TU students rediscover Assamese rock inscriptions

From a Correspondent

Tezpur, Sept 27: In a bid to preserve the cultural heritage of the State and to give boost to the tourism industry, the students of the Department of Business Administration, Tezpur University, with support and assistance from the Sonitpur district administration, brought out the historic Assamese rock inscriptions that were lying almost buried with jungle leaves and creepers at the northern end of the Kaliabhumura Bridge. This was disclosed during the World Tourism Day celebration on Wednesday at the Department.

Highlighting the importance of preserving the heritage sites and historically important monuments like the 500-year old inscriptions, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. M.M Sarma appealed to the administration and the tourism students to take appropriate steps for not only for preserving them, but also to bring them to the attention of the world. 

The Bhomoraguri Rock Inscription, which dates back to 1616 AD, bears the marking of very important events in the history of Assam. The inscription rrates the victory of the then Ahom King over the Mughals and is the existing evidence of the Battle of Samadhara in 1616 AD.

The English rendering of the Assamese text ‘Blessed be all! The Auspicious Sri Sri Swargaraya Deva vanquished the Mughals, then cutting through the hills Bhandari Gosain erected the Fort’. The preceding text inscribed in Assamese script can be found on the rock and many suggest that this text is the example of first written inscription of Assamese.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Mrinmoy Kumar Sarma, senior faculty member of the department who guided the students in the above task, said that the students of Master of Tourism and Travel Magement (MTTM) were taking care of the inscription by regularly visiting the place. “Earlier it was nearly impossible to find the rock and very few actually were aware of the existence of such precious stuff in that place. Because of our department’s initiative and local administration’s help, now the place has become much more clean and tourist friendly,” he added.

Prof. Sarma also acknowledged the contribution of SP Singla Construction Pvt. Ltd, tiol Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Home (NHIDCL) for providing much needed help for the site. He particularly thanked Dr. Satish Chandra Bhattacharya, researcher and scholar, former Vice-Principal, Darrang College, Tezpur who thoroughly studied the rock and identified its heritage value.

Addressing on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner of Sonitpur, Manoj Kumar Deka, who played a pivotal role in renovating the place, said that Assam had lot of potential in tourism. But due to poor infrastructure, lack of professiol tour operators, combined with absence of professiolism meant Assam had not become a tourism hotspot.

During the occasion, Sparsh, an Institutiol Social Responsibility club (ISR) was iugurated along with a tourism resource centre. “This is one of a kind club in the entire Northeast and through this club our focus is to reach to the underprivileged,” Prof. Papori Baruah, Head, Business Administration, said while explaining the motive behind founding the club.