Professor Nandi photographed and documented the damaged idols found (File Photo)
ASI Guwahati is preparing to explore the site with a team from Assam University Silchar in light of these sculptures found at the Assam-Mizoram Border
In a notable archaeological discovery, an Assam University Silchar professor and a research scholar claim to have located 1500-year-old (8th century) Hindu and Buddhist-influenced sculptures on a hill near the Assam-Mizoram border. According to the Hindustan Times, the statues were discovered by Dr Ganesh Nandi, Assistant Professor at Assam University’s Department of Visual Arts, and researcher Dr Binoy Paul. From Assam’s Hailakandi district, the two crossed the state boundary between Assam and Mizoram and spent nearly a whole night travelling through the jungles to get to the spot where the sculpture sits.
The statues were spotted in Kolalian village, Mamit district, Mizoram where a majority of those living in that area belong to the Reang Tribes who worship Hindu deities. The stone works are reported to bear striking resemblances to artefacts found in Tripura’s Unakoti and Pilak, believed to have originated between the 7th and 9th centuries.
Among the findings, they came across one full-sized statue that resembles Lord Buddha (in attire and style) but has a feminine structure. “We cannot be sure if it is a Buddha or a Hindu deity but the art form has similarities with the Buddha idols found in Cambodia,” said Dr Nandi, as quoted by Hindustan Times. These sculptures’ art style is akin to that of the Gupta and Paul eras (between 7500 and 1200 CE).
Professor Nandi photographed and documented the damaged idols and learned that the embellishments, particularly on female structures, show a resemblance to stone works from the Paul and Gupta eras.
Nandi and Paul claimed that while the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and other researchers missed this site, the villagers were guarding the stone structures simply because they believed that they were sacred to them and considered Gods.
In light of these findings, ASI Guwahati is said to be preparing to explore the site, accompanied by a team from Assam University Silchar. The collective endeavour seeks to provide insight into the historical significance of these sculptures
