Origin of title Barua

According to Bengali Buddhist Barua: The surname Barua is derived from two words, ‘bara’ meaning ‘renowned’; and ‘ua’ meaning ‘ruler’. In ancient times, the most highly ranked military ruler of Chattagram under the king of Arakan was a man called ‘Barua’.

In Assamese ‘‘‘Barua’’’: which is also written as Baruah, Barooah, Baroova, Borooah, Baroowa; is a common Assamese surname. In Assam, originally the title was conferred for most of class of officers in the Ahom kingdom of medieval Assam. The Ahom appointed officers with various title and the title Baruah means a "Leader of 3000 men".

The Baruas / Baruahs / Barooahs of Assam are Hindus by faith and have been a key contributors to the growth of Assamese community.According to B.K. Gogoi's literature "Buddhism in Assam and its Surrounding Areas" has mentioned, Buddhism became popular in the Kamrupa, Tezpur, Goalpara and nearby areas during the reign of Ashoka (3rd century B.C.)

Over Here, question arises, how come two BARUA community from upper Assam in India and plane Chittagong in Bangladesh was received the same title almost in the same period? It is interesting to know, that their ethnic places are merely distance around 400 km.! What was the ruler name, who had offered this surname? what was the name, before receiving 'Barua' surname? How many of them had received the surname at that time? Is their any link with those two BARUA'S from Assam and Chittagong?

From the historical supporting document it revels that both the Bengali and Assamese Barua community have been amply contributed towards society and religion from the ancient period. Unfortunately all those story was not documented properly.

Scholars have different opinion on the title ‘Barua’

1. According to Ven. Upali Sramon literature the term ‘Barua’ as derived from bara (big/great) + ariya (Great Arians), a general interpretation of the origin of this community is traced back to the first Buddhists who were converted during Buddha’s time. The account of a Buddhist monk named Vangisa (vanga- Bengal + isa –the lord, chief or great) in Samyutta Nikaya is indicated to support that argument. However scholars are not unanimous to above explanation as that does not provide enough evidence to trace the origin of the community particularly the term. In the meaning above the title ‘Barua’ has a word ariya (Great Arians), which is practically not matching with physical structure of Baruas. More than 80% Baruas are Mongoloid looks or Barmis. Interestingly, if you compare with Assamese Barua you will find Chittagongi Baruas are similar in physical structure. Nothing can be denied, there was grate possibility for marital relation Baruas with Arians from central India.

2. According to the Bengali Encyclopedia ‘Baruas are the descendants of a powerful dynasty of Buddhist kings’.

3. In 1891, the English Census superintendent Mr. Hunter also conforms to the above fact in his ‘Statistical Account of Bengal’.

4. Some says ‘Barua’ which means ‘great’ is a Apabhraṃsa [derivative] of the Sanskrit term ‘baṭuk’.

5. Dr. Beni Madhab Barua, the Prof. of Pali, Sanskrit and ancient Indian history of the University of Calcutta in 1938 says the term ‘Barua’ is a derivative from ‘Brijjiya’ which is derived from ‘Brijji’ Pandit Dharmadhar Mahasthavir agrees with Dr. Barua.

6. The former vice chancellor of University of Chittagong Dr. Abdul Karim says, “The Baruas of Chittagong are the earliest inhabitants, examining the history, whose influence is evident from the education, culture, and heritage of ancient Chittagong.”

7. Some think in the 6th century A.D. with the arising of Brahminism, Buddhism declined and Barua-s from India then came to Chittagong. Others believe in the 12th century when Ikhtiyar Uddin Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji conquered Magadha, from Vriji community a prince with his 700 relatives came to Chittagong and they are the ancestors of Barua. Mr. Suniti Ranjan rejects both the ideas mentioned above. According to him, these incidents are not real but just belief for there is not a single copper-inscription, rock-inscription etc. to support those ideas. He thinks during the reign of Mughal kings whole of Pakistan, India, Bengal, Burma was considered as one large kingdom in which people, especially business men, could easily move around different states without any obstacle. But the title ‘Barua’ was started to be used after the names of people in around 150 year’s time. He says, in one word Baruas are those who are ‘honourable’.

8. Baru Candidas – a 14th century poet in his ‘Srikrisna’ used the term ‘Barua’ in the sense of ‘great’. Even the poet was called ‘Baru’.

9. In ‘Rajmala’ [1], in the chronicles of Tripura kings have noted that ‘Amor Manikye’ of the Tripura kingdom became a king with the title ‘Barua’.

10. According to historians the Tibeto-Burman consists of 3 tribes - the Pyu, the Kanyan and the Thet (Chakma). The Chakma tribes are living in their historical land in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The Kanyan tribe is known as the Rakhine (Arakanese) group who still live in the South-Eastern part of Chittagong. The plain Buddhists of Bangladesh known as the Burua-Buddhist are the ancient peoples of Bangladesh who are living here for five thousand years according to Arakanese chronology. They insist that they came from the Aryavarta or the country of the Aryans which is practically identical to the country later known as the Majjhimadesh or Madhyadesh in Pali literature.

References

• ) Buddhism in Bangladesh [2]
• ) A case study of Buddhist Social Customs in Bangladesh by BHIKKHU DHARMESWAR[3]
• ) A Brief Introduction to Barua Community of Bangladesh by Ven. Upali Sramon [4]
• ) In ‘Rajmala’ [5],
• ) Barua community in Bangladesh User:BaruaAnurddha
• ) Buddhanet [6]
• ) Mag [7]

Bibliography

• ) Buddhism in Assam and its Surrounding Area (A Historical Perspective) by B. K. Gogoi
• ) Based on Taranatha's History of Buddhism [see page 323, para 5 of Ch. 12] The Comprehensive History of Assam. Vol. of H.K. Borpujari

Composed by:

Sujit Barua,
Upper Lummawri,
Laitumkhrah,
Shillong 793003