SIVASAGAR, Jan 6 - Members of Ahom Royal Society vide a press release expressed its gratitude to Finance and Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarmah for his announcement of Rs 1 crore for preservation of Chaolung Seukapha�s maidam.
Seukapha, the first Ahom king who entered the Assam plains through the rugged and densely forested hills of the eastern Himalayas of present-day Arunachal Pradesh in the 13th century, spent over 14 years in different places in search of a suitable place and finally made Charaideo Hills his capital in order to rule the newly-conquered kingdom.
Seukapha ruled for over 41 years and was finally buried at the Charaideo Hills. Seukapha�s maidam could not be located at first, but years of research by the Rajkonwar Bongsawali finally ascertained the maidam which is now barricaded with iron grills, stated the release signed by Kamala Rajkonwar, working president of the central committee and MI Bora, district president of the Ahom Royal Society.
It may be mentioned that the Ahom Royal Society has since long been urging the State government to grant a fiscal amount for preservation of the maidams which are now in a dilapidated state.
Dr Sarmah also announced Rs 5 crore for preservation of all the maidams of the Ahom royal families in Charaideo Hills as it is an important monument and a place of tourist attraction.
Dr Sarmah, it may be recalled, had made the announcement as above at the second Charaideo Festival, on Thursday.