The Government on Thursday told the Parliament that Assam’s Charaideo Moidams, or royal burial mounds of the Ahom dynasty is India’s nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2023-24.

The unique burial mounds, represented by pyramid-like structures known as ‘moidams’, were used by the Tai-Ahom dynasty which ruled for around 600 years in Assam, from the 13th century to the 19th century, said Union Minister for Culture and Tourism G Kishan Reddy in response to a query in the Rajya Sabha. He was asked whether the Government has finalised India’s nomination for consideration as World Heritage site for 2023-24 and the rationale behind the selection of sites for nominations.

In his written reply to the question, Reddy said, “The nomination dossier of ‘Group of Moidams-The Mound Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty’ has been submitted as India’s nomination for the year 2023-24.”

 “Selection of sites or properties for World Heritage nomination depends upon its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), Authenticity and Integrity. These sites must fulfil one of the criteria of OUV as mentioned in the UNESCO Operational Guidelines, 2023,” the Minister added.

The Moidams contain the remains of Ahom dynasty royalty. Previously, the Ahoms were buried, but after the 18th century, they adopted the Hindu mode of cremation, and bones and ashes were enclosed in a “moidam” which is an earthen pyramid. These moidams are commonly known as the pyramids of Assam.

According to the UNESCO website,  ‘Moidams’ are vaulted chambers (chow-chali), often double storied, that have an arched passage for entry. Atop the hemispherical mud-mounds, layers of bricks and earth are laid. The base of the mound is reinforced by a polygonal toe-wall and an arched gateway on the west, “Eventually, the mound would be covered by a layer of vegetation, reminiscent of a group of hillocks, transforming the area into an undulating landscape,” the description of ‘moidams’ added.

Excavation shows that each vaulted chamber has a centrally raised platform where the body was laid. Several objects used by the deceased during his life, like royal insignia, objects made in wood or ivory or iron, gold pendants, ceramic ware, weapons, clothes to the extent of human beings (only from the Luk-kha-khun clan) were buried with their king, according to the website.

The Tai-Ahom clan, upon their migration from China, established their capital in different parts of the Brahmaputra River Valley between 12th and 18th CE, it added.

Last year, on the 400th anniversary of 17th century Ahom general, Lachit Borphukan, hailed as a Hindu hero, and the Central Government had organised a three-day celebration in Delhi. The State celebrates 24 November as Lachit Diwas.

“386 Moidams have been explored so far, 90 royal burials at Charaideo are the best preserved, representative, and most complete examples of this tradition,” Sarma said in a letter to the PM on 16 January. Charaideo, or the “shining town on a hill top”, was the first capital established by King Chaolung Sukapha, the founder of the dynasty, in 1229 CE.  Through the 600 years of the Ahom rule, the capital was shifted several times. Yet, Charaideo remained the symbolic centre of power.

Arup Kumar Dutta, author of the book The Ahoms has been quoted in the media as saying, “The Ahoms reportedly represented a time when the “Assamese race was united and able to fight an alien, formidable force such as the Mughals… The British reduced a brave race to an abject state…Even in free India, we had to fight for everything,”

The Ahoms, who were non-Hindus, adopted the local religion, Hinduism, during the reign of Sudangpha (1397-1407). “It was the first time that Hinduism, which was the predominant religion outside the Ahom realm, penetrated into it right at the very top. Hindu rituals, including worship of Laxmi-Narayan Shaligram in addition to the Shan idol Somdeo, began to be performed at the royal palace. Later, the Hindu God Indra supplanted Lengdon (the ruler of heaven) in Ahom and Ahom kings began to adopt Hindu names in addition to the Shan titles,” Dutta wrote in the book.