India, June 29 -- In the earliest recorded times, Assam was part of Kamarupa, a state that had its capital at Pragjyotishapura (now Guwahati). Ancient Kamarupa included, roughly, the Brahmaputra River valley, Bhutan, the Rangpur region (now in Bangladesh), and Cooch Bihar, in West Bengal state. King Narakasura and his son Bhagadatta were famous rulers of Kamarupa in the Mahabharata period (roughly 400 BCE to 200 CE). A Chinese traveller, Xuanzang in his travelogue Si-Yu-Ki (Record of the western regions), left a vivid account of the country and its people about 640 CE.

Assam was ruled by various dynasties - the Pala, Koch and Kachari - and there was constant warfare among the princes until the coming of the Ahom people in the 13th centur...