Swargadeo Chaolung Sukapha

On the occasion of Assam Day, or “Asom Diwas”, celebrated every year on December 2, tributes poured in for Swargadeo Chaolung Sukapha.

About Sukapha –

• The Assam day is also known as “Sukapha Diwas” in honour of the founder of the Ahom kingdom.
• He was a 13th-century ruler who founded the Ahom kingdom that ruled Assam for six centuries.
• It was in Charaideo that Sukapha established his first small principality, sowing the seeds of further expansion of the Ahom kingdom.

Why is Sukapha important?

• Sukapha’s significance — especially in today’s Assam — lies in his successful efforts towards assimilation of different communities and tribes. He is widely referred to as the architect of “Bor Asom” or “greater Assam”.
• Sukapha and his people could consolidate power, culture and religion in the region in a manner which brought a diverse mix of jati and janajatis (multiple tribes and communities) together who at different points of history offered their allegiance to the Ahom kings… For this very reason that the Ahoms managed to group a diverse mix of people in such a politically sensitive region criss-crossing South Asia and South-East Asia, the first Ahom King Sukapha is hailed as an architect of Bor (larger) Assam in popular culture.
• To commemorate Sukapha and his rule, Assam celebrates “Asom Divas” on December 2 every year.

About ‘Ahoms’ –

The founders of the Ahom kingdom had their own language and followed their own religion. Over the centuries, the Ahoms accepted the Hindu religion and the Assamese language. Today, the Ahom community is estimated to number between 4 million and 5 million.