Guwahati: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 9, unveiled a larger-than-life statue of mediaeval-era Ahom army commander Lachit Borphukan and a Swahid Smarak at Bir Lachit Borphukan Park inside Narengi Military Station in Guwahati. The structures, funded by the Government of Assam, were conceptualised by Major General (Retd.) R K Jha, former General Officer Commanding of 51 Sub Area of the Indian Army in Narengi.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma was also a witness to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Assam and the Indian Army for upskilling of ex-servicemen and their dependents.
Speaking at an event, CM Sarma termed the unveiling of the statue of Lachit Borphukan inside the Narengi Military Station a major milestone in the current dispensation’s relentless attempts at spreading the valorous saga of the mediaeval-era Ahom army commander across the nook and corner of the country. CM Sarma said the statue of Lachit and the Swahid Smarak, built to keep alive the memories of the supreme sacrifices of the country’s brave soldiers, shall inspire a sense of deep patriotism among the visitors to the park where they have been installed.
Stating that this is the first time a statue of Lachit Borphukan has been installed at a military station, Chief Minister Sarma extended his gratitude to the Indian Army’s Eastern Command and its General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lt. General Rana Pratap Kalita for the noble initiative which, the Chief Minister added, would go a long way in further strengthening of the military-civilian administration ties in the State.
Referring to Mahabir Lachit Borphukan as a military commander and strategist par excellence, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said it is important and necessary that the valorous saga of a personality such as the mediaeval-era Ahom commander doesn’t remain confined within the perimeters of the State alone. Speaking about the brilliant military exploits of Lachit that thwarted the Mughals Expansionist designs for Assam, CM Sarma said the State government has been taking numerous steps aimed at providing Lachit status similar to that of Shivaji Maharaj and Maharana Pratap in the nationalist discourse. One such attempt is the ongoing translations to all major regional languages of the country the book, Assam’s Braveheart Lachit Borphukan, authored by Arup Kumar Dutta. Once the translation works are over, the State Government shall start the initiative to distribute them across the libraries of the colleges in the country.
Further, a 150-feet-tall statue of Lachit shall be installed at Hollongapar in Jorhat in the coming February, he said. A mega drama on the life of Lachit, in line with “Janta Raja ” based on the life of Shivaji Maharaj, is being conceptualised, Chief Minister Sarma said.
Chief Minister Sarma also lauded the role of the Army in bringing peace to the once strife-torn State. The Army has made immense sacrifices for more than 40 years with the aim of bringing normalcy back to the State. Adding the people of Assam shall remain forever indebted towards them CM Sarma exuded confidence the Armed Forces Special Powers Act shall disappear completely from the State in days to come, as normalcy finally returns to the State.
GOC-in-C of Army’s Eastern Command Lt General Rana Pratap Kalita, Lt General Sanjay Malik (GOC, 101 Area), Major General (Retd.) R.K. Jha (Former GOC of 51 Sub Area), Director General of Police G.P. Singh, along with senior officials of the Army and civilian administration were also present on the occasion.
