A History of Assam c3.7

c3.7

In 1894, Sir Charles Lyall, K.C.S.I., who was then officiating as Chief Commissioner of Assam, pointed out that the time had come for a sustained and systematic endeavour to arrest the process of destruction of such historical manuscripts as still survived, and, at his request, I drew up a scheme for the prosecution of historical research in the Province. My proposals were accepted by the Chief Commissioner and a small grant was made to cover the necessary expenditure. In the course of the enquiries that ensued a rock inscription at Tezpur and five ancient copper-plates containing records of land grants by bygone kings were discovered; and these, with two similar copper-plates already known, give a good deal of information concerning the kings who reigned in the Brahmaputra valley between the years 800 and 1150 A.D. In Jaintia five copper-plates were found, as well as a number of coins and a historical manuscript. Manuscripts relating to the rule of the Bāro Bhuiya, the Chutiyas and the Rajas of Dimarua were also discovered and translated. With the assistance of Indian friends, a careful search was made for all references to Assam in ancient Hindu writings, such as the Jogini Tantra, the Kālikā Purān and the Mahābhārat, as well as in more recent works, such as the Dipika Chand and the religious writings of the followers of Sankar Deb.