Guwahati: Commending Assam government for deciding to name the under-construction Dighalipukhuri–Noonmati flyover in the city after legendary Kamrup ruler Prithu Maharaj, a forum of nationalist citizens appeals to State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for erecting a life-size statue of the iconic ruler of Kamrup (ancient Assam), also known as Visvasundaradeva, along with the longest flyover in northeast India. The Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA), in a statement, also lauded CM Sarma’s views that the move was a part of the State government’s sacred duty to preserve Assam’s cultural heritage and to inspire younger generations by honouring historical figures who defended the region against aggression by Islamic invaders.
Sarma, after hoisting the Tricolour on the occasion of 79th Independence Day at Khanapara, announced that the four-lane elevated corridor (measuring around 5 kilometer) connecting Dighalipukhuri (Ambari) area with Noonmati locality will be named after the medieval Kamarupa king, who defeated the Turkish-Afghan invader Mohamad -I- Bakhtiyar Khilji and annihilated his army in 1206 CE. By then, the Muslim aggressor killed over 10,000 Buddhist monks and destroyed well-known centres of learning Nalanda and Vikramshila in central India. Khilji even tried to invade Tibet bypassing the Kamrup kingdom, but could not overpower the Tibetan forces and returned back through the Kamrup territory, when mighty warrior Prithu dismantled his armed forces, somewhere in present day North Guwahati. While on retreat the notorious invader was assassinated by his own general Ali Mardan.
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“Prithu Maharaj should be honoured as he stood firmly against the invaders to safeguard the Hindu cultural legacy of Kamrup, where Sanskrit was recognised as Raj Bhasa, and prevented an early foreign aggression in this part of Bharat. The legendary Kamrup ruler earned strategic support from various tribal communities like Bodo, Koch- Rajbongshi, Keot, to overpower the Muslim forces,” stated the PPFA, adding the victory over Khilji by the Kamrup Nripati is now remembered in Assam as Mahavijay Diwas (27 March), however the historians in the rest of India are yet to recognise the valour and nationalism of Prithu, which should be restored with due honour and admiration.
(Nava Thakuria is a senior Indian journalist who contributes to various media outlets including print and digital platforms of India and across the world.)