Barua

{{Short description|Assamese surname}} {{For|the ethnic group|Barua people}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} '''Barua''' (also spelt as ''Baroa'', ''Baruah'', ''Barooa'', ''Barooah'', ''Baroova'', ''Baroowa'', ''Borooah'', ''Baruva'', ''Baruwa'', ''Borooah'', ''Borua'', ''Boruah'') is a common Assamese surname shared by the Assamese communities. They mostly follow Hinduism.

Barua surname is also used by the Magh people of Chittagong, Myanmar and West Bengal also known as Maramagyi. They follow Theravada Buddhism and are a different community from Assamese Hindu Baruas.

==In Assam Valley== === History === Originally, the ''Barua'' surname was used as a military rank in the Sutiya kingdom held by individuals from the ''Buruk'' clan.<ref>"Surnames like Bora, Kataki, Saikia, Tamuli, etc. were found in Sutiya kingdom. It is stated in the Deodhai Buranji that when Ahom king Suhungmung attacked the Sutiya kingdom on the banks of Dihing river, the Sutiya army was led by one Manik Chandra Baruah. Deori folklores also mention the myths behind the creation of each of these titles. For instance, "Bora" was said to be derived from the "Buruk" clan and acted either as a military official or a temple guard..."{{harvcol|Baruah|2007|p=145}}</ref> The historical examples, such as ''Borhuloi Barua'', ''Gajraj Barua'', ''Manik Chandra Barua'' and ''Kasitora Barua'' were ''Sutiya'' officials.<ref>"The Sutiya army was led by ''Borhuloi Barua'' and ''Manikchandra Barua''."{{harvcol|Baruah|2007|p=129}}</ref><ref>Mahanta, Sukumar. ''Assam Buranji''. D.H.A.S., 1945, p. 10, Another former Sutiya commander named ''Gajraj Barua'' who had sided with the Ahoms showed the enemies the exact way to the location where the king was hiding.</ref>

During the Ahom reign, ''Barua'' represented by the Tai word ''Phūu-Kāe''<ref>{{harvcol| Gogoi | 1991 |p=44}}</ref>(𑜇𑜥;𑜀𑜦𑜧; or literally: ''"Mediator or person who solves problems"'' in Ahom language), meant a superintending officer of the Paik system of the Ahom Administration who looked after the law and order of the state.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kakoty |first1=Sanjeeb |title=Technology, Production And Social Formation in the Evolution of the Ahom State |date=2003 |publisher=Regency Publications |isbn=9788187498735 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6DtuAAAAMAAJ&q=Technology,+Production+And+Social+Formation+In+The+Evolution+Of+The+Ahom+State |language=en}}</ref>

Appointments as ''Barua''s were made irrespective of the paik's religion or ethnicity. Among other ethnic groups, there is mention of ''Sutiya Barua''s in several instances of Buranjis. For example, there was a Sutiya revolt against the monarchy led by a ''Sutiya Barua'' in 1673.<ref>{{harvcol|Borua|1930|p=229}}</ref> ''Ahom Barua'' was a position held by the family of the ''Sutiya Kataki'' who joined the Ahoms, after the defeat of Sutiyas;<ref>{{harvcol|Borbarua|1997|p=563}}</ref> while ''Sutiya Karhi Barua'' was an officer under whom the Sutiya archers of the king's palace were posted.<ref>{{harvcol|Borbarua|1997|p=561}}</ref> During the reign of Siva Singha, the ''Dulia Barua'' and ''Kukurachuwa Barua'' were Sutiyas.<ref>{{harvcol|Borbarua|1997|p=243}}</ref> Other examples of ''Sutiya Baruas'' include ''Moi Barua'' (Buruk-Chutia origin<ref>Bhuyan, S.K, ''Tungkhungia Buranji'', p. 61</ref><ref>Swarnalata, Barua, ''Chutia Jatir Buranji'', p. 226</ref>) and ''Aruwandhara Barua''.<ref>{{harvcol|Borbarua|1997|p=563}}</ref> The Kachari, Sonowal and Thengal ''Barua''s were of Kachari origin,<ref>{{harvcol|Borbarua|1997|pp=561–562}}</ref> while the others like ''Bapu'', ''Bez'' and ''Dewalia Barua''s were Brahmins.<ref>{{harvcol|Borbarua|1997|pp=551–566}}.</ref> Besides these, during the Moamoria rebellion, the Matak rebels also appointed ''Barua''s among themselves.<ref>{{harvcol|Borua|1930|p=303}}</ref>

===Present=== The rank bestowed upon the individuals within the Assamese community was adopted by and forms part of the continuum of the Assamese society of several groups – the Ahoms, the Brahmins, the Kalitas, the Koch, the Morans,<ref>"As we have argued in the previous chapters that one of the most important support base of ULFA comes from Motok-Moran community. Paresh Boruah, the CIC of ULFA; Anup Chetia, the general secretary; etc., belong to the Motok-Moran community." {{harvcol|Mahanta|2013|p=284}}</ref> the Motoks,<ref>The Motock–Moran, known by a generic name of Moamariyas, are one of the proudest races in the history of Assam, especially in the later part of the 18th century and the early part of 19th century." {{harvcol|Mahanta|2013|p=199}}</ref> the Kacharis (Sonowals and the Thengals),<ref>{{Citebook|last=Borboruah|first=Hiteswar|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.451863|title=Ahomar Din Ed. 2nd|date=1997|pages=561–562}}</ref> besides the Chutias.

