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The mound burial system of the <keyword id="22477664" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ahom-dynasty" source="keywords">Ahom dynasty</keyword> in <keyword id="19911206" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Assam" source="keywords">Assam</keyword>, <keyword id="22553829" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Moidams" source="keywords">Moidams</keyword> was included in the <keyword id="20413005" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="UNESCO-World-Heritage-List" source="keywords">UNESCO World Heritage List</keyword> under the category of Cultural Property on Friday. The decision was taken during the ongoing 46th <keyword id="191427" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Heritage-Committee" source="Orion">World Heritage Committee</keyword> (WHC) session held in the national capital, Delhi. <keyword id="19908797" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNESCO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="UNESCO" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="UNESCO">UNESCO</keyword> will examine the proposals of 27 sites for inscription on the World Heritage List, the state of conservation of 124 sites already inscribed on the World Heritage List, and the List of World Heritage in Danger. The World Heritage Committee is one of the two bodies governing the Convention for the Protection of the World's Cultural and Natural Heritage. It is composed of the representatives of 21 states, elected from the 195 states parties to the Convention. In the ongoing session, from July 23 to July 25, the Committee will examine the state of conservation of the 124 sites already inscribed on the World Heritage List, 57 of which are also on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Similarly, from July 26 to July 29, the Committee will examine the dossiers of 27 sites proposed for inscription on the World Heritage List. The sites will be examined according to three categories. The three categories are natural, mixed, and cultural. Reacting to the news Assam Chief Minister Himmant Biswa Sharma said, "The Moidams make it to the UNESCO World Heritage list under the category Cultural Property. A great win for Assam. Thank You Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, members of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and the people of Assam." "The Moidams of <keyword id="21130638" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Charaideo" source="keywords">Charaideo</keyword> embody the deep spiritual belief, rich civilisational heritage and architectural prowess of Assam's Tai-Ahom community. Apart from the fact this announcement has been made from the soil of Bharat, its entry also stands out for 2 more reasons," he added in a post on X. "It is the first time a site from the North East has made it to the UNESCO World Heritage List under the Cultural Category. After Kaziranga and Manas National Parks, it is Assam's 3rd World Heritage Site. I urge all of you to come and experience Awesome Assam," he further said. The Moidams are the burial mounds of the <keyword id="22558033" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ahom-kings" source="keywords">Ahom kings</keyword>, queens and nobles. The word Moidam is derived from the Tai word Phrang-Mai-Dam or Mai-Tam. Phrang-Mai means to put into the grave or to bury and Dam means the spirit of the dead. Though Moidams are found in all the districts of upper Assam, Charaideo, the first capital of the Ahoms was the necropolis of almost all the Ahom Royals. Charaideo is situated 28 km east of Sivasagar. The first king of the Ahoms Chau-lung Siu-ka-pha was buried at Charaideo after his death observing all the Tai-Ahom religious rites and rituals.

