GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal hailed erstwhile Ahom Dynasty which ruled the state for 600 years for tremendously keeping all communities and tribes of the state unified and bringing about a period of progress and development.
“Chaolung Siu-Ka-Pha, the first Ahom king, was a visionary and a great leader who strived for equal development of all sections of the people and young generation must follow his ideals so that rapid development of the state can be achieved,” he stated.
He was addressing the International Mae-Dam-Mae-Phi Programme which was organised by Cultural Department of Assam at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in the city. The important Ahom festival organised on international level for 2nd time in the state was attended by delegates of various South East Asian countries.
Sonowal said Ahom dynasty encouraged the young generation to empower themselves with knowledge to be able to contribute meaningfully to the society, “Until and unless, people imbibe the values shown by Siu-Ka-Pha to strengthen the age-old harmony and unity of the Assamese society, true respect would not be shown to the great Ahom leader,” he added.
Calling on the youth to harness the resources and potential of the state to the maximum so that Assam could be made one of the best states in the country, Sonowal reiterated the state government’s commitment to eradicate the problems of corruption, terrorism, pollution and illegal migration in the state. Unity in diversity is the main characteristic of Assamese society and it must be maintained at all costs, he said.
Saying that parents and teachers must take the responsibility to create good and able citizens for the society who would take the state on the path of development, the chief minister said that not words but only deeds would decide the future and youth must work with honesty and dedication to achieve excellence in all fields.
Saying that Sabka Sath Sabka Vikash is the government’s guiding principle as advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the chief minister said that equal development of each and every section of the people cutting across social divides has been the government’s goal as the government steadfastly pursues the objective of a society based on equality and harmony. Assam can become the expressway to ASEAN countries and therefore the Act East Policy would open up newer vistas for the state, he said.