Sati Sadhani

Sati Sadhani
Modern depiction of queen Sadhani

Sati Sadhani was a 16th-century legendary queen of the Chutia dynasty. In the Ahom Buranjis, the lead queen of the Chutias in 1524 was called Nang Lung or Bor Konwari. Sati Sadhani as a character might be based upon Nang Lung.

According to the spurious Chutiyar Rajar Vamsavali, first published in Orunodoi in 1850 and reprinted in Deodhai Asam Buranji, she was the daughter of King Dharmadhwajpal, also known as Dhirnarayan. Born in Sadiya, she married Nityapal, alias Nitai. In 1524, the Ahoms took advantage of Nityapal's weak leadership and attacked the kingdom, conquering Sadiya and killing Nityapal. When Sadhani, who played a prominent role in the fight against the Ahoms, was asked to marry Sadiyakhowa Gohain, the Ahom governor of Sadiya, she preferred death to dishonour and sacrificed her life by jumping from the top of Chandragiri hills near Sadiya in 1524.

Historically, Sati Sadhani might have been a Chutia princess whose character was indianised to transform her into a symbol of a virtuous faithful Hindu women.^[1]

Divas

Every year in Assam, 21 April is celebrated as Sati Sadhani divas to honor the sacrifices made by the Sutiya Queen. The Government of Assam marked this day a state holiday.^[2][3]

Award

The Sati Sadhani award was established by the Sutiya Jati Unnayan Parishad. The award is given to someone with outstanding contributions to the field of art, culture and literature. The honoree is selected by a committee formed by the Parishad.^[4]

Film and theatre

Her life is depicted by the 20th-century Assamese writer Padmanath Gohain Baruah in the drama Sadhani.

See also

• Joymoti konwari
• Birangana Sati Sadhani Rajyik Vishwavidyalaya
• Chutia kingdom
• Chutia people

Notes

1. "Often Indic and Assamese heroes were joined by Queen Victoria, the British Empire’s approved model of female domestic virtues. Jaymati also inspired local imitations. For example, Kaibarta publicists in their quest for respectability ‘‘excavated’’ another sati from their own caste history, Santi Radhika. Another local group, the Chutias, found a virtuous princess, Sati Sadhani, for themselves. Assamese Muslims celebrated their own icon, Sati Rahima"(Sharma 2011:228)
2. "Sati Sadhani Divas observed at North Lakimpur". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
3. "Sati Sadhani Divas around the world in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
4. "Sati Sadhani Award being launched".

References

• Sharma, Jayeeta (2011). Empire's Garden: Assam and the Making of India (PDF). Duke University Press.
• Prakash, Col. Ved (2007). Encyclopedia of North East India.Vol.2. Atlantic Publishers & Dist.