What is "hemkosh"

Hemkosh (, ) is the first etymological dictionary of the Assamese Language based on Sanskrit spellings, compiled by Hemchandra Barua. It was first published in 1900 under the supervision of Capt. P. R. Gordon, ISC and Hemchandra Goswami, 33 years after the publication of the Bronson’s dictionary. It contained about 22,346 words. This dictionary still published by Hemkosh Printers is considered to be the Standard reference of the Assamese Language.

Hemkosh is actually the second dictionary of Assamese language. The first Assamese dictionary was compiled by Dr. Miles Bronson, an American Baptist Missionary. His Dictionary, published in 1867 at American Baptist Mission Press Sibsagar, is out of print now. Bronson’s work did not pretend to be an etymological dictionary but contained a very considerable collection of words culled from the lips of the people but without derivations.