Robes of Ahom kings at the state museum in Guwahati. Picture by Manas Paran

Jorhat, March 15: Nearly 800 years after Sukapha arrived in the Northeast from across the Patkai mountain range and laid the foundation of the Ahom kingdom, Dispur is preparing to pay the highest tribute to the man who is acknowledged as the father of a composite Assam.

The Tarun Gogoi government yesterday cleared the decks for work on the Siu-Ka-Pha Cultural and Edutainment Kshetra here, one of the biggest projects of its kind in the region and on a par with the Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati.

The name of the first Ahom king is spelt differently by scholars.

The Ahoms ruled Assam for nearly 600 years and Sukapha is credited with bringing together numerous small tribes and clans. The Ahom community believes very little has been done to honour Sukapha?s contributions.

The chief minister, who belongs to the Ahom community, admitted as much during his budget speech in the Assembly. ?While Srimanta Sankardev laid the foundation of the cultural mosaic of Assam with his unparalleled contributions in the fields of spiritual resurgence, art, culture, literature and social reforms, Siu-Ka-Pha laid the foundation for the political integration of Assam about 250 years before him,? Gogoi said while announcing the Rs 20-crore project.

The centre will have an auditorium, an open-air theatre, a movie hall, food courts, a museum of history, art and culture, an ethno-cultural museum, a natural interpretation centre, sculpture courts/gardens and natural trails and parks. Shopping arcades, a handicraft bazaar and an institution to be called the Academy of Assamese Art and Culture are also in the pipeline.The art and culture institution has been planned on the lines of the Lalit Kala Akademi, the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the National School of Drama.

Rajkumar Ajit Narayan Singha, a scion of the Ahom royal family and the mouzadar of Jorhat town, said the project would be a befitting tribute to Sukapha.

?It will also serve as the true symbol of cultural and ethnic harmony, which was one of the cherished dreams and achievements of Sukapha,? he said.

J.K. Gogoi, the curator of the Ahom museum in Sivasagar, echoed Singha. ?There can be no bigger tribute to Sukapha than this project,? he said over phone.

The state government has already acquired a 110-bigha plot at Cinnamara from the Assam Tea Corporation Ltd. An aide of the chief minister said the first phase of construction would begin this year and take about five years to complete.

?The cultural and edutainment centre will offer cultural, scientific, educational and recreational facilities in enhanced natural surroundings,? the official said.

Cinnamara tea estate itself is steeped in history, being the first garden to be set up by an Assamese planter. Maniram Dewan, its founder, was hanged by the British and his grave is located in the tea estate.

“It will also serve as the true symbol of cultural and ethnic harmony, which was one of the cherished dreams and achievements of Sukapha,” he said. J.K. Gogoi, the curator of the Ahom museum in Sivasagar, echoed Singha. “There can be no bigger tribute to Sukapha than this project,” he said over phone.

The state government has already acquired a 110-bigha plot at Cinnamara from the Assam Tea Corporation Ltd. An aide of the chief minister said the first phase of construction would begin this year and take about five years to complete. “The cultural and edutainment centre will offer cultural, scientific, educational and recreational facilities in enhanced natural surroundings,” the official said.

Cinnamara tea estate itself is steeped in history, being the first garden to be set up by an Assamese planter.