Dhubri, Nov. 9: Coins of the Koch dynasty of Cooch Behar reveal the greatness of the kings who ruled the kingdom from 15th to 16th century.

This was stated by renowned scholar of numismatic studies (Northeast), S.K. Bose, while delivering a lecture on The Coinage of Cooch Behar Kingdom, with special reference to Dhubri district, during the silver jubilee celebration of Dhubri District Museum at Dhubri district library auditorium today.

Bose said coins of any age and period give more information than any other source of history.

“We can reconstruct history after studying the coins. They reveal the king’s wealth, area of its circulation, availability of metals used to make the coins, art, culture and other aspects which, if properly studied, could give information which otherwise not possible to get,” Bose added. He said King Naranarayan was the most powerful and benevolent ruler of the Koch dynasty of Cooch Behar, who had minted 150 varied coins that have been discovered and preserved in various museums of the country and also at London Museum. Coins during the Koch dynasty rule were called Narayani mudra (coin) and as the writing on them suggests, the kings were worshippers of the Shakti cult.

Bose, while pointing out the varied languages inscribed on coins, said Bengali and Maithili scripts were used on the coins, which suggests that the Koch kingdom extended up to some parts of Bihar, too. Bose also spoke of the Narayani coins found in Dhubri district.

Commissioner-secretary to the government of Assam, cultural affairs department, Swapnanil Barua, praised the tireless efforts of officials in developing the museum into an important institution for students and researchers.

“Rs 5 crore can be sanctioned from 14th Finance Commission beginning next year to build the museum building. But land is not readily available here now. I hope that district administration will allot the required land for the building soon,” Barua said. Upendra Nath Chakraborty of Rushi village in Dhubri district handed over 128 coins of different periods which he had found buried under his home, to Barua.

Director of Assam State Museum Y.S. Wunglengton also addressed the meeting and hoped that the museum would have its own building soon. The meeting and seminar were presided over by former director general of National Museum, New Delhi, Rabin Dev Choudhury.

A brief outline of the 25 years of the history of the museum was delivered by museum officer Kabita Devi.

Floral tributes were paid before the portraits of Nilima Barua, Sibananda Sarma and Nripendra Nath Dihidar for their contribution in setting up the museum 25 years ago.