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Guwahati: As the nation celebrates the revival of Nalanda University and remembers the brutality of invader Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji, the Patriotic People’s Front, Assam (PPFA), calls for a life-size statue of Kamrup King Prithu in Guwahati. The PPFA, a forum of nationalist citizens, urges both the Assam government and the Union government to recognize the bravery and patriotism of Maharaja Prithu by installing his statue in the historic city.
In a media statement, the PPFA praised the Union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their initiative to revive Nalanda University, acknowledging the legacy of ancient learning. In contrast, they criticized Khilji, remembered for his destructive invasion. The PPFA highlighted Kamrup King Prithu (also known as Visvasundaradeva), who defeated Khilji, the invader responsible for burning the Nalanda library and massacring thousands of Buddhist monks and scholars in the 12th century.
Recently, PM Modi inaugurated the 455-acre Nalanda University campus at Rajgir, Bihar, in the presence of diplomats from Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Mauritius, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, New Zealand, Portugal, South Korea, Singapore, and other countries. The campus, a blend of modern and traditional architecture, features natural lighting and cooling, the Kamal Sagar pond, 100 acres of greenery, a contemporary sports complex, and a car-free environment.
After devastating large parts of Bharat and capturing Bihar and Bengal, Khilji planned to invade Kamrup and Tibet. However, in 1206, he faced a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Khen dynasty’s Kamrup ruler, Maharaja Prithu, in present-day Assam. The indigenous tribal soldiers, including Bodo, Koch-Rajbongshi, Keot, and others, chased the defeated invaders, leading to Khilji’s demise at the hands of one of his trusted generals during their retreat.
The PPFA emphasized that Maharaja Prithu should be honored for his resistance against the Pathan invaders, preserving the Hindu cultural legacy of Kamrup, where Sanskrit was the official language, and preventing early foreign aggression in this part of Bharat. The PPFA criticized Indian historians for ignoring Prithu’s valor and nationalism and called for his recognition and admiration through the proposed statue.
