Official Question UPSC 2026
Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct ? 1. They acted as army fortresses. 2. They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles. 3. They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles. 4. They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles. Select the answer using the code given below :
Solution & Analysis
Answer: C
According to the formal UNESCO World Heritage Convention inscription dossiers (July 2024):
•Statement 1, 2, and 4 are Incorrect: Despite the Tai-Ahom kingdom's legendary military reputation (e.g., Lachit Borphukan), the structures known as Moidams had absolutely no military, defensive, or recreational functions.
•Statement 3 is Correct: The Moidams (or Maidams) are monumental mound-burial systems (tumuli). Concentrated primarily in Charaideo (the first Ahom capital in Assam), they served exclusively as the sacred necropolis (burial grounds) for Tai-Ahom royalty and nobility for over 600 years. The vaulted chambers inside these earth mounds housed the deceased along with royal insignia, wealth, and offerings deemed necessary for the afterlife, reflecting profound indigenous cosmological beliefs.
Conclusion: Only Statement 3 correctly identifies the architectural and cultural purpose of the Moidams.