Dr. Nripen Chandra Das
(The writer is Principal, Dr. B.K.B. College, Puranigudam, Nagaon
& Research Supervisor, Department of Folklore Research, Gauhati University. He can be reached at
nripenchdas@yahoo.com)
There are many mysteries and puzzles in human history which are still waiting solutions. Many questions in history are there which remained unexplained and unanswered by the historians. Varied interpretations are available to the same question or problem. Well established interpretation to the problem still waits.
The puzzle regarding the Indus Valley Civilization scripts still remained a puzzle after about one hundred years of discovery of the civilization in the Indian sub-continent. Many scholars of epigraphy around the world like I. Mahadevan, Asko Parpola, and others have been trying their best to decipher this pictographic script. Even Assamese archaeologist Rajmohan Nath had also tried to decipher this script more than fifty years ago. He had a complete book on this script to his credit.
The monolithic pillars of Dimapur ruins pose another enigma of history to the historians and archaeologists. What is the purpose of construction of these pillars? Why are these installed in concentrated clusters? Who were the artists of these pillars? These were actually parts of some grand architecture? Well established answers to these questions are still elusive.
Dimapur is at present an important town of Nagaland on the southeast border of Assam. Here once in the medieval age the Kacharis established the capital of their kingdom. It is said that the fourth Kachari king Chakradhvaj erected the city of Dimapur. Kalapahar is considered responsible for its destruction. The Kachari Rajbari ruins are situated about 1 k.m. away towards the east of modern Dimapur town. Mr. Grange had visited the area in 1839. He was the first European to describe these ruins. Historian Sir Edward Gait opines that the ruins of Dimapur show that, at that period, the Kacharis had attained a state of civilization considerably in advance than that of the Ahoms.
Three original boundary walls were protecting the Rajbari on the eastern, northern and the western side. On the southern side Dhansiri river was giving the protection from enemies. Earlier there was a boundary wall on the southern side also, but that was washed away by the river. At present modern boundary walls erected on all four sides are protecting the Rajbari ruins. Already some of the ancient treasures of the Kacharis are vandalized and dilapidated. On the eastern side the imposing arched gateway is situated. It is made of bricks. The gateway was a later addition to the complex. It is interesting to note that the use of bricks was not known to the contemporary Ahoms. Later on same type of bricks are used by the Ahoms in their architecture.
The main attraction of the Rajbari ruins is the stone pillars. They are in hundreds. These are found in three clusters. The pillars of the cluster near the gate on the eastern side are in alignment. Here 14 pillars in two rows are intact. The pillars of the cluster near the southern wall are not in alignment and are almost in ruins. The pillars of the cluster in the north-western corner of the boundary wall have not made any alignment only four pillars are intact among them. One pond, probably old, is situated on the western side of the complex of the Rajbari ruins. One pillar standing alone in the south-west corner of the boundary wall is the biggest in the complex. This will be around 12 feet in height. The shape of this pillar is slightly different from that of others.
The pillars constitute the enigma of Dimapur ruins. They are monolithic and gigantic in size. Some say they are mushroom pillars or chessman pillars considering the shape of them. Almost all pillars are round. There are also a few pillars which are square. Though the pillars vary in height, largely they are 8 feet to 9 feet. These are carved out of sand stone. According to historian Gait sandstone for these pillars could have been quarried at least ten miles away from the Rajbari.
Similar designs and patterns are found in all the pillars. Peacock and horse are frequently depicted. Decorative geometrical designs are mostly wheels.
These pillars can be considered as the phallic images. They indicate the symbol of fertility. Perhaps these pillars are nothing but the well curved Shiva lingas.
We can compare these monoliths with British Stonehenge and megalithic menhirs. Menhirs (upright stone slabs) make quite a common scene in the hilly areas of the Northeast. Perhaps the Rajbari was a burial ground for the important personalities of the Kacharis. Stone pillars were the memorial stones on the burials.
One interesting interpretation regarding these pillars is provided by archaeologist Rajmohan Nath. According to Nath, Dimapur monoliths are triumphal monuments. As a mark of victory a big stone pillar representing the Kachari king was installed and many small stone triumphal pillars corresponding to the number of chiefs defeated were also installed inside the complex.
One important question remained unanswered is who are the architects and sculptors of these monuments. Probably the artisans were brought from Orissa and other regions of north India. As skilled artisans were not available here at that time, some of them might have been locally trained.