Baksha Pahar-Arlongpira relics lying unprotected

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

JORHAT, April 2: An archaeological expedition was recently undertaken by students and teachers of Jorhat College in the hills and jungles near Numaligarh and Deopahar areas of Golaghat under the leadership of Dr Devabrata Sharma, Principal of the College, and Utpal and Monisha Duara, HoD of History and English departments respectively. The team visited Baksha Pahar area of Golaghat and Arlongpira of Karbi Anglong where five years earlier, Dr Devabrata Sharma and his team found thousands of sculptures and ruins believed to date from the tenth-eleventh century.

Dr Sharma gave details of the findings of the team at a press meet held in the conference hall of the College.

“We have plenty of historical documents and studies on the 600-year-old Ahom rule in Assam. However, there is not enough historical study on the pre-Ahom era. It is assumed that with the Siva temple of Deopahar as the centre, there was a “gar (city)” surrounding Numaligarh. Though the historical remains of Noksha Pahar have somehow been kept with care, there are still innumerable remains and sculptures scattered in these two areas without any protection and care,” Dr Sharma said, adding, “Moreover, there has not been any kind of study or research on these archaeological remains. The Deopahar area is situated hardly 1 km away from the Dhansiri river and about 5 kms from the mighty Brahmaputra, so it can be otherwise assumed that maritime trade through the river route of Dhansiri was once controlled from Deopahar itself.”

Dr Sharma demanded a proper preservation and study of the ancient remains and sculptures lying scattered in and around the Baksha Pahar and Arlongpira areas.