote the Assamese language and culture. At that time, many Assamese students had to use Bengali, so the Sabha worked to revive their mother tongue.
The Sabha created unity and national awareness among Assamese people living in Calcutta and in Assam. It tried to standardise Assamese grammar and encouraged the use of correct Assamese in schools.
The Sabha also worked to write a social history of Assam and translated important Sanskrit books into Assamese to enrich the language. Its efforts helped the government publish Hemchandra Barua’s famous dictionary ‘Hemkosh’.
The organisation arranged discussions on Assam’s history, culture, and literature, and tried to open branches across the state. Its greatest contribution was the publication of the journal “Jonaki”, which started a new era in Assamese literature and encouraged many young writers.
These activities strengthened Assamese identity and helped grow the spirit of nationalism and freedom consciousness.