With unconquerable audacity and battleaxe strategic intelligence in warfare as his trait, Lachit Borphukan was one of the greatest warriors of Assam under whose leadership the Ahoms won the battle of Saraighat in the year 1671 that disillusioned a prolonged attempt by Mughal forces under the command of Ramsingh. He was the Borphukan and commander in the Ahom kingdom.
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“Dexotkoi Mumai Dangor Nohoi” - Lachit Borphukan
Lachit Borphukan was born to Momai Tamuli Borbarua,the first Borbarua, i.e. the Governor of upper Assam and Commander-in-Chief of the Ahom army during the rule of Swargadeo Pratap Singha. He was trained in warfare and military skills during his childhood and was educated in scriptures and humanities. He was made the Soladhara Barua of the Ahom king, which was the first step towards his political career. He was recognized as the ablest general of the Ahom army during the reign of King Chakradhwaj Singha. However, before he was appointed as the Supreme Commander of the army, he held various posts of distinction that included Superintendent of the Royal Horses or Ghora Barua, Superintendent of the Royal Household Guards or Dolakasharia Barua and Commander of the strategic Simulgarh Fort.
Lachit was great patriot and there are many instances that prove his love for his motherland. One among many is in the year 1669, in order to protect Guwahati from the Mughals, he ordered his maternal uncle to construct a dam on the River Brahmaputra out of soil in a single night. However, owing to the lazy nature and laid back attitude of his uncle, he along with the workers kept sleeping. When in the next morning, Lachit came to check the progress of the work, he found everyone sleeping and the construction was not completed. He got very furious seeing this and with his sword, beheaded his uncle saying “Dexotkoi mumai dangor nohoi”, which means “Uncle is not important or greater than the motherland”. This is a famous incident that stands as an evidence of his love and passion for Assam and for him no relation was greater than his motherland.
When the Mughal Army had captured the Kamrup district, Swargadeo Chakradhwaj Singha appointed Lachit as the commander-in-chief army to fight a battle against the Mughals. He was given the sword with golden handle known as the Hengdaang along with the traditional belongings of distinction. He followed the orders of his master and started the preparation for the battle by training the soldiers and by summer of 1667, his preparations were complete and they were ready to face the Mughal Army. However, in the year 1671, Chakradhwaj Singha died and his son Udayaditya Singha was crowned as the next King and the Mughals with a huge army of 30,000 infantry, 15,000 archers, 18,000 Turkish cavalry, 5,000 gunners and over 1000 cannons besides a large flotilla of boats headed towards Guwahati and Lachit along with his army fought the historic battle of Saraighat in the year 1671.
In the historic battle of Saraighat, with impeccable strategic intelligence and bravery, he along with his army defeated the huge Mughal army, which was led by Ram Singh. He was able to first rescue Guwahati from the hands of the Mughals. According to history, Assam is the only state that was able to defeat 17 successive attempts of the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate. After the victory of Saraighat, he died the next year after suffering from prolonged illness.
Lachit Borphukan’s love for his mother land and valor is incomparable. About 16 km from Jorhat, the last remains of Lachit are preserved, which is known as Lachit Maidan and was built by Swargadeo Udayaditya Singha the then Ahom King in the year 1972 to commemorate his contribution towards saving his motherland from falling into the hands of foreign rulers. Lachit Divas is celebrated to commemorate his bravery and audacity on 24th of November every year. He is indeed the pride of Assam.
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