Recently, a controversy has arisen over the facts about the Ahom dynasty, which ruled Assam for 600 years in the history textbook of class 8 amended by NCERT. Gaurav Gogoi, the MP of Jorhat and associated with the Ahom community, has demanded immediate reforms, calling the facts in this book “seriously wrong”. If seen, this episode is not only an error of a textbook, but is deeply associated with the historical memory, cultural identity and contemporary politics of Assam.
According to reports, the disputed text described the Ahomas as a migrant from Myanmar, while historical research (especially the Historians of Assam and the Tai-Ahum source) associate them with a Tai-state called Mang Mao, which was located in today’s Yunnan (China) region. It is believed that in the early 13th century, Ahom came to the Barak-Berhamaputra Valley of Assam and gradually established an organized empire. He ruled 600 years from 1228 AD to 1826 AD and during this time he thwarted the Mughal invasions several times.
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Talking about the administrative system of the Ahom community, the pike system was the main. It was not only ‘forcibly labor’, but a land-based rotational service system, in which civil military and administrative work was performed in turn. It is said that Ahomas laid the foundation of modern Assamese society by mixing local languages, cultures and traditions. Now the basis of the controversy that has arisen is that Yunnan has been described instead of Myanmar, mentioning the origin of Ahomas. In addition, the Gilazarighat Treaty of 1663 is allegedly described as defeated, while it was actually a strategic agreement, after which the Mughals were chased out. In addition, the role of Ahomas in the sports system, color house, talaat house and Assamese cultural identity is also a cause of controversy.
If seen, there is more sensitivity about historical facts in Assam, because it is directly related to cultural pride and ethnic identity. The wrong presentation can be considered as “devaluation of the legacy of Assam”. At the same time, this dispute is part of the broad debate in which a conflict between the center-made curriculum and the local historical sensations of the states. Let us tell you that the Ahom community is an influential gathering in Assam. The issue of protecting their pride and history can become a means of gathering support for political parties. In addition, if mistakes are found in national level text books, it not only affects the credibility of education, but also affects the historical understanding of the younger generation.
However, this controversy of Ahom history is not only a question of amendment of facts, but is a sensitive point of collective memory, cultural honor and political equation of Assam. If the Ministry of Education is actually committed to presenting “history with balance and respect”, the participation of regional experts and local communities is mandatory.