Assam CM lays foundation stone of Ahom general Lachit Barphukan memorial

Sarma said the ₹150-crore project to develop the memorial at Gohaigaon is a befitting tribute to the 17th century military leader revered across Assam

Published on: Dec 15, 2022, 16:16:31 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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As part of the year-long celebrations marking the 400th birth anniversary of legendary Ahom general Lachit Barphukan, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a memorial to be constructed in Jorhat district.

Lachit was a general in the Ahom kingdom that ruled Assam for six centuries. (Twitter | Himanta Biswa Sarma)

Sarma said the ₹150-crore project to develop the memorial at Gohaigaon is a befitting tribute to the 17th century military leader revered across Assam.

“Our government has acquired additional 42 bighas (of land) for the project that will include a 125-feet bronze statue of Lachit Barphukan, a museum, an auditorium, residential area, water body, approach road among other facilities,” the CM tweeted.

Also Read: Lachit Barphukan lit the flame of patriotism across the Northeast

Lachit, who was a general in the Ahom kingdom that ruled Assam for six centuries played a decisive role in the Battle of Saraighat which took place in 1671 near Guwahati. Despite being severely ill, the Ahom troops led by him defeated the Mughal army of Aurangzeb and thwarted their attempt to conquer Assam.

The general, who died in 1672, is known to have killed his maternal uncle for slackness in construction of a fortress. Since 1999, the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Pune has been conferring the best passing out cadet with the Lachit Borphukan gold medal.

Last month, the state government had organised a three-day celebration in the national Capital that included an exhibition on Lachit as well as history of Assam and a 45-minute documentary made on Lachit was also released.

The events were attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah.

The state government will also build a Lachit Bhawan at National Police Academy in Hyderabad.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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