Sivasagar will soon be among top 5 iconic archeological sites, says Modi

SIVASAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the historic Sivasagar district will soon be included among the top five iconic archeological sites of the country.

Addressing an Assembly election-oriented rally at Jerenga Pathar in Sivasagar district, Modi saluted the legendary Sati Joymati and Jerenga Pathar. “Steps are being taken to include Sivasagar among the top five iconic archeological sites of the country,” he said.

Sivasagar, formerly known as Rongpur, was the capital of the Ahom kingdom from 1699 to 1788. The name Sivasagar was derived from the huge artificial lake that was commissioned by Ahom ruler Siva Singha. The Ahoms ruled Assam for six centuries before they fell to the Burmese in 1819.

The district houses many Ahom legacies such as the Kareng Ghar, Talatal Ghar, Rangghar, Shiva Dol, Maidams (royal tombs) of Charaideo, the Joysagar Lake and the Sivasagar Lake apart from many others.

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If included among archeogolical site, the district will receive additional central and international funds for preservation of the archeological elements as well as beautification and tourism oriented infrastructure development.

Earlier, the prime minister made best use of his eloquence in speaking different languages by uttering a few lines in Assamese to awe the crowd that threw all COVID-19 protocols to the wind.

Starting in Assamese greeting the people on the occasion of New Year and Bhogali Bihu, Modi invoked the legacy of the legendary Joymati and music maestro Bharat Ratna Bupen Hazarika to emphasis the land-linked identity, self respect and security of the Assamese people.

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“I was in Assam to share the joy of Bodo people after the signing of the Bodoland Territorial region Accord last year. I am here today to share the joy of landless indigenous people being relieved of the biggest woe of life that the Assam government has mitigated,” Modi said launching a statewide land documents handover programme.

This was Modi’s second visit to Assam after the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was enacted in December 2019. The Congress and other opposition parties had been critical of Modi’s visit to Jerenga Pathar after Assam had burned protesting against the CAA. The Congress even termed the visit as an insult to the state.