International Seminar on Assamese Culture & Heritage

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    Golden Thread Glorifying Assam
    (International Seminar on Assamese Culture & Heritage, 2018) Goswami, G.
    The silk industry in India is quite famous from time immemorial with respect to analyzing the human culture, civilization, customs and traditions. Among all the different types of silk, the natural golden colour silk known as “Muga” is one of the most recognized and beautiful which Assam has been traditionally producing from ancient times. There are references of Assam silk in the records written by Hiuen Tsang, where he has written about the use and trade of Silk, in Kamrupa during the rule of King Bhaskar Varman. Production of golden Muga silk is unique and at present 20,000 hectares of land is used for it. Muga production received great importance from the Ahom Dynasty under whose reign Muga culture became popular and also an integral part of the socio-economic life of Assamese people. Royal and senior class people were able to afford and wore clothing made of that silk. Muga was a royal statement back then and was kept to show off the status of the family or person who owned them. Queens personally were involved in training people to weave silks including Muga. One of the main materials to be exported during Ahom Dynasty rule was Muga silk. The objective of this study is to show that Muga is one of the best known silks in the world in terms of durability and beauty and how it holds a very important place in the hearts of Assamese folk. It is the pride of the Indian State of Assam.
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    Use of Neural Networks in archaeology: preservation of Assamese manuscripts
    (International Seminar on Assamese Culture & Heritage, 2018) Abeysinghe, A.; Abeysinghe, Aditya
    Historical documents are engraved as manuscripts ranging from palm leaf manuscripts, metal carvings to paper manuscripts. These manuscripts reveal significant information about yesteryear. Although, there are thousands of such manuscripts, the majority of them are not in good condition. Assam has one of the most ancient and largest collections of manuscripts. Assamese 'manuscripts are bound up with Srimanta Sankardeva (15th–16th century Assamese polymath) as well as his Neo Vaisnavite Movement as the manuscripts were the medium of transmission of the ideals of this religio-cultural movement. At the same time, Assamese are grateful to Sankaradeva and his successors for manuscripts which displayed Assamese culture. This saint-scholar, poet and playwright wrote his compositions on these manuscripts. Assamese consider these manuscripts as objects of veneration. Over the years, manuscripts, especially those in print are prone to decay due to various reasons such as climate (light, heat, dust and humidity), pest attacks and theft. At present, Information Technology (IT) is used for preservation of cultural heritage including preservation of manuscripts, the primary source of historical information. Current methods include use of hyperspectral imaging and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to preserve and scan images to digital format. However, current technologies lack the capability to convert a manuscript to a digital artifact due to improper character identification methodology. As such, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) can be used for classification as well as pattern recognition functions. Therefore, this research paper introduces use of an ANN to identify sections of manuscripts obtained from the Assam region.
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    Early history of tea plantation in Assam and Sri Lanka: An antiquarian approach
    (International Seminar on Assamese Culture & Heritage, 2018) Manatunga, A.
    Tea is the most prolific item of the shared heritage of Assam and Sri Lanka. The tea plant is indigenous to Assam where it grows in wild and is used as a drink by locals from time immemorial. However, the cultivation of tea in Assam as a Cash Crop was initiated by the British in 1830’s with the help of Chinese expertise. They formed the Assam Tea Company in 1839 which is the first Indian company that dealt with tea manufacturing and exportation. Tea seeds were introduced to Sri Lanka, then Ceylon from Assam in 1839 and planted in Peradeniya Botanical Gardens as an experiment along with some plants from Botanical Gardens of Calcutta. The first tea estate in Sri Lanka was initiated in 1867 at Loolecondera near Kandy. During the next few decades, tea cultivation developed as the main export item of Sri Lanka replacing coffee which died due to a leaf disease. In 1900, there was approximately 380,000 acres of land under tea plantation in Sri Lanka mainly in the Central Highlands of the Island. The present research is an antiquarian approach into the early history of tea plantation in Assam and Sri Lanka in a comparative perspective. Deforestation of virgin tropical forests, recruitment of labour force, techniques of plantation, early machinery and factories, transportation, export and several other aspects of tea plantation in Assam and Sri Lanka will be surveyed in this research.
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    The legacy of Assam. International Seminar on Assamese Culture & Heritage
    (International Seminar on Assamese Culture & Heritage, 2018) Widyarathne, S.
