History Of Jerenga Pothar – Burning Issues – Free PDF Download

• On 23^rd January, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an event at Jerenga Pothar, Sivasagar district in Assam.
• Jerenga Pothar is where the legendary Joymati sacrificed her life for her husband in the 17^th Century.
• The Prime Minister launched an Assam government initiative to distribute over one lakh land pattas (documents) to indigenous communities of the state.

Significance of the Venue

• 1228 to 1826 – Sivasagar (then known as Rangpur) was the seat of the powerful Ahom dynasty, who ruled Assam for six centuries.
  • Jerenga Pothar, an open field in Sivasagar town, is linked with the valour of 17^th Century Ahom princess
• 1671 to 1681 – The Ahom kingdom was undergoing a period of tumult under ‘ministerial superiority’.
  • The court nobles and prime ministers were more important than the king, who was a puppet.

• Sulikhpaa— also known as ‘Lora Raja’ or the boy prince — and his prime minister Laluksala Borphukan were tracking down and killing possible heirs to the throne.
  • This was to ensure a clear passage to the throne.
  • Prince Godapani, Joymoti’s husband, was next in line, but he escaped to the Naga Hills before Lora Raja’s men could capture him.

• Lora Raja captured Godapani’s wife Joymoti, in order to find out information about his whereabouts.
• Joymoti was tortured for days, tied to a thorny plant, in an open field.
  • But she still did not give out information of her husband’s location.
• She died, sacrificing her life for her husband.
• The place Joymoti was tortured to death, is Jerenga Pothar.

• Her husband, Godapani, ultimately became the king (Supatphaa), bringing an era of stability and peace in Assam.
• He retook Guwahati from the Mughals in the Battle of Itakhuli in 1682
• Joymoti’s story signified the strength and loyalty of Assamese women.
• Her resistance and courage, is seen as the relationship between familial/domestic life and national life.
  • Later, she became a symbol of Ahomiya nationalism.

Significance today

• Jerenga Pothar is not a protected archaeological site, today.
• Jerenga Pothar was initially called Jerenga Haabi or Jerenga forest.

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Iconic destinations and monuments nearby:

• Na Pukhuri tank to its east
• Pohu Garh (a natural zoo built during the Ahom era) to its west,
• Joysagar tank, built by Ahom king Swargadeo Rudra Singha in 1697
• Vishnu Dol temple.

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