As India celebrates its 75th year of independence, the names of the brave warriors who fought for India's freedom are heard. From the Portuguese to the British, when they tried to wipe out the country one by one, there were brave ones to fight against them from the front. Leaders who kept the idea of independent India in mind and worked every moment for it. Lachit Borphukan of the Ahom dynasty is a prominent freedom fighter.
The kings of the Ahom clan, who ruled the north-eastern provinces of India, led a fierce struggle against the Mughals. They ruled the north-eastern region for six hundred years. It was during the time when the Mughals ruled many parts of South Asia. The kings of this clan fought about 17 wars against the Mughals.
Lachit Borphukan was a king of the Ahom dynasty who became famous for his prowess. Lachit Borphukan was born on November 24, 1622 in Charaido, the first capital of the Ahom kings. Lachit fought in two great wars against the Mughal army. He is remembered even today for his victory in the daring naval battle of Saraghat, one of the last attempts of the Mughal army to extend its territory to the north-eastern frontiers.
On August 5, 1669, the Ahom clan fought a battle with the Mughals at Alaboy hills near Dadara in North Guwahati. The Mughal king Aurangzeb, led by his friend the Rajput king, ordered an attack. The attack was on the border region of the Mughals. As they did not know much about the area, the Mughals came prepared for an open war. But Borfukan decided to wage a guerilla war. But Ram Singh I unleashed his entire army against the Ahoms. Ahom lost the battle.
The defeat at Alabo inspired the Ahoms to fight another exciting battle at Saraghat two years later. There both factions engaged in a naval battle. Lachit defeated the Mughals by tricking them into attacking from behind. As the Mughal fleet advanced on the Brahmaputra river, the Ahom fleet attacked from behind. Ram Singh is also said to have written a reply to Aurangzeb that day, describing the prowess of the Ahom soldiers who were skilled in rowing canoes, shooting arrows, digging ditches and using guns and cannons. In the letter, Ram Singh says that all the forces were commanded by a single man and that he had never seen such warriors in any other part of India.
The warrior prowess of the North Eastern Army continues to this day with the Assam Regiment. The National Defense Academy (NDA) also honors Lachit Borphukan's exceptional courage. In his memory, every year since 1999, a gold medal has been awarded in his name to the best cadet. A statue of Lachit is also installed at the entrance of NDA. As part of Lachit Borfukan's 400th birth anniversary, a war memorial is being built for the soldiers who fought in Alabo. Steps are also being taken to make the place where the brave soldiers of the Ahom clan were buried a World Heritage Monument. The next generation should learn not about the Mughals who invaded India and stole all the property of the people, but about the heroes who defeated them in war and saved the country.