SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: In the first leg of his three-day visit to the Barak Valley, Biswajit Daimary, Speaker of the Assam Assembly, visited Khaspur, 20 km from here, and closely studied the historical ruins of the Dimasa dynasty, now being looked after by the Archeological Survey of India. Accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, Keerthi Jalli, and a host of local MLAs and other officials concerned, Daimary went round the remains of the last bastion of Dimasa Kingdom and laid stress on its preservation.
The kingdom, once a pride and glory of Dimasa people which spread over the then undivided Cachar, Dima Hasao district and extended to the upper reaches of Nagaon, was annexed by the British in 1832 on the basis of 'Doctrine of Lapse.' Khaspur remains the very symbol of identity and culture of Dimasa people. It is not only about the culture and history of one linguistic group but of all other indigenous people which Biswajit Diamary said has to be protected, promoted and preserved.
This was his key-note address at the Assembly of senior representatives of different indigenous faith and culture in the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar last night. He said the State Government has started an exclusive department christened as Indigenous Faith and Culture. Now time has come not to think but to take definite measures by indigenous people to preserve their culture, history, heritage and religion.
Daimary reminded the assembly of the eventful six thousand year old history of Assam, linking it with the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The Assam Government will revive it. He reached out to the learned people present at the meeting to send the newly initiated department any proposal about the archeological or historical monuments as well as artifice of their region for their preservation. He also spoke of taking measures for the protection of Bhuban hills and Kapil Muni Ashram.
Daimary also spoke of setting up ten museums and cultural centres, but he did not specify their locations. During his visit to Khaspur, Nandita Garlosa, MLA of Haflong, was also present.
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