PM Unveiled 125-foot statue of Lachit Borphukan in Assam's Jorhat

Utkarsh Classes Last Updated 09-03-2024

PM Unveiled 125-foot statue of Lachit Borphukan in Assam's Jorhat

Person in News 3 min read

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils a remarkable 125-foot bronze statue of the revered Ahom commander, Lachit Barphukan, in the city of Jorhat, located in the Assam state.

Known as the 'Statue of Valour', it is a fitting tribute to the illustrious military leader, who bravely thwarted a significant bid by the Mughal forces to regain control of Assam, a legacy that spans over 400 years.
Although former President Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation for this monument in February 2022, the statue itself stands tall at 84 feet and rests on a 41-foot pedestal.

About Ahom General Lachit Barphukan:

Ahom General Lachit Barphukan was one of the five Barphukans who held administrative, judicial, and military duties in the Ahom kingdom of Assam and was born in 1622.
He is remembered as a military commander for leading Ahom forces against a Mughal invasion in the 1671 Battle of Saraighat.
The Battle of Saraighat took place on the Brahmaputra River at Saraighat, now in Guwahati, Assam, India, and was a naval battle fought in 1671 between the Mughal Empire led by the Kachwaha king Ram Singh I and the Ahom Empire led by Lachit Borphukan.
This battle with the Mughals is the last major attempt to expand his empire in Assam.
Although the Mughals recaptured Guwahati sometime after Borphukan abandoned it, the Ahoms regained control at the Battle of Itakhuli in 1682 and retained it until the end of their rule.
Despite having a small army, Barphukan was able to defeat the huge Mughal army using guerrilla tactics.
He used his vast knowledge of the terrain to push back the sizable Mughal army and force them to retreat from Saraighat, now in Guwahati.
His birthday is celebrated as Lachit Divas, a symbol of Assamese bravery, and his military prowess is honored by the National Defence Academy (NDA), which awards the Lachit Barphukan trophy to its best graduating cadet every year.
The year 2022 marked the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Barphukan (pronounced Borphukan).