January 23 was probably the most important day in the professional life of Deepi Rekha Kouli, the Director of Archaeology, Assam. It was on this day she got to know that something on which she, her department and others were working on for nine years has taken a giant stride forward. It was the news that the Union Government has decided to nominate the Moidam of Chariadeo for Unesco Heritage Status List recognition.
“Our efforts for Unesco’s World Heritage Site tag to Chariadeo Moidam began in 2014. In 2017-18 and 2018-19, we received necessary guidance from Unesco’s Paris office on how to prepare dossiers for a cultural-cum-historical site. In 2019, we got good financial support from the State Government. We had entrusted Dr. K C Nauriyal, former director of ASI to study the cultural aspects of Charaideo Moidam and Prof J N Phukon, a leading historian of the State, to help us in providing the historical basis and glory of the Moidams,” Kouli told Asom Barta.
She said that apart from Dr. Nauriyal and Prof Phukon, Janhwij Sharma, former Additional Director General (Conservation and Scientific Preservation) of ASI also extended help in preparing the final dossier of Charaideo Moidam.
This was the dossier, according to Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi selected out of the 52 others that came for his consideration for the coveted tag.
“The Prime Minister had
viewed the exhibition. This
nomination has been possible
due to his interest in this
heritage of ours. It is a matter
of great honour for Assam
that the country has decided
to forward the World Heritage
Site nomination dossier to
Unesco for evaluation’’
– Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma
The Prime Minister’s Office, Union Ministry of Cultural Affairs and DG, ASI informed me of this momentous news and about the submission of the nomination in Paris, said Dr. Sarma while talking to the media.
“If selected, the 90 royal burials at Charaideo will be the only cultural heritage site in the North East to get the coveted status. Assam’s nomination of the 52 sites in India reflects the Prime Minister’s love and respect for the rich cultural heritage of Assam and the North East,” said Dr Sarma.
Dr. Kouli disclosed some anecdotes to this reporter after her return form New Delhi where she was one among many working on this initiative. “Dr Nauriyal was so serious in preparing the note on cultural richness of the Charaideo Moidam within stipulated time that he even stayed at our office guest house in Guwahati. Both Dr Nauriyal and Dr Phukon’s had a huge contribution in preparing the final dossier,” she said.
Kouli claimed that the Directorate of Archaeology is the first government agency in the country to prepare a dossier on its own for a Cultural – Historical site for Unesco World Heritage Site nomination.
“In the State Budget of 2019-20, we sanctioned ₹ 25 crore for the development of the Moidams. We had engaged a very professional team to prepare the dossier. Besides, five officers of the Directorate of Archaeology, 10 researchers and many others were actively engaged in preparing the dossier,” Dr. Sarma informed the media.
“It took nine years for the dossier to reach the nomination status from the tentative list and this was possible only due to the initiative of the Prime Minister,” Sarma said adding that he and his Cabinet colleague Keshab Mahanta met the Union Cultural Affairs Minister recently to apprise him about the State Government’s move.
The Assam Chief Minister in his interaction with the media said that during the 400th birth anniversary celebrations of Ahom General Lachit Borphukan in New Delhi in November last year, an exhibition was held at Vigyan Bhawan which included a model of ‘Moidam’ that highlighted the unique burial architecture and tradition of the Tai Ahoms.
“The Prime Minister had viewed the exhibition. This nomination has been possible due to his interest in this heritage of ours. It is a matter of great honour for Assam that the country has decided to forward the World Heritage Site nomination dossier to Unesco for evaluation,” the Chief Minister said.
“In the month of September, a team of Unesco officials and experts will visit these Moidams at Charaideo to assess them,” added Dr. Sarma.
At present, there is no site from the region in the country’s 32 World Heritage Sites (Cultural). However, Kaziranga National Park and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary are World Heritage sites under the natural category, of which there are seven in India.
