Himanta unveils statue of Swargadeo Chaolung Sukaphaa
On the sacred occasion of Me-Dam-Me-Phi, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday formally unveiled a newly constructed statue of Swargadeo Chaolung Sukaphaa, the founder of Greater Assam, at Sukaphaa Nagar in Natboma, Guwahati. The statue of the Ahom dynasty founder was constructed from the Chief Minister’s discretionary fund, following a special initiative by Union Minister Pabitra Margherita and under the aegis of the Tai Ahom Cultural Society.
Paying homage to the forefathers who shaped Assam, Sarma extended his greetings to the Tai Ahom community. He remarked that installing a full-length seated statue of the visionary architect of Assamese national life in the heart of Guwahati was a moment of pride and a “fulfilment of a long-standing necessity.”
Recalling the arrival of the Tai Ahoms in the early 13th century, the Chief Minister noted that Chaolung Sukaphaa’s journey across the Patkai hills in 1228 AD marked a new chapter in the region’s socio-cultural history. “He laid the foundation of unity by bringing together existing communities like the Moran, Borahi, Chutia, and Kachari,” Sarma said, adding that Sukaphaa remains an eternal role model and source of inspiration for the state.
Addressing the infrastructure of the celebration site, the CM expressed satisfaction with the development and beautification progress. He noted that the site at Natboma would now serve as a landmark for visitors wishing to learn about the six-hundred-year-long Ahom rule. To further this cause, he announced an additional grant of `2 crore for the continued development of the area.
Among those present at the programme were Union Minister of State for External Affairs and other portfolios, Pabitra Margherita, Member of Parliament, Pradan Baruah, President of the Me-Dam-Me-Phi Celebration Committee, Nitul Gogoi, along with several other distinguished dignitaries.
