Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday urged the millennial to emulate Swargadeo Sui Ka-Pha and become “ambassadors of peace and harmony” among the Asean and BBN (Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal) countries.

Sonowal was speaking a function on the occasion of Me-Dam-Me-Phi jointly organised by the state cultural affairs department and the Charaideo district administration at the historic Charaideo Maidam in Charaideo district on Friday.

Ahom community observed Me-Dam-Me-Phi in different parts of the state to worship their ancestors.

Sonowal recalled the contribution of Sui Ka-Pha, the first Ahom king, and said, “In the 21st century in order to establish the supremacy of our society, we need to go forward following the teachings of Swargadeo Sui Ka-Pha on unity and harmony.”

Sonowal said Sui Ka-Pha was a great man who taught the state to be self-reliant and all-inclusive to build a strong and vibrant Assam.

“The Ahom rulers through their superiority of skills and administrations set an example in the world history and advocated that the young generation should study about the Ahoms and their skills of administration,” he said.

Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi in Guwahati on Friday Pictures by UB Photos

Sonowal said for preservation of the arts and artefacts of the Ahom kingdom, the state government has decided to construct a Swargadeo memorial.

He said the young generation should study the administrative, political and economic system of the Ahom Kingdom.

Referring to Sui Ka-Pha, the chief minister said the “great” king created a bond of harmony in Southeast Asia.

Moved by the examples set by Sui Ka-Pha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a “special” step in strengthening the relations between the Northeast and Asean, he added.

Union minister of state for food processing Rameswar Teli, ministers Naba Kumar Doley, Sanjay Kisan and Jogen Mohan, MP Topon Kumar Gogoi, MLAs Nabanita Handique and Chakradhar Gogoi attended the programme.

Historian Jogendranath Phukan, Xattriya exponent Indira P.P. Bora and academia Golap Borbora were felicitated during the programme.

Sonowal also released a souvenir on the occasion.