LESSER KNOWN OF THE ASSAM HISTORY. Friends, the followings are a few lesser known or lesser discussed pieces of the ASSAM history, collected from THE HISTORY OF ASSAM written by SIR E. GAIT. Some of you may like to read. The tradition of the AHOMS regarding the origin of their kings, tally very closely in their main feature with those preserved by the SHANS of UPPER BURMA. However there are many differences in matter of detail, in the names of the various rulers and of the places where they reigned .In the SHAN chronicles, while they contain no reference to SUKAPHA’S invasion of ASSAM, claim that SAMLUNGPHA, the brother of a king of MUNGMANU, who ascended the throne in 1220 A. D., gained several victories in UPPER ASSAM, where he defeated the CHUTIYAS, as well as on ARAKAN, MANIPUR and other countries. So, it is quite possible that while SUKAPHA, was pushing his way across the PATKAI, with a small body of colonists and establishing himself in the south-eastern corner of the BRAHMAPUTRA valley, the general of another SHAN state may have entered the valley by a more eastern route and defeated the CHUTIYAS, whose kingdom was to the further north of the tract, where the AHOMS made their first home. It is an established fact that SUKAPHA was the leader of the body of SHANS, who laid the foundation of the AHOM kingdom in ASSAM. It is not known precisely, the state from which he came, but as part statement of the BURANJIS, it was MAULUNG. The original home of the AHOM was somewhere in the ancient kingdom of PONG. They are genuine SHANS, both in their physical types and in their tribal language and written character. They called themselves TAI ( meaning “ celestial origin “ ), which is the name which the SHANS still designate themselves. The KHAMTIS, PHAKIALS, TURUNG and KHAMJANGS are all SHAN tribes, who have at different times, moved along the same route from the home of their races. The AHOMS were the only ones who did so before the conversions of its inhabitants to BUDDHISM, which show that they migrated at a later date. The TURUNGS did not reach the plains of ASSAM until the early 19th century. SUKAPHA is said to have left MAULUNG, in 1215 A. D. with eight nobles and 9000 men, women and children. He had with him 2 elephants and 300 horses In 1253, a city was built at CHARAIDEO and to observe the occasion, two horses were sacrificed to the GODS and prayers were offered by the DEODHAIS under a mulberry tree The neighbouring country at that time was in the possession of the MORANS, whose king was named BADANCHA and of the BORAHIS, who were then ruled by THAKUM THA. The MORANS still survive as a separate tribe .At the end of AHOM rule, they occupied the country between the DANGORI and DIBRU rivers, they paid no revenue but supplied various products of the jungle, like, elephants, dye, honey etc. Many now profess to be AHOM and they have adopted many AHOM rites and customs, their language however, unmistakably BODO.-SUKAPHA fought with and defeated these tribes, after which he very wisely treated them as equals and encouraging intermarriage He welded them all into one nation. He made friends with his brother, ruler in his ancestral home and sent them presents of gold and silver. He died in 1268. A. D. SUKAPHA was an enterprising and brave prince and his treatment of the conquered MORANS and BORAHAIS was most judicious. SUKAPHA, appointed two great officers of the state, known as BAR GOHAIN and BURAGOHAIN, whose power was second only to the king. The AHOMS called ASSAM as MUNGDUNSKUKHAM or ‘the country full of golden gardens.’ In one BURANJI, there was a mention of a war between the NARAS or SHANS of MUNGKANG and the people of MANTARA or BURMA. SUKAPHA was succeeded by his son SUTEUPHA. The NARA king appealed for help to SUTEUPHA, who replied that he would send a force to their helps if the NARA king would give him a daughter in marriage. The NARAS are regarded by the AHOMS as their close kinsmen. The NARA country was the tract around MUNGKANG in the HUKONG valley. The NARAS formerly constituted the aboriginal population of the region, but afterwards became mixed with the MAU and KHAMTI SHANS .Their original seat was probably In KHAMTI. The NARAS were comparatively civilised people, and the few who still remain in KHAMTI, MUGAUANG and UPPER ASSAM are regarded as a learned class. They are BUDDHIST and are generally employed as astrologers and writers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE RIK KHAVAN CEREMONYY: This is an AHOM ceremony for obtaining long life ( from RIK=”REVIVE”, KHAVAN= “LIFE” ). It WAS GENERALLY PERFORMED AT THE INSTLLATION OF A NEW KING or in the time of danger or after a victory. As per the procedure— “ the king sat in full dress on a platform and the DEODHAIS, MOHAN and BAILOONG PANDITS i.e. the tribal priests and astrologers, poured holy water purified by recitation of sacred texts, over his head, when it ran down his body through a hole in the platform on to the chief BAILOONG or astrologer who was standing below. The king then changed his clothes, giving those, which he had been wearing and all his ornaments to the chief BAILOONG. The same ceremony, on a smaller scale was also frequently performed by the common people and is still on certain occasion like when a child is drowned. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- BORPATRA GOHAIN:- It is described that the wife of the king SUPIMPHA had been sent by him to a NAGA chief, gave birth to a son named SENGLUNG. SUHUMGMUNG, on seeing this youth was impressed by his high breed appearance and knowing that his mother was already pregnant before SUHIMPHA sent her away, he took him into favour and created for him the new post of BARPATRA GOHAIN, which he made equal to those of BAR GOHAIN and BURA GOHAIN. These two objected and refused to give up for it any of the men under their control. The king came over this difficulty by allotting to the BARPATRA GOHAIN, the BORAHIS, CHUTIYAS and MORAN, who had not been placed under either of the other GOHAINS. He then called for a council of all the leading nobles and giving SENGLUNG a seat between the BARGOHAIN and BURA GOHAIN, publicly invested him with his new appointment and declared his rank to be equal to theirs. ------------------------------------------------------------------ VISIT OF EUROPEANS : -It is recorded that in 1739, four EUROPEANS, whose names were, BILL,GODWIN, LISTER and MILL, visited SIB SINGHA at RANGPUR. The king met them at the main gate of the city, when, it is said they did him homage by falling prostrate at his feet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE BENGAL ARCHITECT : - RUDRA SINGHA was anxious to build a palace and city of bricks, but there was no one in his kingdom who knew how to do this. He imported from KOCH BEHAR, an artisan named GHANASHYAM, under whose supervision numerous brick buildings were erected at RANGPUR and also at CHARAIDEO .When GHANASHYAM finished his works, was about to depart, richly rewarded, it was discovered that he had with him, a document containing a full description of the country and its inhabitants. Assuming his aim to betray the AHOMS to the MUHAMMADANS, HE WAS ARRESTED AND KILLED. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 03:22:19 +0000
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