About Rajmohan Nath

Rajmohan Nath (1899–1965) was a renowned Indian archaeologist, historian, and civil engineer whose innovative work left an everlasting imprint on the study of Assam’s rich cultural heritage. Famous for his profound knowledge and conscientious research, he is recognized for bringing Assam's ancient history and traditions into the academic spotlight. His most popular book, The Back-ground of Assamese Culture (1948), continues to be an important resource for understanding the region's social, cultural, and historical development.

In addition to his archaeological achievements, Nath’s role as an engineer led him to discover hidden aspects of Assam’s past during his official duties. His discoveries of ancient temples, stone inscriptions, and other historical remnants provided essential insights into the state’s rich history. A true intellect, he integrated his knowledge of Sanskrit, history, and engineering to uncover and document Assam’s forgotten tales, making him a respected figure in the history of Indian scholarship

Early Life and Education:

Rajmohan Nath was born on October 31, 1899 in a then very backward village named Rangauti Gaon at Hailakandi, in Cachar district. His father was Govind chandra Nath and mother was Gauri Devi. He Was though born to a very poor family but was exceptionally intelligent and clever from a very young age.

Rajmohan Nath’s early education was marked by brilliance. He completed his matriculation in 1918, standing first in the entire northeastern region during the HSLC examination conducted by Kolkata University, making all Assamese proud. Following the same, he cleared ISC (Intermediate Studies) from Sylhet Murari Chand College and took admission in Shibpur Engineering College (now Known as the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur) in the year 1921. He passed out as a Civil Engineer standing first class first in the year 1925.

Career:

After the completion of his engineering studies, he joined Assam Public Work and eventually rose to the position of Executive Engineer with his expertise and dedication. During this time, he worked on some significant projects such as designing the Barnihat River bridge in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills. He contributed his tenure to Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, Guwahati and Shillong and he was keen interested in discovering the undiscovered historical remains where ever he was posted and proudly said "if we knew the past, we knew the present."

In 1955, Nath became the Principal of the Assam Engineering Institute and played a key role in establishing the Assam Engineering College at Jalukbari, Guwahati. Alongside his engineering work, he dedicated himself to archaeological discoveries, unearthing ancient temples, inscriptions, and stone monuments in Sonitpur, Nagaon, Cachar, and beyond. His most notable finds include the Shiva temple ruins at Da-Parbat and Bamuni Pahar and the ways to unfold the history of the famous Padum Pukhuri.

Nath’s work extended beyond Assam, as he contributed significantly to the study of the Indus Valley Civilization during the Harappa excavations (1920–1924). He after completion of his study works over there and gaining immense knowledge from his mentors wrote the very famous “A clue to the Indus-Valley Script and Civilization”. His writing gained him a worldwide recognition.

Archaeological Contributions:

Rajmohan Nath played a big role in Assam's archaeology combining his engineering skills with his history studies. As a civil engineer, he got excited about finding old artifacts during his work. One of his best finds was the ruins of a Shiva temple at Da-Parbat in Tezpur, which Assamese people call the "Shilar Gate." This discovery showed how good early Assamese temple builders were. His work at Bamuni Pahar also turned up detailed sculptures and old temple parts showing the area's great art traditions.

In Nagaon, Nath found proof of the "Kadali Rajya" kingdom helping historians learn more about Assam's middle ages. His search of the Padum Pukhuri site in Tezpur brought to life tales of the Kamrup kingdom and how its culture grew. Nath also tried to figure out writing on old stone monuments, which told us a lot about Assam's political and religious past. On a bigger scale, Nath's work on the Harappa digs of the Indus Valley Civilization was key. These efforts not only enhanced knowledge of Assam’s past but also established him as a respected figure in Indian archaeology.

Literary Works:

Rajmohan Nath was a famous writer. Who wrote incredibly in the form of journals, research papers and many more. He wrote about 37 books in various Indian languages other than Assamese. In English, he wrote, the famous of all-time "The back ground of Assamese culture", Clue to the Indus valley scripts and civilization, Trade route in Ancient Assam, Chronology of Kamprup Kings, Nath handbook of civil Engineers. He also published various books with an oath to conserve the famous Borgeets of Mahapurush Shri Shri Shankar Dev, and Shri Shri Madhav Dev.