The Lion of the East: Lachit Borphukan and the Night of the Brahmaputra

 In 1671, the mighty Mughal Empire was expanding eastward, swallowing one kingdom after another.

But on the banks of the Brahmaputra, one commander refused to kneel.

His name was Lachit Borphukan — an Ahom general who, against all odds, led an outnumbered army to one of India’s greatest military victories.

You may not have heard his name in textbooks…

But his battle strategy is still taught in Indian military academies today.

🛡️ The Eastern Shield of Assam

The Ahom Kingdom, in what is today Assam, was an independent and powerful realm that had resisted both Islamic invasions and Mughal advances for centuries.

But by the mid-17th century, Emperor Aurangzeb set his sights on Assam — a fertile land of tea, rivers, and trade.

In 1662, the Mughals captured Garhgaon, the Ahom capital. The defeat shook the kingdom.

That’s when Lachit Borphukan, a noble and skilled military leader, was appointed as the new Senapati (commander-in-chief).

And he had one mission: Take back Assam or die trying.

🏹 Preparation of a Patriot

Lachit didn’t just rebuild the army. He restructured it:

  • Forged unity among tribal warriors, farmers, and nobles

  • Established a naval force using country boats on the Brahmaputra

  • Set up guerrilla bases and secret forest routes

  • Personally inspected every fort and river pass

When a lazy officer delayed construction of an important wall, Lachit reportedly beheaded him — his own uncle — saying:

“My country is more important to me than my family.”

⚔️ The Battle of Saraighat – 1671

The Mughal army under Ram Singh, backed by tens of thousands of soldiers, cavalry, and artillery, moved to crush the Ahoms.

But Lachit had turned Saraighat, a narrow river passage near Guwahati, into a trap.

  • Mughals tried a naval assault — but were ambushed from both banks

  • Ahom boats, small and fast, struck like arrows

  • Forts hidden in trees rained down arrows, bullets, and fire

Even when Lachit fell ill before the final attack, he rose from his sickbed, boarded a war boat, and shouted:

“The Brahmaputra will flow red before I let Assam fall!”

His courage inspired a final charge — and the mighty Mughals fled in defeat.

🌅 Aftermath and Legacy

Lachit Borphukan passed away soon after due to illness, but his victory became legend.

  • Assam remained free of Mughal control

  • The battle is remembered as a David vs. Goliath moment in Indian history

  • His leadership emphasized discipline, duty, and patriotism above bloodlines

But unlike Shivaji or Maharana Pratap, Lachit’s name faded from national memory… until recently.

🏛️ Modern Honors

  • Lachit Divas is celebrated every November 24th in Assam

  • His story is now part of NCERT textbooks

  • The National Defence Academy (NDA) awards the “Lachit Borphukan Gold Medal” to the best cadet annually

  • In 2022, PM Narendra Modi and Indian Army chiefs honored his 400th birth anniversary

📬 Call to Action

  1.             Curious about other hidden kings and cursed dynasties?
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