===Baruas===  * Amulya Barua (1922–1946): Pioneered modern Assamese poetry. * Ananda Chandra Barua (1907–1983): Writer, poet, playwright, translator, journalist, an actor from Assam. * Aimee Baruah, actress * Ananda Ram Baruah (1850–1889): Sanskrit scholar, sixth Indian Civil Service officer of India, and the first from Assam. * Bhogeswar Baruah (1940–): Athlete, Asian Games gold medalist, Arjuna Award recipient. * Bhubanmohan Baruah (1914–1998): Novelist, short story writer from Assam. He wrote many novels under the pen-name of ''Kanchan Baruah''. * Binanda Chandra Barua (1901–1994): Noted Indian writer, poet of Assamese literature * Birinchi Kumar Barua (1908–1964): Scholar, educationist, writer, historian, linguist, folklorist.  * Chandradhar Barua (1874–1961): Eminent writer, poet, dramatist and lyricist from Assam. * Debo Prasad Barooah (1930–2013): Eminent intellectual, academic, author, historian and the former Vice-Chancellor (the Chief Executive) of Gauhati University. * Dev Kant Baruah: President of the Indian National Congress at the time of Emergency (1975–1977). * Gunabhiram Barua (1837–1894): An Assamese intellectual, ushered in new ideas about social reform in the early years of colonial rule in Assam. * Hem Barua (Tyagbir) (1893–1945): Indian independence activist, social worker, writer from Sonitpur district of Assam. * Hem Barua (1915–1977): Prominent poet, politician from Assam. * Hemchandra Barua (1836–1897): Prominent writer, social reformer of Assamese of the 19th century. * Jagannath Barooah: Tea-Planter, popularly known for Jagannath Barooah College. * Jnanadabhiram Barua (1880–1955): Notable writer, dramatist, translator of Assam, and a participant in India's freedom struggle. * Kanaklal Barua (1872–1940): Prominent writer (mainly in English language), essayist, historian, and politician from Assam. * Kanaklata Barua: Indian freedom fighter from Assam. * Lakshminath Bezbaroa (1868–1938): Assamese author, essayist, playwright, poet, and satirist. * Navakanta Barua (1926–2002): Prominent Assamese novelist and poet. * Padmanath Gohain Baruah (1871–1946): First president of Assam Rhetorical Congress, novelist, poet, dramatist, analyst, and a thought provoking writer. * Pradan Baruah: Indian politician, former member of Assam Legislative assembly, member of parliament of Lakhimpur Lok Sabha. * Rituparna Baruah, Indian politician * Rudra Baruah (1926–1980): Actor, composer, lyricist, singer and musician.  * Jahnu Barua – Internationally acclaimed film-maker. * Jishnu Barua: Indian civil servant, 49th Chief Secretary of Assam * Joi Barua – Singer, musician, and lead vocalist from Assam. * Parvati Prasad Baruva: Famous Assamese music composer, poet, lyricist, dramatist: an icon of Assamese literature. * Pramathesh Chandra Barua (1903–1951): Famous actor, director, and screenwriter of Indian films in the pre-independence era. * Pratima Barua Pandey (1935–2002): Famous folk singer and daughter of Pramathesh Chandra Baruah. * Radha Govinda Baruah (1900–1977): Founder of the Assam Tribune Group, sports enthusiast, introduced Assam to the culture of sports. * Siva Prasad Barooah: Pioneer tea planter, path-breaker in Assamese journalism, renowned philanthropist, politician and humanist.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{cite book |last=Baruah|first=Swarnalata|title=Chutia Jatir Buranji|date=2007}} *{{cite book |last1=Gogoi |first1=Lila |title=The History of the system of Ahom administration |date=1991 |publisher=Punthi Pustak,the University of California |pages=44 |isbn=9788185094410 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VtcsAAAAIAAJ&q=The+History+of+the+system+of+Ahom+administration}} *{{cite book |last1=Sud̈ostasien |title=Tai Culture: International Review on Tai Cultural Studies, Volume 6 |date=2001 |publisher=SEACOM Sud̈ostasien-Gesellschaft, 2001 |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2H5uAAAAMAAJ&q=Ahom+Barua+Phu-Ke}} *{{cite book |last1=North East India History Association |first1=session |title=Proceedings of North East India History Association, Volume 7 |year=2008 |volume=7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ai9uAAAAMAAJ&q=Ahom+Barua+Phu-Ke}} * {{Citation| last = Mahanta| first = Nani G.| title = Confronting the State: ULFA's Quest for Sovereignty|date=2013|publisher=SAGE Publications India| isbn = 9788132113270|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pdyGAwAAQBAJ&q=paresh+baruah+moran+community&pg=PA284}} *{{cite book |last1=Borbarua |first1=Hiteswar |title=Ahomar Din |date=1997 |publisher=Assam Prakashan Parishad|pages= |isbn=}} *{{cite book |last1=Borua |first1=Gopal Chandra|title=Ahom Buranji |date=1930|publisher=Baptist Mission Press|pages= |isbn=}}

Category:Assamese-language surnames