The Sonitpur district administration has initiated measures to preserve the Harjara Varman Rock Inscription at Tezpur, one of Assam’s most significant historical records, by protecting it from erosion and improving public access.

Key Highlights

• The Harjara Varman Rock Inscription, located on a large rock in the Brahmaputra River near Tezpur, is facing threats from water flow and riverbank erosion.
• The district administration plans to undertake conservation through the joint efforts of the Archaeology Department, Water Resources Department, and Public Works Department after the monsoon.
• The project includes:
  • Construction of a guide bund to protect the inscription from erosion.
  • Development of a bridge and access pathway for researchers and tourists.
  • Formation of a monitoring committee comprising archaeologists, historians, and local experts.

About the Harjara Varman Rock Inscription

• It was issued by King Harjara Varman, a prominent ruler of the Salasthambha Dynasty, the second historical dynasty of ancient Assam.
• Also known as the Tezpur Rock Inscription, is a significant historical artefact from ancient Kamrupa, specifically dating back to the 9th century AD.
• It was discovered in Parbatiya village near Tezpur and is known for its copper plate format
• It bears the date Gupta Era 510 (829 Common Era), making it one of the most reliable chronological records of ancient Assam.
• Historians have used this inscription to determine the reign periods of the Varman, Salasthambha, and Pala Dynasties of ancient Assam.
• It contains religious and royal deeds and informs about the dynastic claims and patronage of religious activities. 
• It is an important source for reconstructing Assam’s political, cultural, and administrative history.
• Written in the Sanskrit language, this nine-line rock inscription is also important from the perspective of Tezpur’s tourism.

Exam Hook – Prelims

The Harjara Varman Rock Inscription is significant because it:

(a) Describes the Ahom conquest of Assam.
(b) Provides chronological evidence for the Salasthambha Dynasty and ancient Assam.
(c) Records the spread of Buddhism in Northeast India.
(d) Commemorates the construction of the Kamakhya Temple.

Answer: (b)

One-Line Wrap

The preservation of the Harjara Varman Rock Inscription is an important step towards safeguarding Assam’s ancient historical and cultural heritage for future generations.