    Northeastern India is one of the most ethnically diverse regions of the world. The region shares its border with Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Assam is one of the eight states in the Northeast Region of India and serves as the gateway to the rest of the seven sister and one brother states (Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Sikkim). Assam comprises three main geographical areas: The Brahmaputra Valley, the Barak and the Karbi Plateau. The historical account of Assam begins with the establishment of Pushyavarman's Varman dynasty in the 4th century in the Kamarupa Kingdom which marks the beginning of Ancient Assam. The Kingdom reached its traditional extent from the Karatoya in the west to Sadiya in the east. This and the two succeeding dynasties drew their lineage from the mythical Narakasura. The Kingdom reached its zenith under Bhaskara Varman in the 7th century. Bhaskaravarman died without leaving behind an issue and the control of the country. The fall of the kingdoms and rise of individual kingdoms in the 12th century marked the end of the Kamarupa Kingdom and the period of Ancient Assam. In the middle of the 13th century, Sandhya, a king of Kamarupa moved his capital to Kamatapur. The last of the Kamata kings, the Khens, were removed by Alauddin Hussain Shah in 1498. But Hussein Shah and subsequent rulers could not consolidate their rule in the Kamata Kingdom, mainly due to the revolt by the Bhuyan chieftains, a relic of the Kamarupa administration and other local groups. Soon after, in the beginning of the 16th century Vishwa Singha of the Koch tribe established the Koch Dynasty in the Kamata Kingdom. In the eastern part of the erstwhile Kamarupa Kingdom, the Kachari and the Chutiya Kingdoms arose, with some Bhuyan chiefs controlling the region just west of the Chutiya Kingdom. The founder of the Chutiya Kingdom Birpal formed his first capital in Swarnagiri in 1187. In the tract between the Kachari and the Chutiya Kingdoms, a Shan group led by Sukaphaa, established the Ahom Kingdom. As such, 16th century is crucial in the history of the medieval period because of the consolidation of the Ahoms in the east, the Koch in the west and the growth of Ekasarana Dharma of Srimanta Shankardev. The rivalry between the two kingdoms resulted in the former allying with the Mughals and the latter with the Ahoms. Most of the 17th century saw the Ahom-Mughal conflicts in which the Ahoms held the powerful Mughals at bay and epitomized in the Battle of Saraighat of 1671. After many ups and downs, it led to the downfall of Kamrup. In 1824, the First Anglo-Burmese War broke out. The British attacked the Burmese garrison in Assam and by 1825 the Burmese were expelled from Assam. Thereby, the British were able to conquest and consolidate their rule in Assam. After the British took control of the region, the name Assam was extended to the province that was then much larger than the Ahom Kingdom, though unclear of the origin of the name Assam among the competing theorists. Symbolism is an important part of Assamese Culture. Various elements are being used to represent beliefs, feelings, pride, identity etc. Tamul Pan, Xorai and Gamosa are the best symbolic elements in Assamese Culture. The jaapi is a traditional conical hat from Assam.It is worn as a status symbol by Assamese royalty and nobility. There are several important indigenous traditional festivals in Assam. Bihu is the chief indigenous festival and the most celebrated festival among all. Assam is synonymous with legacy of historical ruins, natural beauty, teeming wildlife, immaculate tea gardens and warmth which makes it the gateway to the northeastern states.
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    Oil India Limited: Discovery to incumbent
    (International Seminar on Assamese Culture & Heritage, 2018) Das, A.
