Guwahati: A compilation of over 42 lakh essays on valiant Ahom general Lachit Borphukan has been recognised by Guinness World Records as “largest online photo album of handwritten notes”.

The official letter of recognition was handed over to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma by Swapnil Dangarikar, the adjudicator of Guinness World Records, here on Thursday.

The entries, made in over 25 languages, were uploaded in a portal in October-November last year, launched as part of 400th birth anniversary celebrations of Borphukan.

Only the handwritten entries were considered for the world record.

The state government had marked the conclusion of the birth anniversary celebration with a series of programmes in November last year, with the finale held in New Delhi and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, among others.

Borphukan is known for his leadership in the 1671 ‘Battle of Saraighat’ on Brahmaputra that thwarted a drawn-out attempt by the mighty Mughal forces, led by Raja Ramsingh-I, to take back Assam.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said, “We had received 57 lakh entries, but only those which were handwritten were taken into consideration. After quality audit and other procedures, the final count of essays was 42,94,350.”.

He said the government is working on taking the rich and ancient culture and heritage of the state to the world forum.

The royal burial mounds of the Ahom — the ‘Maidams’ of Charaideo — have been sent as the country’s sole nomination to UNESCO for World Heritage Site tag this year, he pointed out.

“This April, we will try to enter our Bihu dance with the largest ensemble of dancers into the record books. We also plan to take the ‘Bagurumba’ dance of Bodos and ‘Khol’ (traditional drum) recital to the record books,” Sarma added.

PTI

Press Trust of India