The buzz around the grand celebration of Lachit Barphukan’s 400th birth anniversary in Assam and around the country, especially New Delhi where the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman participated, speak volumes of the way the State Government was able to take the valour and identity of the general to the heart of India. Although not much is known as to how Aurangzeb had reacted when a defeated general Ram Singh had entered Delhi after being chased away from Assam, but what will now be known certainly to the next generation is how the Government of Assam made an all out attempt to secure Lachit his rightful place in history.
Lachit, as most speakers, including the Prime Minister, said, represented the best in a warrior: integrity, valour and patriotism, not necessarily in the same order. However, history and historians have not been kind to him, whether by design or a quirk of fate is not to be pondered. But can the people of State afford to only bemoan a wrong done to them or also have the responsibility to undo that? This has been answered befittingly by the present dispensation in Dispur led by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. His Government envisioned ways in which the wrongs of history need to be righted and the proudest son of the soil needs to be recast in the eyes of the world. A three day celebration may not have been enough to expiate the sins of history, but it should now be seen as a fresh departure in which Assam and its proud episodes of history can continue to inspire successive generations to bring out the Lachits in them.
More than 45 lakh people had taken the effort to upload their feelings of the valiant general in a special app designed and developed by Amtron. Educational institutions, private and public organisations, and district administrations made all efforts to drive the objective of the celebration. One is sure that the exercise will continue to unfold in the days to come not only across the State but also the country to help Assam bask in the glory of producing one of the most courageous generals in India’s history.
