In the verdant lands of Assam, where history’s secrets are woven into the very fabric of the earth, stands a timeless testament to a bygone era—the Charaideo Maidams (also spelt moidams), the sacred burial ground of the illustrious Ahom Dynasty. This hallowed site, dating back to the awe-inspiring reign from 1228 to 1826, has been nominated by the Indian government for the highly coveted UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition under the cultural category. If selected, the 90 best-preserved royal burial mounds will constitute the first historic location from the North-East to get this status in the cultural category.
Amidst 52 contenders vying for recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Charaideo Maidams emerged as the sole nominee, personally chosen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Revered as the ‘pyramids of Assam,’ these burial mounds of Ahom royalty hold not only profound cultural significance but also bear witness to the valour, wisdom, and grandeur that shaped the course of history.
About Charaideo Maidams
Charaideo, consists of three Tai Ahom words—Che, Rai, and Doi. Che means city; Rai means ‘to shine’; and Doi means hill. Thus, Charaideo can be translated as the ‘shining town on a hilltop.’ Nestled at the foothills of the Patkai range, Charaideo holds a significant historical position as the first capital and revered landscape of the Tai Ahoms. The Tai Ahoms believed their kings to be divine, and thus, they chose to bury their deceased bodies in Charaideo, the most sacred core of their kingdom. For a span of 600 years, the Tai Ahoms maintained their distinctive tradition of vaulted mounds until a significant number of them converted to Buddhism, while others embraced the Hindu practice of cremation. This funerary tradition symbolises the Tai Ahom beliefs regarding life, death, spirits, and the afterlife.
Maidams are the tombs deeply rooted in the traditional beliefs of the Tai Ahom community, and serve as sacred mausoleums for Ahom kings and nobles. These earthen pyramids, commonly referred to as the pyramids of Assam, enclose the bones and ashes of the deceased. Among the 386 explored maidams, the 90 maidams at Charaideo stand out as the best-preserved, most representative, and complete examples of this tradition.
Structurally, maidams are vaulted chambers, often double-storied and accessed through an arched passage. They sit atop hemispherical mud-mounds layered with bricks and earth, fortified by a polygonal toe-wall and a west-facing arched gateway. Over time, these mounds got covered in vegetation, resembling a group of hillocks, creating an undulating landscape.
Inside each chamber, a centrally raised platform served as the resting place for the deceased. Burial offerings, including royal insignia, objects made of wood or ivory or iron gold pendants, ceramic ware, weapons, and clothing, were interred with the kings. The construction materials varied over time, from wood in the 13th to 17th centuries, to stone and burnt bricks in the 18th century onwards. The Changrung Phukan, an Ahom canonical text, documents the use of black pulse, molasses, duck eggs, barali fish, lime, boulders, broken stones, and bricks to build these magnificent structures. Large stone slabs were employed for the sub-substructure.
In addition to detailing the materials used for building maidams, the Changrung Phukan also records the number of labourers, the duration of construction, votive offerings, and the rituals performed during the cremation of the royals. The crematory rituals of the royal Ahoms were carried out with great pomp and grandeur, showcasing their hierarchical status. As the Ahom capital shifted south and eastwards, maidams became evident in various regions, including Northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Northern Burma, Southern China, and Northeast India, collectively defining the geographical reach of the Tai Ahom culture.
With over 754.52-hectare buffer zone, it is jointly maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Directorate of Archaeology of Assam Government Sites Remains Act, 1958 (amended in 2010) and by the Assam Ancient Monuments and Records Act, 1959, respectively. Unfortunately, a considerable portion of this invaluable traditional knowledge has been lost over time, influenced by Vedic heritage, conversion to Vaishnavism sect, desecration by invaders, and the disappearance of the Tai literature among the Ahom community. Once a revered living heritage, the maidams’ significance diminished during British rule, reducing them to mere hemispherical mounds in recent times. Currently, the buffer zone is home to historical tanks or water bodies, tea gardens and estates, and even a few-sparsely populated villages, which date back to the Ahom period.
Significance of Charaideo Maidam’s Nomination
The nomination of Charaideo Maidam for the World Heritage Site signifies the efforts of the Indian government to highlight the glory of the Ahom Kingdom and recognise the heritage of the Tai Ahom community. While some concerns linger about the potential loss of their cherished sanctity, the proposal promises to bring attention, protection, and conservation efforts to the site, as well as create economic opportunities and improve livelihoods for the local communities as the coveted UNESCO recognition will bring international attention to the site, leading to increased tourism.
The present neglected state of these historical Maidams in Charaideo tells a poignant story of indifference towards these remarkable structures of the past. It requires a collective endeavour to preserve the historical significance, traditions, and heritage of the Tai Ahom community, ensuring that their story remains etched in the annals of the world history.
Siukapha Day (also spelt Sukaphaa) or Asom Divas (Assam Day) is celebrated every year in Assam on 2nd December to commemorate the advent of the first king of the Ahom kingdom in Assam after his journey over the Patkai Hills.
About Ahom Kingdom
The Ahom kingdom was established in 1228 in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam by Chaolung Sukapha after migration from China. The Ahom kings reigned for an impressive 600 years from the early 12th century to the early 19th century.
From 1615 to 1682, the Ahoms were embroiled in a series of conflicts with the Mughals, from Jahangir to Aurangzeb. This persisted until the province was incorporated into British India in 1826 through the signing of the Treaty of Yandaboo.
The Ahoms created a new state, supplanting the older Bhuiyan political system with forced labour, referred to as ‘paiks.’ The society in the Ahom kingdom was organised into clans or khels, each controlling several villages, and while they embraced the Hindu religion and the Assamese language, they continued to worship their own tribal gods and retained some of their traditional beliefs. The Ahom military strategy comprised various units, including infantry, navy, artillery, elephantry, cavalry, and spies, armed with an array of weapons such as bows and arrows, swords, javelins, discus, guns, matchlocks, and cannons. Skilled in guerrilla warfare, Ahom soldiers also mastered constructing boat bridges in the Brahmaputra, showcasing their tactical prowess.
Lachit Borphukan
Lachit Borphukan was the military commander, chosen as one of the five Borphukans (who prefer guerilla tactics) of the Ahom kingdom by king Charadhwaj Singha. Lachit caused significant harm to the sizable Mughal camps and fixed positions. Recently, the foundation for his 125-foot bronze statue was laid for a war memorial. He is a symbol of Assamese self-identity and nationalism.
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