The Department of Commerce, Jagannath Barooah College, Jorhat was founded under the visionary academic leader, Prof. K.K. Handique (First Principal of the college) in the year 1944; it is one of the oldest and leading academic institutions providing quality business education in Assam. Prof Madhab Chandra Chakraborty was the founding Head, responsible to nurture the Department in its infancy.

The Department was established to create a centre of excellence in imparting quality higher education for the development of Human Resources and true to its vision; the Department was dedicated to nurturing knowledge, skill and attitude in individuals through a curriculum responsive to the socio-economic and cultural realities.