Some Aspects of History And Culture of Assam

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About the Anthor Born on 1st May, 1944 at Patscharkuchi in the District of Barpeta, Assam, India. Son of late Raghmath Dev Choudhury, retired Headmaster of High Schools. Matriculation from Patacharkuchi Vidyapith under Guwahati University in 1959. Obtained his BA degree from Cotton College, under Guwahati University in 1963. Served as teacher in Patacharkuchi Vidyapith (Higher Secondary School) and Namati High School and Patacharkuchi Balika Vidyalay for a brief period. Masters Degree from Sagar University, M.P, in "Ancient India History, Culture and Archaeology" in 1966. Obtained the degree of Ph.D. from the Pune University in 1970. He worked for his Ph.D. in Deccan College Post Graduate & Research Institute, Pune under Prof. H.D. Sankalia on the subject "Archaeology of Brahmaputra Valley of Assam" (Pre-Ahom period.) Obtained the diploma in Short Term Museology from National Museum in 1973. Joined the Assam State Museum on 14th July, 1970 in the post of Assistant Curator and was promoted to the post of Curator and then to the post of Director of Museums in 1983. Joint Secretary, Kamrupa Anusandhan Samiti in 1972. Secretary, Kamrupa Anusandhan Samiti in 19 He was also in the additional charge of the Director of Archaeology, Assam for a brief period. Left Directorate of Museums; Assam on 20" December, 1998 arid joined in the post of Director General, National Museum, and New Delhi on 21st December, 1998.

He was also the Vice-Chancellor of National Museum Institute by virtue of his position. At the invitation of the Tezpur University joined as Professor, Department of Cultural Studies, Tezpur Uiversity 2004-2006. Attended a good number of National and International seminar in India and also abroad.

belivered Lectures in different Institutions/Universities in India and also abroad.

He was the Founder General Secretary of Indian Art History Congress (IAHC), which is the only non-governmental platform for the benefit of the art historians of the country with its headquarters in Guwahati. The organization I was born with the blessings of Prof. K.D. Bajpai, who was his respected teacher in the University of Sagar. At present he is the Chairman of the Indian Art History Congress and also the Editor of Kala, the journal of the IAHC.

He was the President of Museums Association of India for three terms in a very crucial period and saved the organization from disintegration.

The book is on the collection of twenty papers published in different journals on the history and culture of Assam. Some papers are also on the North-East India. These were written on various occasions. A few of them were written for delivering memorial lectures at different places of India. Some of them were written for the commemoration and felicitation volumes. A few of them are presidential addresses. Some of them portray the history and culture belonging to the early period, while a few of them depict the picture of the mediaeval and late mediaeval period. Two articles are written on the pitiable conditions of the Vaisnava satras of Assam. There are illustri- ous scholars who have written enough on the rich heritage of Vaisnava satras. But, to my knowledge, no scholar has written on the pitiable conditions of some satras located in the immi- grant dominated regions of Assam. Even scholar like Dr. Kapila Vatsayana had no idea about the dangerous conditions of some of the satras of Assam. She came to know about such conditions only from me. So, the papers on this problem are written to educate the scholars from out side Assam about the pitiable condition of these Vaisnava institutions in the State. Sculptures, painting, inscriptions, coins and Cowries have found places in the papers of this publication. Sixty five (65) photo- graphs have been published at the end of the book. Without photographs this type of publication on the studies of history and culture cannot give clear idea about the subject to the researchers. It is regretted that photographs for each paper. could not been provided due to cost factor. That is why we have not been able to put photographs to our satisfaction. However, the photographs (one in profile) of the recently found terracotta figure showing a heavily ornamented human figure, datable to Sunga period (2 cent. B.C. -1 cent. B. C.). Ambari, could be accommodated. This amply proves that the history of Assam dates back in Sunga period.

In the past with my published articles two books were published. These are (a) The Art Heritage of Assam and (b) Museums of India and their Maladies. I shall be happy if this book also becomes helpful to the researchers and students of the subject.

I am very much grateful to Sri Sadananda Gogoi, secretary i/c Assam Publication Board Assam and Sri Sushil Goswami, Assistant Secretary, Publication Board Assam, Guwahati for publishing the book. Otherwise, in would not have been possible for me to go for this job. Dr. Anita Choudhury, Research Officer of Historical and Antiquarian Studies Assam, has gone through the proof. I am really grateful to her. I am thankful to Sri Sarat Goswami for helping me the matter of photography. My thanks are due to Mr. Susmit Chakrabartty for D.T.P. the book taking full initiative. My thanks are also due to Mr. R. C. Das and Miss Priyanka Barman for their assistance. I shall be failing in my duties, if I do not thank the Assam State Museum, Directorate of Archaeology and Archaeological survey of India (A.S.I.) Guwahati Circle authorities and Dr. Sanjaya Manjul, Superintending Archaeologist, Patna Circle A.S.I. for the photographs. Lastly, I thank the authorities of the Bhabani Graphics, Guwahati, for printing the book nicely.

**Contents and Sample Pages**