    Petroleum industry in Assam is helping folk to maintain their heritage and helping people to connect with modern era. Oil is one of the most important minerals that the world needs today for industrial progress. Assam is the first state in India where oil was discovered in its dense jungles and had set up the first oil refinery in Asia. Assam contributes largely to the economic development of the country. In 1866, Oil Seepage was observed in Digboi during the construction of Dibrugarh-Ledo Railway Line. This discovery came on the heels of industrial development. The first well was completed in 1890 and in 1893 the first refinery started at Margharita, Assam. The Assam Oil Company was established in 1899 to oversee production. In 1901, Digboi Refinery was commissioned supplanting the earlier refinery at Margharita. At its peak during the Second World War the Digboi oil fields were producing 7,000 barrels per day. At the turn of the century, however as the best and most profitable uses for oil issues were being debated, India was seen not as a producer but as a market, most notably fuel oil for cooking. As the potential applications for oil shifted from domestic to industrial and military usage, this was no longer the case and apart from its small domestic production, India was largely ignored in terms of oil diplomacy and even written off by some as hydrocarbon barren. However, British colonial rule laid down much of the country’s infrastructure, most notably the railways. In 1909, IBP was incorporated as the Indo-Burma Petroleum Company Limited in Rangoon and in 1942, the corporate office of the petrochemical company was shifted to Calcutta, India. In 1928, Asiatic Petroleum Company (India) started cooperation with Burmah Oil Company. This alliance led to the formation of Burmah-Shell Oil Storage and Distributing Company of India Limited. Burmah-Shell began its operations with import and marketing of kerosene. On 24th January, 1976, the Burmah Shell was taken over by the Government of India to form Bharat Refineries Limited. On 1st August, 1977, it was renamed as Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. At present, two large industries Oil India Ltd and ONGC are playing a crucial role in the production of Oil and Natural Gas.
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    Deodhani; A greatest ritual of kamakhya
    (International Seminar on Assamese Culture & Heritage, 2018) Mishram, A.
    Greatest festival in Assam of kamakhya, named as deodhani. Three days deodhani festival dedicated to the goddess kamakhya. Goddess kamakhya is famous for supernatural powers. It is a unique way of worship of serpent goddess kamakhya. Deodhani dancer's festive attire is like their respective deities. It believes who is take part of this festival, they get super natural powers. In this modern and full of technology basis world, people believes about rituals and they are connecting them to scientific reasons and sprituality.
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    The Alluring and Immemorial Practice of the Art of Khol in Barpeta Satra
    (International Seminar on Assamese Culture & Heritage, 2018) Das, M.K.
    BarpetaSatra, established in 1583 AD by MahapurushMadhav Dev, is a prominent place of worship for the Vaiashnavites of Assam. A vast auditorium Rangiyal Griha was also built in the vicinity of the Satra at the time of its inception. In this Rangiyal Griha religious and mythological dramas, devotional songs and related musical instruments have been rehearsed and performed relentlessly for the last 434 years. In the later periods, some portions of these art forms were made part of the daily prayers. To ensure continuity as well as regularity and standard, certain clans residing in places adjacent to the Satra were entrusted with the responsibility of carrying out the task of exercising and preservation of original forms. These clans are still bearing the said responsibilities. Out of the above mentioned art forms, Khol is a Satriya percussion leather instrument and it plays an essential role in the whole business, as, it is indispensable in Borgeet (devotional song), Satriya Classical dance, and Bhaona (Satriya drama). As the knowledge and instructions of playing on Khol is being handed over orally, from generation to generation, there is very little written information and scholarly exploration. Modern documentation has also not been done in this regard. In the recent years, the present researcher has made extensive attempts to describe and record the notations of this performing art, so as to establish its heritage, riches, uniqueness and also to help preserve it for future learners who need to have the proper guidance about the pure form. In this present paper, attempts will be made to present before you a brief description of the performance of this instrument, though similar to some other Indian percussion instruments, can claim its uniqueness.
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    The enthralling musical heritage of Assam (From pre-historic to contemporary period)
    (International Seminar on Assamese Culture & Heritage, Centre for Heritage Studies, 2018) Gogoi, H.D.
    Music is the language that breaks all barriers and divisions of a human society. Assamese music is as old as the epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Since then. Assamese music has come a long way, the present form of music of this state can be said to have acquired as a result of a historical development. Along its journey through the sands of time, music of Assam has adopted and assimilated the cultural sentiments and aspirations of different ethnic groups that has migrated and inhabited Assam from time to time. The vibrant festivals of the state are the prime occasions of singing these songs. Some of the varieties are verbal and passed down from mouth to mouth by common people which render day to day life chores. This is a form of folk culture, though few of the practices are slowly dying and disappearing due to modern lifestyles. On the other hand, some varieties are preserved in manuscripts and some of them have classic characteristics. The domain of Assamese music is as vast and deep as an ocean. This study delves only an inch of it and has presented just a few elements of it. Assamese songs can be divided into three categories: folk, classical and modern. All domains are not equally flourished now due to the popularity of Western and Bollywood music. It brings threat to folk and classical forms of music. This study will help in linking the elements of music from prehistoric times to the contemporary period and bring in the attention of the people towards it.