Barua

{{Short description|Assamese surname}}

{{For|the ethnic group|Barua people}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{Culture of Assam}}

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."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}} The historical examples, such as Borhuloi Barua, Gajraj Barua, Manik Chandra Barua and Kasitora Barua were Sutiya officials."The Sutiya army was led by Borhuloi Barua and Manikchandra Barua."{{harvcol|Baruah|2007|p=129}}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.

During the Ahom reign, Barua represented by the Tai word Phūu-Kāe{{harvcol| Gogoi | 1991 |p=44}}(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.{{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}}

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

=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,"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}} the Motoks,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}} the Kacharis (Sonowals and the Thengals),{{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}} besides the Chutias.

=Baruas=

Notes

{{Reflist}}

References

  • {{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=}}