Social | Sanjay Sonawani
History Assam is traditionally regarded as the gateway to North-Eastern India. Once known as Kamarupa and Pragjyotisha, this region was crisscrossed with trade routes connecting India to the East. Due to cultural exchanges and human migrations through the ancient trade routes, a fascinating blend of cultures from China, Myanmar, Thailand, and India can be seen here.
The architecture of the region also reflects Eastern influences. Assam had trade connections with Nepal, Tibet, China, and other Southeast Asian countries since ancient times. An Arab trader in the medieval period noted that various tribes from Southwest China had settled here.
The now-forgotten Southern Silk Route passed through Assam, connecting Pataliputra on one side and Burma on the other. These routes, like those in the Himalayas and Northwest India, brought economic prosperity to India. However, harsh reality is the ancient routes of Assam remain insufficiently researched.
Natural disasters, too, impacted these routes, as Chinese records indicate. Earthquakes in the medieval period led to landslides that blocked many paths. The mountainous region often experiences earthquakes, which have repeatedly affected Assam.
In the last three and a half centuries, this region has experienced seven major earthquakes. The tremors of 1950 were among the strongest recorded globally, and the earthquake of 1897 is considered one of the most intense in human history. These natural disasters contribute to the reasons why the Southern Silk Route fell into oblivion.
Yet, trade never ceased. Daring traders discovered new paths and continued their ventures. People continued to travel, and new routes were carved through remote areas due to Assam’s proximity to Yunnan, China.
Assam has a rich history, with evidence of human settlements dating back to the Stone Age. The Kalika Purana and Yogini Tantra mention ancient rulers who were demons and Asuras, i.e. alien to the Vedic religion. Descriptions of the defeat of the demon king Marhang and the establishment of Pragjyotishpura by Naraka and his son Bhagadatta are found in the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata.
By the 4th century, Assam’s mythological history becomes obscure. However, around the mid-4th century, the Varman dynasty was established by Pushyavarman in Kamarupa. Under Mahendravarman (450–80), and Kamarupa gained prominence. The famous Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang visited Assam during Emperor Harsha’s reign, documenting its beauty.
The region’s people were greatly influenced by Tantric and Shakta traditions, which kept Vedic culture from permeating deeply. Later, migrants from Burma established power, and the Ahom dynasty rose to prominence. In the early 13th century, Ahom leader Sukapha crossed the Patkai Hills and settled in the Lakhimpur-Sibsagar area, expanding his kingdom until the 19th century. The name “Assam” is said to be derived from “Ahom.”
Trade with the East continued under the Ahom dynasty, with the East India Company making efforts to turn Assam into a trade partner, eventually deposing the Ahom rulers.
There were at least five routes from Assam to China, with many routes from the Naga Hills connecting Myanmar and China. Routes to Bhutan and Tibet were also established. Assam, known for its silk production, became famous for silk garments called “Patt.” According to some scholars, the “China Patt” mentioned in Kautilya’s Arthashastra could have been made in Assam.
The region’s silk production likely contributed to global trade, and Assam also led in bamboo production, with references to square bamboos from China in the Ramayana. Notably, the use of gunpowder-filled bamboo rockets, first discovered in Assam, reached China through traders, spreading innovation. Diseases also have been noted to have spread through trade routes.
All Northeastern Indian states had connections with Sichuan, Yunnan, and Southeast Asia, leading to ethnic mixing. The Ahoms of Assam were related to the Tai group, which spread from Thailand to Yunnan. These people used routes through Tibet to enter India until British times.
Myanmar’s kings claimed descent from the Shakya lineage of Buddha, believing their ancestors settled along the Irawati River from India. Even parts of Yunnan had tribes from Northeast India. Thus, Assam and the Northeastern states indeed formed an important cultural bridge.
