Archive · 20 Jan 2026
Three Endangered Assamese Languages Digitally Preserved
The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the Nand Talukdar Foundation have worked together to save three almost extinct languages from Assam: Khamyang, Tai Phake, and Singpho.
They did this by turning old books, photos, and sound recordings into digital files.
These files are now available for everyone to see and learn from.
Khamyang is in the most danger, with only one person who can speak, read, and write it fluently.
The project collected many words, phrases, and stories in these languages to help keep them alive.
The languages are spoken by small communities in Assam, and this project is very important to help younger people learn and use them.
The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and Nand Talukdar Foundation completed the digital preservation of three endangered indigenous languages of Assam: Khamyang, Tai Phake, and Singpho.
The project documented and digitized rare manuscripts, photographs, and audio records of the languages, many of which were at risk of being lost forever.
Khamyang is in the most critical condition, with only one fully proficient speaker, Bhogeswar Thmung, who played a central role in the documentation process.
The project digitized 12 Khamyang manuscripts (650 pages), 250 photographs, and recorded 540 commonly used words and phrases.
The Tai Phake language documentation included 262 manuscripts (19,950 pages), 350 photographs, and audio recordings of 675 core vocabulary units.
- Who
- All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and Nand Talukdar Foundation
- What
- Digitally preserved three endangered indigenous languages of Assam
- When
- Completed in January 2025
- Where
- Assam, India
- Why
- To prevent the irreversible loss of these languages and make the materials accessible to the public
- Languages Preserved
- Khamyang, Tai Phake, Singpho
- Project Duration
- 8 months
- Khamyang Manuscripts Digitized
- 12 manuscripts (650 pages)
- Tai Phake Manuscripts Digitized
- 262 manuscripts (19,950 pages)
- Singpho Manuscripts Digitized
- Old books and printed literature
- Khamyang Speakers
- 1 (fully proficient)
- Project Sponsor
- All Assam Students’ Union (AASU)
- Project Leaders
- Mrinal Talukdar and Dr. Palash Kumar Nath
