‘Monarchy of Ahom dynasty was imbued with democratic ideologies’

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: “The Ahom dynasty scripted a unique history in Assam by ruling the State for 600 years. The monarchy which was introduced by the community was imbued with democratic ideologies with the appointment of Borphukan, Gohain, Borgohain, Borgohain and Borbaruah, thereby decentralizing the power and specializing their activities. The tradition of writing history was the noble contribution of the Ahom Swargadews to the Assamese literature and culture,” said Lakhimpur ADC and Dhakuakhana SDO Arindam Baruah while inaugurating the public meeting organized on the occasion of the Me-Dam-Me-Phi celebrations.

The Tai Cultural Research and Development Centre celebrated the Me-Dam-Me-Phi festival on Thursday and Friday in order to pay profound tribute and respect to the ancestors. The event was centrally organized at the permanent yard of the Mohghuli Chapori with a two-day long programme. Inaugurating the open session of the event, Arindm Baruah underlined the tremendous contributions of the Ahom kings with regard to instituting the ‘Bor Asom’.

The second day’s agenda of the event began with the maidam tarpan conducted by the Tai Cultural Research and Development Centre working president Biren Hundique. Then the ‘mulungs’- the community priests performed the Dam-Phi Puja following the religious tradition. Former Vice-Principal of Dhakuakhana College, Purnananda Gogoi released the Ban-Phi, the souvenir of the event, edited by Indira Gogoi.

The open session commenced with celebration committee president Mukul Gogoi in the chair. Folk artiste Jina Rajkumari graced the occasion as invited guest. She delivered her speech on the significance of the Me-Dam-Me-Phi. She stunned the gathering by presenting several songs related to the folk culture. Attending the programme as guest of honour, academician and retired professor Amiya Kumar Hundique elaborated the administrative policies adapted by the Ahom kings up to Swargadew Rudra Singha for the establishment of unity among various communities under their kingdom. In connection, he laid emphasis on how the internal conflict in the dynasty had caused the fall of the Ahom kingdom. In the programme, Bahir Bogori Mising Cultural Group presented Gumrag while vocal artistes Akshaypreet Baruah, Chandra Borgohain and Gyandeep Baruah performed cultural programmes.

On the other hand, the agenda of the programme on Thursday began with the unfurling of flag by Tai Cultural Research and Development Centre president Jiten Gogoi. It was followed by the traditional Furalung Puja conducted by Tankeswr Gogoi. Then a series of literary competitions were held among the students. Teacher Manju Gogoi inaugurated the ‘Karmi Sabha’ held in the evening.

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