The Department of Assamese, established in 2019, is a new department. However, it may be said to have begun life as the Centre for Assamese Studies which was established in 2011. The primary aim of the Centre was to undertake and foster research in Assamese language and culture and one of its achievements was the creation of an extensive digital archive of Assamese manuscripts, books, and important documents, from the medieval period to the modern. The present Department incorporates such existing facilities. In view of the paucity of standard texts of the classical and canonical works of Assamese literature (for example, the works of MadhavaKandali and Sankaradeva, Madhavadeva, Rama Saraswati and others), including concordances to the major works of Assamese literature, the Department’s first programme, the post-graduate degree programme in Assamese, will incorporate courses in textual criticism/text-critical studies and digital humanities. Textual criticism/text-critical studies and digital humanities have also been identified as the thrust areas in research.