Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma today attended the Me-Dam-Me-Phi programme organised centrally at Habung in Dhemaji by Cultural Affairs Department, Govt of Assam and Habung Development Management Committee. At the beginning of the programme, the Chief Minister took part in the ritual of offering prayers to the ancestors. He also inaugurated the Habung Chao-Chen-Ren and Holung Ho-Phi building constructed with the funds provided by the State Government.
In his speech, Dr Sarma said “even though Me-Dam-Me-Phi is a spiritual and traditional event, it has greater significance. It provides the opportunity of paying tributes to the ancestors and earlier generations. The blessings of the ancestors help the present generations to march ahead. I offer my prayers to our earlier generations for the well-being of every citizen of Assam.”
Saying that Me-Dam-Me-Phi is not restricted anymore to the Ahom community alone, the Chief Minister asserted that it has become much bigger and universal. Historic Habung, the second capital of Swargadeo Siu-Ka-Pha, would be preserved and developed along with other important places of Ahom rule such as Tipam, Charaideo etc and made centres of tourist attraction, he announced.
The Chief Minister asserted that the history of Assam and Tai Ahoms are not dissimilar and glorious chapter of 600 years of Ahom rule has always made every Assamese proud. State Government is committed to preserve the legacy of Ahoms. This year, in connection with the celebration of 400-year birth anniversary of Lachit Borphukan, State Government would organise two international symposiums in New Delhi and Mumbai and make a documentary in English and Hindi on the life and works of the great Ahom General, he informed.
The Chief Minister also announced that steps would be taken for developing the maidam of Lachit Borphukan at Jorhat and he called on All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU) to help in arranging 50 bighas of land near the maidam for the purpose. Similarly, he announced that a project would be taken for making Rang Ghar the centre of Assam’s rich cultural heritage covering an area of 100 bighas.
He also informed about slew of measures to be taken for Habung’s development including construction of a guest house by PWD near the Ho-Phi building, setting up of an ethnic village at Habung to showcase the traditions, customs, cuisine and attires of various ethnic communities among others. He also called on ATASU to take initiative for setting up an international level auditorium and a Tai Ahom Museum. He also directed Education Minister and Dhemaji MLA Dr. Ranoj Pegu to submit proposals for the development of all roads connecting Habung while announcing that the boundary wall and toran of Habung Chao-Chen-Ren ground would also be built soon.
As per the demand of Ahom community, the Chief Minister announced that Rs 20 lakh each would be provided to build a Chao-Chen-Ren in 50 villages and said that these worship places would be inaugurated simultaneously on the day of Me-Dam-Me-Phi next year. Subsequently, 50 more Chao-Chen-Ren would be built the year after, he informed.
Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Bora, Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu, Revenue & Disaster Management Dept Minister Jogen Mohan, Tea Tribes’ Welfare Dept Minister Sanjay Kishan, MLAs Prashanta Phukan and Manab Deka were also present at the programme among other dignitaries.
