GUWAHATI, May 5 – How many of us know that one of the earliest rock inscriptions of Assam lies close to the foothills of Kamakhya? Even if one is in the vicinity of the site, one might probably never know, because there are no pointers to show the way from the nearest motorable road. Ten minutes walk away from Kalipur bus stop, the signboard next to the inscription also wears a vacant look.
“We don’t know what the inscription means, and although curious we don’t know whom to approach to know about it,” said Ashok Sinha, who has seen the inscription. “If this is how we maintain our heritage, then there will be a time when nobody will know about them,” he lamented. He does not know that there was once a signboard with the requisite information very near the inscription.
The AD fifth-century inscription is situated at the northeastern slope of the Nilachal hills. It commands a panoramic vista of the Brahmaputra spread out between North Guwahati and Guwahati. The inscription incised on a rock measuring about ten feet in height rests amid trees and undergrowth. The inscription comprises four lines, the length of each line not more than fifteen inches. According to scholars, it states that Maharajadhiraja Shree Surendra Varman constructed a cave of Lord Balabhadra at this spot.
The inscription was first brought to public notice by the efforts of Swami Sivananda, L N Das, and R M Nath. It was in the mid-fifties of the last century that they recognised its importance, and invited the attention of scholars and researchers. At present its status remains undisputed because it is one of the earliest extant inscription issued by a king of this region. But the moot question is how long this inscription is going to survive. The relief of the letters are already becoming shallow, because there is nothing to protect it from the elements except a small overhead canopy, which is inadequate in size.
When asked for his views, Hemendranath Dutta, Director of Archaeology, Assam, said, “We have had a shortage of funds for a long time. But we know about its condition, and have plans for erecting an information board on a priority basis.” He admitted that the fund crunch has also affected the maintenance of a large number of other archaeological sites. Sources in the directorate revealed, a proposal for the maintenance of about 94 sites with 50,000 rupees earmarked for each one of them has already been placed. If the proposal is passed then along with other sites the Umachal Rock inscription would also have a more secure future.