General Lachit Borphukan of Ahom Kingdom

• 23 Nov 2022

Why in News?

The 400^th birth anniversary of Assam’s legendary war hero Lachit Borphukan will be celebrated in the New Delhi from 23^rd to 25^th November, 2022

Who was Lachit Borphukan?

• Born on 24^th November, 1622, Borphukan was known for his leadership in the Battle of Saraighat, 1671 in which an attempt by Mughal forces to capture Assam was thwarted.
  • The battle of Saraighat was fought on the banks of the Brahmaputra in Guwahati in 1671.
  • It is considered as one of the greatest naval battles on a river which resulted in the victory of Ahoms over the Mughals.
• He was the inspiration behind strengthening India’s naval force and revitalising inland water transport and creating infrastructure associated with it due to his great naval strategies.
• The Lachit Borphukan gold medal is awarded to the best cadet from the National Defence Academy.
  • The medal was instituted in 1999 to inspire defence personnel to emulate Borphukan’s heroism and sacrifices.
• He died on 25^th April, 1672.

What do we Know about Ahom Kingdom?

• About:
  • Established in 1228 in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, the Ahom kingdom retained its sovereignty for 600 years.
  • The kingdom was founded by Chaolung Sukapha, a 13th century ruler.
  • The Ahoms ruled the land till the province was annexed to British India in 1826 with the signing of the Treaty of Yandaboo.
  • Renowned for their bravery, the Ahoms didn’t even fall to the might of the powerful Mughal Empire.
• Political Setup:
  • Ahoms created a new state by suppressing the older political system of the bhuiyans (landlords).
  • The Ahom state depended upon forced labour. Those forced to work for the state were called paiks.
• Society:
  • Ahom society was divided into clans or khels. A khel often controlled several villages.
  • Ahoms worshipped their own tribal gods, yet they accepted the Hindu religion and the Assamese language.
    • However, the Ahom kings did not completely give up their traditional beliefs after adopting Hinduism.
  • Intermarriage with local also increased assimilation processes of Ahoms in Assamese culture.
• Art and Culture:
  • Poets and scholars were given land grants and theatre was encouraged.
  • Important works of Sanskrit were translated into the local language.
  • Historical works, known as buranjis, were also written, first in the Ahom language and then in Assamese.
• Military Strategy:
  • The Ahom king was the supreme commander of the state as well as the Military.
  • The Ahom king himself led the state forces in the time of wars. The Paiks were the main army of the state.
    • There were two types of Paiks i.e., serving and nonserving. The non-serving Paiks constituted a standing militia which could be mobilized at a short notice by the kheldar (an expert military organizer).
  • The full contingent of the Ahom Army consisted of infantry, navy, artillery, elephantry, cavalry and spies. The main war weapons consisted of bows and arrows, swords, Javelins discus, guns, match-locks and cannons.
  • The Ahoms sent spies to the enemy’s camp to study the strength and the war strategies of the enemies before leading an expedition.
  • The Ahom soldiers were experts in guerilla fighting. Sometimes they allowed the enemies to enter the country, then cut off their communications and attack them in front and rear
  • Few important forts: Chamdhara, Saraighat, Simlagarh, Kaliabar, Kajali and Pandu.
  • They also learnt the technique of constructing boat bridges in the Brahmaputra.
  • Above all, the mutual understanding among the civil and military wings, and unity among the nobles always worked as strong weapons of the Ahoms.

Source: TH