The 400th birthday anniversary of the legendary war hero Lachit Borphukan was celebrated this year from November 23 to 25. In the home state of Assam, Lachit Diwas was celebrated on 24 November. Let’s read about this great Ahom warrior.
Somewhere in the mid-17th century when the whole of India was under the rule of the Mughal Empire, a part of India was still independent of the clutches of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. That part today constitutes present-day North-Eastern states of India. The Mughals badly wanted to crush the glorious 600 years long rule of the mighty Ahom Kingdom established on the Brahmaputra valley in Assam by a Tai Ahom prince Sukhaphaa.
Ahom kingdom, although not very big but was powerful enough to successfully resist the Mughal invasion and save its motherland. Ahoms were well known for maintaining their sovereignty, even after repeated attempts were made by the Mughals to capture Assam, but their dreams of capturing Assam were never fulfilled.
Ahom kingdom in its history had fought many battles. It also repulsed many foreign invasions. But this kingdom is popularly known for its most fierce battle, “The Battle of Saraighat” fought in 1671 between the Mughal empire under the command of powerful Kachwaha Rajput king Raja Ram Singh I and the mighty Ahom kingdom led by the commander in chief of army and navy of Ahom kingdom Lachit Borphukan to liberate Guwahati from the Mughal occupation.
About Lachit Borphukan
Lachit Borphukan was born on 24th November 1622 in Charaideo, Assam. He was the son of Momai Tamuli Borbarua who was a governor and commander-in-chief of the Ahom army under King Pratap Singha.
After his education in humanities and military science was completed, he held various posts of eminence like Superintendent of Royal Horses (Ghora Barua), Commander of Simulgarh fort, and Superintendent of Royal Household Guards (Dolakasharia Barua) in the Ahom Kingdom. Seeing his excellence in work he was later on appointed as Chief of both Army and Navy of the Ahom Kingdom under the Ahom king Chakradhwaj Singha.
The Sword of Victory “Hengdang”
On being appointed as the commander in chief of the army and navy Chakradhwaj Singha presented Lachit with a golden handle sword called “Hengdang” and the customary paraphernalia of distinction to overthrow the Mughal rulers from Guwahati.
The Battle of Saraighat, 1671
The historic naval Battle of Saraighat was fought in 1671 between the Mughal Empire under the command of powerful Kachwaha Rajput king Raja Ram Singh I and the mighty Ahom kingdom under the leadership of commander in chief of army and navy of Ahom kingdom Lachit Borphukan.
This battle was the last major attempt by the Mughals to expand their territory into Assam. It was fought on the mighty Brahmaputra River at Saraighat to liberate Guwahati from the clutches of the Mughals and stop the further expansion of the Mughals in Assam.
The Ahom Navy led by Lachit used its superior guerilla warfare tactics and clever military and diplomatic intelligence which resulted in a decisive Ahom victory over the Mughals. Ahoms overthrew the Mughals from Assam and the Mughals with a shameful defeat in the battle retreated from the Ahom territory and never looked back towards it.
The Legacy of Lachit Borphukan
The brave Ahom commander Lachit died on 25th April 1972 due to illness soon after the victory at the Battle of Saraighat. His last remains lie in rest at the Lachit Maidam at Hoolungapara (16 km away from present-day Jorhat). In his respect and to celebrate the victory of the Ahom army over the Mughals, on 24th November every year Lachit Divas is celebrated statewide in Assam. Moreover, Lachit Borphukan medals were also introduced in National Defense Academy as a tribute to him and are awarded to the best cadet of NDA.
This was the story of the brave commander in chief of the Ahom Kingdom Lachit Borphukan and the historic Battle of Saraighat about which most Indians are not aware because it is not taught in the books of History of India. Sadly, stories and facts about such brave hearts are only confined to the territory of their birthplace or home states but not even in the whole of India.
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