Moidams of Assam included in the UNESCO World Heritage List

The pre-monsoon season hasn’t started on a pleasant note for <keyword id="6354915" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="assam" source="Orion">Assam</keyword>. Every year, the rainy season brings destruction to the most-populated northeastern state. It brings chaos, displacing thousands of people and animals, and damaging crops and properties worth billions. However, this time, the monsoons are yet to arrive and according to the <keyword id="645470" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="assam-state-disaster-management-authority" source="Orion">Assam State Disaster Management Authority</keyword> (ASDMA), at least <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/over-four-lakh-people-affected-as-pre-monsoon-rains-trigger-floods-in-assam/articleshow/91632004.cms">4 lakh people have been affected and 24 people</a> have lost their lives so far due to the floods which have ravaged the state. On May 24, Assam floods witnessed a surge in the death toll, as it rose to 25 and 6.5 lakh people remained affected. These <a href="https://weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2022-05-24-assam-floods-improve-but-rains-prevail-over-northeast-india">6,50,402</a> affected, which include 1,25,471 children, reside in 1,709 villages based in 22 of the state's 34 districts. Close to 82,503 hectares of crop areas in flood-hit areas also remain affected. <div type="image" title="Flood hazard map of Assam, where colours represent different hazard classes" msid="91820351" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Flood hazard map of Assam, where colours represent different hazard classes&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Why are floods an annual occurrence in the state of Assam? Assam is one of the most flood-prone states in India and it has almost become an annual calamity. In terms of impact on <a href="https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/20/assam-floods/">human lives</a>, the floods of 1988, 1998 and 2004 were the worst – the 2004 floods alone affected 12.4 million people and claimed 251 lives. According to the Assam government, the <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">flood-prone area</a> of the state is 31.05 lakh hectares, against a total area of 78.523 lakh hectares – this means nearly 40% of the state’s area is flood-prone. Overall, Assam accounts for nearly 10% of the total flood-prone area of the country. The average <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">annual loss</a> due to floods in Assam is to the tune of ₹200 crore and particularly in 1998, the loss suffered was about ₹500 crore and during the year 2004 it was about ₹771.00 crore. Apart from the natural topography and annual excessive rainfall in Assam, there are various reasons – both man-made and natural – behind the destructive floods that hit Assam every year. Assam is home to a vast network of rivers, including the Brahmaputra and Barak River, and more than 50 tributaries feeding them. Assam also receives river water from <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">neighboring states</a> like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">In 2004 and 2014</a>, the south bank tributaries of the Brahmaputra in lower Assam experienced flash floods of high magnitude due to cloud bursts in the catchment areas in Meghalaya. A similar incident occurred in <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">Arunachal Pradesh in 2011</a>, further aggravating floods in Assam. Bank erosion caused by the river Brahmaputra is one of the major reasons why Assam gets flooded every year. It means the removal of soil, sediment, or rock fragments along the banks, which results from high water flow. Due to erosion, the width of the river increases and it changes its course. According to the Assam government, more than <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">4.27 lakh hectares</a> of land, which is 7.40 % area of the state, has been eroded by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries since 1950. The width of the river Brahmaputra has increased up to 15 kilometres at some places due to bank erosion, making it the widest river in India. It is estimated that annually nearly 8,000 hectares land is lost to erosion. The surveys carried out at different periods reflect an alarming picture regarding the widening of river Brahmaputra which is as follows: <div type="image" title="River Brahmaputra has been widening at an alarming rate" msid="91820475" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;River Brahmaputra has been widening at an alarming rate&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Floods are also caused by human intervention – like encroachment of river banks and wetlands, lack of drainage, unplanned urban growth, hill cutting and deforestation. The dams that are being built are further aggravating these disasters. Government measures to control floods in Assam In 1982, the <keyword id="905955" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="brahmaputra-board" source="Orion">Brahmaputra Board</keyword> suggested that dams and reservoirs be built to mitigate floods in Assam. While dams are meant to regulate the flow of water, they can also be beyond the capacity of the channels downstream, proving to be a double-edged sword. The <keyword id="14039836" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="water-resources-department-of-assam" source="Orion">Water Resources Department of Assam</keyword> has constructed embankments and flood walls across the state. River training, bank protection, anti-erosion and town protection are also in the works. Here’s how their plan has progressed thus far: <div type="image" title="Assam govt&amp;#39;s measures to control floods in the state" msid="91820500" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Assam govt&amp;#39;s measures to control floods in the state&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Here's a short video <div type="image" title="Why Assam gets flooded every year" msid="91820530" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Why Assam gets flooded every year&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

SIMPLY PUT: Why Assam gets flooded every year

In its bid to break away from the shackles of Indian Standard Time, <keyword id="6354915" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Assam">Assam</keyword> has caused some discomfort across the political circles of the country, which took this North-eastern state too much for granted since long. The campaign, started by Assam’s <keyword id="5269" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Chief-Minister">chief minister</keyword> Tarun Gogoi a few years ago, seems to have reached a definitive stage while the central government is yet to place its concurrence (or otherwise) on record. 
 However, apart from quipping that ‘different time zones would create confusion,’ the <keyword id="6362177" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="union-government">Union Government</keyword> has not expressed any vehement denial. Therefore, Assam may soon turn out to be the first state in India to have its separate time zone, which will be a good one hour ahead of IST. For those who didn’t bother about IST, here is the lowdown. Indian Standard Time or IST is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT), which is the standard time measurement worldwide. 
 
