Vishal Sharma, the Indian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, visited the historic site of Charaideo Moidams in Assam, which has been nominated by India for UNESCO’s World Heritage List. After his visit, Sharma expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for their efforts in promoting Assamese culture.
Charaideo Moidams, a collection of mounds representing the late medieval burial tradition of the Tai Ahom community in Assam, is renowned for its architectural and artistic significance. Often likened to the pyramids of Egypt, these mounds reflect the expertise of Assamese craftsmen and masons from the medieval era.
The Indian envoy expressed optimism about the site’s nomination, stating, “I would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for promoting Assamese culture and world heritage to international countries and places all over the world. The government of India has nominated this site on the world heritage list and I hope it gets inscribed on the list.”
Sharma praised the efforts of the Assam government, the Ministry of Culture, the Archaeological Survey of India, and the Assam Archaeology Department for preserving and conserving the site. He also highlighted Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ‘Vikash Bhi Virasat Bhi,’ which connects the past with the future.
Last year, Chief Minister Sarma wrote to Prime Minister Modi, informing him that the Assam government had submitted the World Heritage Nomination Dossier of Moidams for evaluation by UNESCO in 2023. Sarma emphasized the cultural and historical significance of Moidams, especially the 90 royal burials at Charaideo, which are among the best-preserved examples of the Tai Ahom burial tradition.
Sarma’s letter underscored the importance of Moidams as a representation of Assam’s rich cultural heritage. He requested the Government of India to support the nomination dossier and forward it to the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO, noting that there is currently no World Heritage Site in the category of cultural heritage in North East India.