The 400th birth anniversary celebration of Ahom General Lachit Barphukan kicked off at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on November 23 with Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, inaugurating an exhibition showcasing the glorious history of Assam dating back to the mediaeval times, in the presence of Chief Minister of Assam, Dr.Himanta Biswa Sarma and other dignitaries.
In her inaugural speech, Sitharaman said that Indian history did not accord a fair share to many who made remarkable contributions. “In 70 years, we have not had a fair share of history for those who deserve to be mentioned, top of the agenda, top of the books, top of the indices, and top of the chapters about the contribution, remarkable intelligence and strategic experiences these people had,” she added.
Terming Lachit Barphukan, ‘a patriot to the core’, Sitharaman said, “The Ahom warrior protected his motherland and ensured the safety of Assam. The Ahoms were extraordinary. Withstanding 17 attempts at incursions into Assam was by no means an easy task.”
“The manner in which the Ahom dynasty defended Assam, also served as a great fortification which eventually protected the entire South East Asia from ruthless invasions, ending their advance at its threshold.”
Lauding the Government of Assam for its initiative for remembering the great patriot, Sitharaman said, “This is a splendid attempt at showcasing the not-so-well remembered North East. Such events are important for our future generations.”
The Union Finance Minister also urged the Ministry of Culture to join hands with the Government of Assam to collate the history of the iconic warrior and to spread it across the country.
The Government of Assam’s bid for getting national recognition status to Lachit Barphukan as a hero along the lines of Chattrapati Shivaji and Maharana Pratap Singh and its slew of projects such as to construct a memorial at Alaboi, a building and a statue in Barphukan’s honour at the National Police Academy in Hyderabad, a 125 ft bronze statue at his maidam at Hollongapar in Jorhat district, instituting an annual memorial lecture starting this year at the National Defence Academy have been appreciated by all quarters.
Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his address, said that had it not been for the Ahoms who crushed the Mughal aggression, the entire cultural map of South East Asia would have been different today.
“India was not just about the Mughals. It was about so many other kings who ruled the country with affection. But Indian history has failed to recognise the longest ruled kingdoms of the South and North East. Indian history has ignored Lachit Barphukan and has ignored the glorious Ahom dynasty. I hope this campaign of the Government of Assam will put the dynasty into its proper perspective. Indian history will acknowledge the glorious contribution of various kings and that India had better generals and better kings than Aurangzeb,” he said.
