Nathan Brown

Who was Nathan Brown?

Nathan Brown was an American Baptist missionary to India and Japan, Bible translator, and abolitionist. He is noted for his works on Assamese language, grammar and script. In around 1843, based in Sibsagar in Assam, with the help of a local Assamese priest converted to Christianity, Atmaram Sharma, he took a key role in translating and publishing the New Testament as 'Amaar Traankorta Jisu Christor Natun Niyom' in 1848. In 1854, he published another book titled খ্রীষ্টৰ বিবৰণ আৰু শুভ বাৰ্তা meaning 'Jesus Christ and his Holy Messages' in 1854. He also translated some prayers to Assamese with his other missionary colleagues. His contribution to Assamese language, 'Grammatical Notes of Assamese Language', published by the American Baptist Missionary Press in 1848. In 1846, with colleague Cutter he published 'Arunodoi' অৰুনোদই, the first Assamese magazine. He also contributed to publishing of works of various contemporary Assamese scholars, to name a few 'Axom Buranji' by Kashinath Phukan in 1844, 'Mathematics' in two parts by Bokul Kayastha in 1845, 'Chutia Buranji' in 1850 etc. The people of the Indian state of Assam consider him a pioneer in their native language, Assamese and its literature.