Archeological findings show Ashokan influence in Assam

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 26:  Recent archeological findings have revealed the influence of Emperor Ashoka in Assam.

 Inscriptions resembling Ashokan Brahmi dating back to stylistically 300 BC, linear drawings of three Dharmachakras curved on Monolithic rock near the old port at Pancharat in Goalpara are among the revelations made by the Directorate of Archeology. A team of Directorate of Archaeology, Assam comprising technical officer bajit Deuri, exploration officer Sabi Hassan, photographer Apurba Gogoi and computer operator Uttam Saha, led by Director Deepi Rekha Kouli conducted exploration at Pancharat and Borbhita in Goalpara.

“We were led by Niranjan Goswami to Shivbari at Borbhita where we were able to make further revelations,” bajit Deuri said. The inscriptions of latter period of pre-Gupta and post-Gupta period, Shivalingam dating back to 3rd to 4th century AD, two Brahmi-like inscriptions dating back to Gupta period at Shivbari, broken terracotta clay panel having images of Buddha in sitting position used probably in construction of Stupa at Borbhita, Buddhist Stupa where one of the dharmachakras was curved on Surya hill at Pancharat site, a rare rock-cut Ganesh in dancing posture stylistically dating back to 8th to 9th century AD were also found.

“One of the inscriptions of images we retrieved is the depiction of Buddha’s birth period. The scene shows the epic of Buddha entering the womb of his mother Maya. The findings show that there was an influence of Emperor Ashoka and Buddhism in early Assam. Such findings should be conserved,” Deuri said. Directorate of Archeology Assam Director Deepi Rekha Kouli expressed interest on the findings and laid stress on their conservation.