Lachit Borphukan, an Assam hero who "defeated the Mughals 17 times," was honoured with a march past on Friday by the Assam Army, Police, and other security forces. The 400th birthday celebrations for Barphukan are set to begin by the state this week.
Digital Desk: As the state began the massive celebration of the 400th birth anniversary of the famous general, the Assam government decided to install a 150-foot-tall bronze monument of the great Ahom commander Lachit Borphukan at Holongapar in Jorhat.
Assam police, the Army, and other security services staged a march past across the state on Friday to honour Lachit Borphukan, an Assam hero who "defeated the Mughals 17 times". The state is all set to kick off the weeklong celebrations for Barphukan's 400th birthday.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “The state government has taken initiatives for the beautification of Lachit Barphukan’s maidam at Holongapar in Jorhat and to transform it into a tourist attraction. The state government will also officially take over 50 bighas of land from the local people on November 20. The state government will provide Rs. 12 crores as a mark of gratitude to the local people who donate the land.”
A 150-foot-tall bronze statue of Lachit Barphukan, an auditorium, a guest house, an auditorium, and a light and sound show are all part of the massive project, which is estimated to cost over Rs 160 crore. A 30-meter-high "Hengdang" (a traditional sword used by the Ahom people) will be built at the memorial to honour the sacrifice of Assamese warriors as part of efforts by the state administration to preserve the legacy of the Battle of Alaboi. The memorial will also include a museum, gallery, audio-visual gallery, exhibition hall, etc.
The Battle of Saraighat, which took place in 1671 on the banks of the Brahmaputra not far from Guwahati, is where Borphukan is most known for repelling the Mughals and outlasting them.
Sarma urged Assamese citizens to light earthen lamps in their homes on November 24 in honour of Lachit Diwas in an appeal on Thursday. From November 23 to 25, Vigyaan Bhawan, the nation's capital, will host the final stage of the festivities. Amit Shah, the union home minister, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were both expected at the event. The state administration has already decorated Delhi for the event.
A book on Lachit Barphukan will be released, and a film about the legendary warrior will also be shown. To introduce Lachit Borphukan to the younger generation and to describe his contributions, the state administration previously established an app and portal.
Earlier in August, CM Sarma wrote a letter to his national colleagues requesting that a section on the valour of the Ahom army officer Lachit Borphukan be included in the textbooks of educational institutions in their respective states.
On November 24, 1622, Lachit Borphukan was born in Charaideo, the initial capital of the Ahom dynasty. The daring naval fight in Saraighat, which is regarded as one of the last attempts by the Mughal Army to advance into the northeast boundaries, is one of the engagements he led against the powerful Mughal army and is noted for.
The fight of Araibol, which took place on August 5, 1669, in the Alaboi Hills close to Dadara in North Guwahati, preceded the crucial battle of Saraighat.
According to history, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb gave his ally Rajput Raja Ram Singh I the command to invade in 1669. As opposed to the Mughals, who preferred open combat, Borphukan engaged in guerrilla warfare, attacking the invaders before retreating until Ram Singh I used all of his forces to destroy the Ahoms in the Battle of Alaboi.
After the setback at Alaboi, Ahom warriors led by Borphukan engaged the Mughals in a maritime conflict known as the battle of Saraighat, where they successfully routed the Mughal army.
Lachit Borphukan's remarkable bravery is being recognised by the National Defence Academy (NDA), which has given a gold medal in his honour to the top cadet each year since 1999. At the entrance of the NDA, there is a bust of Lachit as well.
Leave A Comment