JORHAT, Jan 12 � A successful businessman and numismatist of the State, Om Prakash Gattani has presented a historical account of Jorhat through compilation of several important happenings of the city from 1794 to 1947, which was released here at a grand function yesterday.
�The book, titled Jorhat From Establishment to Independence of India (1794-1947) is an authentic historical account of our place, which witnessed many significant happenings between the aforementioned period, which subsequently changed the destiny of the State ,� said veteran journalist and educationist Prafulla Rajguru at the book-release function at the Dr Madhab Chandra Das memorial auditorium of the Assam Agricultural University.
Besides the text, photographs of old Government documents pertaining to the British rule, coins circulated during the period of Ahom king Gaurinath Singha (1780-1794), Chandrakanta Singha (1810-18170) and the photographs of Gandhiji�s visit to Jorhat-based freedom fighter Krishnanath Sharma in 1934, Nehru�s visit to the residence of Jananayak Debeswar Sarma in 1942 have given a vivacious narrative of the facts of the city, which later emerged as the cultural capital of the State.
Author Gattani thanked the Deputy Commissioner of Jorhat, Solanki Vishal Vasant, who provided him assistance in examining old Government data and scripts which were stored in his office. He acknowledged the inspiring initiative of senior IAS officer Jishnu Barua, who has a keen interest in collecting historical facts and photographs which are related to Jorhat.
Pointing to the significance of the bookish compilation, DC Solanki said that it should be read by every student of the district, which is endowed with rich heritage of the 600-year-old Ahom suzerainty.
Attending the book release function, former Justice of the Supreme Court, SN Phukan said that the book will immensely help students, researchers and other people to know about the rich heritage of the Ahom capital.
Tea planter, social worker and former president of the Upper Assam Chambers of Commerce, Anil Kumar Barooah said that he did not find any such book on Jorhat which may be considered an authentic historical document on Jorhat of that particular period.
Narrating the importance of the historical knowledge of the city, Jorhat Superintendent of Police Amanjeet Kaur requested the writer to continue his historical writing effort on post-independence Jorhat for the students and researchers.
�Without the authentic knowledge of history, no society can progress. I request the author to start writing on post-independence Jorhat too, she reiterated. Our city has a rich heritage,� said SP Kaur.
