Lachit Barphukan (Assam's Hero Who Halted the Mughals)

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Back of the the Book Lachit Barphukan - Assam's Hero Who Halted The Mughals is a fascinating collection of essays on the 17th century fiery Ahom general who beat the invading Mughals and saved Assam from an alien foreign rule. He was clearly the hero of the famous Battle of Saraighat (1671) on the Brahmaputra, near Guwahati, for he managed to make Aurangzeb's general Ram Singh I to retreat. Edited by historian Rajib Handique and journalist Wasbir Hussain, the chapters in the book, authored by well-known historians and writers, brings out various facets of Lachit Barphukan's life, right from his birth, to obtaining military training to emerging as a hugely successful Ahom general to someone who is remembered today for being one of the prominent protagonists of Indian nationalism.

About the Book Assam is celebrating the 400th birth anniversary of its iconic Ahom general Lachit Barphukan. This book is a tribute to one of India's heroic military commanders who warded off the Mughals and saved Assam from an alien rule in the 17th century.

The 1671 victory of Lachit Barphukan in the historic Battle of Saraighat, near present-day Guwahati, halted the expansionist designs of the Mughals in Northeast India.

About the Editors Prof. Rajib Handique is Professor & Head, Department of History, at Gauhati University. Author of British Forest Policy in Assam, a pioneering work on environmental history of Northeast India, Prof Handique was a Rotary Peace Scholar at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok (2006). He was awarded the Charles Wallace Research Grant (British Council) in 2011.

Wasbir Hussain is an author, television talk- show host and political commentator. He is Editor-in-Chief of Northeast Live, the region's only satellite English & Hindi news channel. Hussain was a two-time Member of India's National Security Advisory Board. Among other awards, Hussain bagged the prestigious Sanskriti Foundation National Award for excellence in journalism.

Foreword Lachit Barphukan, the great general of the Ahom kingdom of Assam, is the legendary figure who defeated the Mughals and successfully halted their expansion into Assam in the second half of the 17th century. The victory over the Mughals in the battle of Saraighat in 1671 A.D. in the face of overwhelming odds, is a landmark event. It is even more remarkable when we consider that Lachit Barphukan was quite ill during the battle.

Preface and Acknowledgement Wedeem it a privilege to bring out this volume, titled Lachit Barphukan - Assam's Hero Who Halted The Mughals, to mark the 400th birth anniversary of one of India's greatest military generals. This book is a humble tribute to this Ahom military hero, who, through his tact, bravery, love for the Assamese homeland, and sheer determination managed to defeat and chase away the Mughal invaders led by Ram Singh I, sent to annex Assam by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

The historic Battle of Saraighat (1671), a largely naval war that Lachit Barphukan and his army won on the Brahmaputra, near present-day Guwahati, is significant because it stopped the Mughal advance not just to Assam, but the rest of today's Northeast India. There has been an effort to let the nation and the countrymen know about this great nationalist of the 17th century and this book is a small part of that effort. In fact, the heroics of Lachit Barphukan and its historiographical interpretations over the years have enabled generations of Assamese to soak in the fervour of nationalism and nationalist sentiments.