Dimasa body for protection of royal heritage

Dimasa body for protection of royal heritage

Special Correspondent

Silchar: Concerned at the gradual encroachment of the land of ancient capital of Dimasa Kachari kingdom at Khaspur, 20 km from Silchar, by the sericulture department of the State government as well as by the inhabitants of the adjoining areas, Khaspur Dimasa Royal Capital Protection Committee in a memorandum to Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister of Assam, has called for his immediate intervention to protect and preserve the heritage site. The committee has pleaded for immediate halt to the construction work undertaken by the sericulture department and cause eviction of the encroachers who have been systematically and gradually making inroads illegally into the land of the heritage site.

Dimasa Kacharis have been living in Barak Valley peacefully and in harmony with other communities since pre independence days. Most of the people of Dimasa community derive their sustenance and livelihood from agriculture. It has been alleged that the community people are a deprived and neglected lot and treated as second class citizens of the country. The population of the community is around 50,000 who have been living without any basic amenities and facilities of life who do not have any political representation even at the district level body, leave aside in the assembly.

The representation says that the ancient capital of Dimasa Kachari has more than 2000 bighas of land under the last king Raja Gobinda Chandra Narayan. After independence, the land in question has been under encroachment by outsiders who have been backed up by local public leaders and the government agency of the department concerned. Complaints by various Dimasa organizations to the district authorities have failed to stem the encroachment.

The Dimasa Kacharis got a shock when the sericulture department started construction of its building on January 26, 2019 on the land of the heritage site of the capital under the “Assam Silk Outreach Mission” at an estimated amount of Rs 16 lakh. Its foundation stone was laid by MLA Mihir Kanti Shome. Series of objections lodged before the department and its executing agency against the construction failed to yield any positive action. Rather, the construction continues without any break. Before undertaking any construction, the sericulture department should have sought public opinion and recorded their grievances, the memorandum rued.

The Committee has prevailed over the Chief Minister to order for immediate stoppage of construction activities. It has been further alleged that the representations of the president and the general secretary of the Khaspur Dimasa Royal Capital Protection Commmiittee to the sericulture department, the last one on May 10, 2018 did not evoke any response. On the other hand, the Archeological Survey of India has declared the site as of great historical and archeological importance with emphasis on its protection and preservation. The construction and encroachment are in grass violation of archeological provisions.

The representation adds to remind that the Sonowal Kacharis, Bodo Kacharies, Twipra Kacharies and Dimasa Kacharies of northeast belong to the same clan. The Chief Minister against the backdrop of all the facts enumerated and elucidated has been impressed upon to initiate necessary steps for the protection, preservation, renovation and beautification of the Dimasa Kachari royal capital at Khaspur. The memorandum has been signed by Birendra Doalagupu Barman, president, Nikhil Cachar Haidamba Barman Samiti, and Rama Ranjan Barman, president, Khaspur Dimasa Royal Capital Protection Committee, and Arjun Khersa Barman, general secretary, All Dimasa Students’ Union, Cachar.

Also Read: CACHAR NEWS

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