When Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the highest statue of Bir Lachit Borphukan in March 2024, the message was loud and clear. “Virasat Bhi, Vikash Bhi”. Well, Bir Lachit Borphukan was never given the credit of his leadership and valour by the Indian historians and past governments. He remains a hidden chapter of the courage of a “Bhartiya Braveheart” and the story of the last battle of ‘Saraighat’ never fascinated the so-called historians. It was the leadership, courage, patriotism, and heroism of Bir Lachit Borphukan for which the Mughal and Aurangzeb had to abandon the dream of invading the east of Bharat. 17 times the Mughal attempted and each time they were defeated by the mighty Ahom. Bir Lachit did it for the last time in ‘the last battle of Saraighat’. Yet the bravery of the son of the soil.was never celebrated by Indian historians and previous governments. But in 2022, the Assam government had decided to celebrate the 400th Lachit Jayanti in the national capital where the President, Prime Minister and all top ministers of the central government participated in the year long celebration. But it is not enough. The bravery and courage of this great Bhartiya warrior needs to be celebrated every year so that the new generation of our society learn about the patriotism and leadership of the hero.
Bir Lachit Divas is being observed across Assam to pay tribute to the great Ahom general Lachit Borphukan on 24th of November . The brave general defeated the 45 thousand strong Mughal army in the last battle of Saraighat and compelled the Aurangzeb army to run for life. Lachit Borphukan, the brave Ahom general who secured the “Bor Asom” (including Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland) from the invasion of Mughals. The Mughal army consisted of 30,000 infantry, 15,000 archers, 18,000 Turkish cavalries, 5,000 gunners, and 1,000 canons. Borphukan knew that they would not be able to defeat these vast armies with regular warfare. So the great son of Assam deployed his small strength of navy with 7 small war boats and surprised the enemy with guerrilla warfare. Lachit Borphukan himself commanded the navy in a small boat, even though he was suffering from a high fever.The Mughals got bogged down in the mud and got isolated from each other due to flowing streams. The Ahoms were at an advantage. They were more used to the terrain and accustomed to the climate. They carried out extensive guerilla warfare, causing heavy losses to the Mughals. Ram Singh, the general of the Aurangzeb army, was very contemptuous of these operations and called it a “thieves’ affair”. He challenged Lachit Barphukan to a duel. He also offered a bribe of 3 lakhs to Lachit to abandon Guwahati defences. But Bir Lachit refused this and vowed to make Assam free from the invasion of the Aurangzeb army.
When the Mughal Empire was at its zenith, the region of Assam was a big challenge for them. The valiant Ahoms had successfully repulsed frequent attacks on their homeland from the time of Muhammad Ghori on no less than seventeen invasions. This was an anomaly that the most barbaric emperor Aurangzeb wanted to change. As a result, repeated attempts were made to capture Assam.
During a brief period when the Ahom kingdom was facing internal discord, the Mughals took advantage and captured Guwahati intending to take over more territory in Assam and even reached Kaliabor in central Assam. However, they were badly defeated in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671, and their dreams of capturing Assam remained unfulfilled forever.During the dark days of Aurangzeb’s rule and his atrocities, Bravehearts like Lachit Borphukan in the east showed us why our civilization survived all sorts of onslaught by the Mughals.
Lachit Borphukan was born on November 24, 1622, to Momai Tamuli, the first Borbarua, the ‘Governor of upper Assam and Commander-in-Chief of the Ahom army’ under the Ahom King Prataap Singha. As was the tradition in Ahom society, the young Lachit was taught philosophy and arts besides being imparted military skills. Through hard work and dedication, he was considered for appointment to the position of a Soladhara Barua (scarf-bearer) of the Ahom King. That position was the modern-day equivalent of a principal secretary. Gradually Lachit was given other important positions such as the Superintendent of the Stable of Royal Horses (Ghora Barua) and Superintendent of the Royal Household Guards to the Ahom king Chakradhwaj Singha.
King Chakradhwaj Singha, impressed by the intelligent leadership qualities of Lachit, promoted him to be one of the Borphukhan. In the Ahom system of governance, Borphukan was one of the five patra mantris (councillors) who possessed both executive and judicial powers.
To remember the great saviour of Assamese civilization, November 24 is celebrated each year as Lachit Divas (Lachit Day) statewide in Assam, which commemorates the heroism of Lachit Borphukan and the last battle of Saraighat. This valiant warrior who successfully repelled the forces of the Moghul Army and curbed the expansion of the Moghul Empire further east is known only within Assam.
At a crucial stage of the Saraighat battle, Lachit had fallen very ill and was asked by the physicians to not go out on the battlefield. The advance of the strong Mughal army and Lachit’s failing health was disrupting the morale of the Ahom army. But Lachit realised that his duty to protect his people was far more important than his health. It is recorded that he said:-
“When my countrymen are suffering from invasion, and when my army is fighting and sacrificing its life, how can I think about resting my body due to a mere illness? How can I think about going home to my wife and children when my entire country is in trouble?”
The Mughal army faced a sudden stream of attacks from the riverfront coupled with the charging of Ahom warriors who, inspired by Lachit’s gallantry, fought till their last breath. As a strategic move, Lachit had earlier taken the precaution of digging a line of defence at the back of the advancing army to which they could fall back if forced to do so. After facing massive casualties, the confused and beleaguered Mughal army was forced to flee from Saraighat to their last camp in East Bengal, and they never came back to invade Assam again.
In 1998 the then governor of Assam Lt. General (retd) S K Sinha initiated to honour the best cadet of National Defence Academy (NDA) with Bir Lachit Borphukan award. Such was his military and war strategy that even a modern army of the 21st century or a modern day soldier can adopt his leadership and courage in the battlefield. It is the time to celebrate the veer Bhartiya hero Lachit Borphukan for his nationalism and patriotism so that he remains an inspiration for our future generations.
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