If the proposal placed by Gogoi is passed by the central government, Assam will be 6 hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT. In fact, when the time change kicks in, people of Assam will be literally struggling to sync with the flight, train and bus schedules as most of these will be travelling from outside Assam where the time zone will be different. 
 When the clock will be shifted an hour ahead in Assam (we assume it will happen in the near future), the state will actually travel back in time. That’s because the ‘hour ahead’ time was first introduced by the British about 150 years ago and it was then called ‘chai bagaan’ (tea garden) time. Informally though, Assam goes to work an hour ahead of <keyword id="818790" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="the-rest">the rest</keyword> of India owing to the fact that the sun rises earlier in the North-east than in the other regions of the country. Chai bagaan time is a reality for those who work in tea estates and follow a different timeframe for going to work and wrapping up for the day. And this has to continue through the winter as the sun sets earlier in the North-east, compared to other parts of India. 
 Needless to say, the North-east is greatly inconvenienced owing to different sunrise and <keyword id="383280" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="sunset">sunset</keyword> timings. The state of Assam sees the first rays of sun by 4 am during the summer. But winter evenings are the darkest there, with the sun setting at as early as 5 pm. 
 
The chief minister’s demand to shift the time ahead by one hour boosts the claims of ‘increasing productivity’ since offices will open early and close at a time specific to the North-east after logging the usual number of hours. But how will things work out in areas where Assam connects with the rest of the country? What will happen to the railway services in case of a changed time zone? Will it not lead to confusion and even collisions since train crossings are still managed manually? And when offices open early and close early, doesn’t it mean less time for co-ordination with organisations located in other states? 
 
More than anything else, won’t the new time zone intensify the feeling of ‘distance’ and ‘detachment’ in this insurgency-plagued state, which has been claiming ‘negligence’ from all central governments? Issues that need to be clarified are many, but not entirely ‘impossible’ since many countries have implemented multiple time zones and they are working well across various regions. 
 The Assam CM has been arguing that a new time zone will result into energy saving and increased productivity. However, Bangalore-based <keyword id="419658" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="National-Institute-of-Advanced-Studies">National Institute of Advanced Studies</keyword> (NIAS) has suggested that daylight-saving time or the time difference between Assam and the rest of the country should be fixed at half-an-hour for various reasons. 
 
India could save 2.7 billion units of electricity every year by shifting the IST Meridian eastward, from 82.5E longitudes in Uttar Pradesh to 90E near the Assam-Bengal border. But according to experts, it won’t be much of saving in terms of energy, compared to the chaos this ‘divided’ time zone will create. 
 
While experts are busy laying out real-time reasons to keep the time zone as it is in Assam, opposition to this has been on a different tangent – sometimes sparking off debates on nationalism, federalism, daylight, energy, geography, discrimination, parity, tyranny of west over the east, time and its metaphysical, imaginary and psychological aspects. 
 
Interestingly, when Gogoi voiced his demand to change the time zone for Assam, it was seen as a request to divide India itself. Such apprehensions are not simply black and white, but also come in various hues and shades. As of now, voices that are vociferously opposing this move, are scouting for some real reasons to strengthen their stance.

‘Time Storm’ Brewing In Assam’s Tea Cup

Oscar-winning Hollywood actor and environment activist <keyword id="26566" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="leonardo-dicaprio" source="Orion">Leonardo DiCaprio</keyword> has lauded the <keyword id="6354915" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="assam" source="Orion">Assam</keyword> government for its efforts that has resulted in no poaching of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros in the Indian state in 2022. The Assam government on January 1 announced that for the first time since 1977, there was no case of poaching of the animal in the state in 2022. The actor took to Instagram, where he said: "In 2021, the government of the Indian state of Assam set out to end the poaching of the Endangered Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park following the killing of around 190 animals for their horns between 2000 and 2021." "In 2022, they met their goal and no rhinos were poached in the area for the first time since 1977." The actor called it "good news". "Kaziranga National Park is home to 2,200 greater one-horned rhinos, which is about two-thirds of the world's population. This triumph in India also comes with more good news, as @wwf (<keyword id="95620" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="world-wildlife-fund" source="Orion">World Wildlife Fund</keyword>) also reports that the world population of the rare rhino soared to around 3,700 from about 200 at the turn of the 20th century," he added. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/what-does-it-cost-to-find-love-on-a-dating-app-and-is-the-price-worth-it/articleshow/97775287.cms">What does it cost to find love on a dating app, and is the price worth it?</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/srks-dilwale-dulhania-le-jayenge-is-set-for-a-wider-release-on-valentines-day/articleshow/97793277.cms">SRK's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is set for a wider release on Valentine's Day</a>

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Moidams of Assam included in the UNESCO World Heritage List

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SIMPLY PUT: Why Assam gets flooded every year

‘Time Storm’ Brewing In Assam’s Tea Cup

Preetam Kaushik

Leonardo DiCaprio praises Assam govt for zero rhino poaching

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