In the grand saga of Bharat’s civilizational resistance against foreign invaders, the valiant people of Assam stand tall, shoulder to shoulder with the defenders of every other part of this sacred land. Often overlooked in popular narratives, Assam’s fierce resistance to the Mughal Empire is a story of unmatched patriotism, indomitable spirit, and supreme sacrifice. It is a story that begins not in palaces or courtrooms, but on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra, in the hearts of ordinary Assamese who rose like a storm to protect their motherland.
The Ahom dynasty, which ruled Assam for over six centuries, was the vanguard of this resistance. At the heart of their struggle stands a name etched forever in the memory of Assam—Lachit Borphukan, the commander who would become a symbol of courage, strategy, and sacrifice.
The Mughals, under Emperor Aurangzeb, had long eyed the strategic and fertile lands of Assam. But every attempt to extend their empire eastwards was met with fierce opposition. After the Ahoms successfully reclaimed Guwahati from Mughal control in September-October 1667 under Lachit Borphukan’s command, Aurangzeb appointed Ram Singh of Amber to lead a fresh campaign to conquer Assam. Ram Singh began his expedition in December 1667, advancing slowly through treacherous terrain until he reached Sualkuchi in April 1669. But the Assamese were prepared. Led by General Lachit Borphukan, they would not yield an inch of their soil.
Tensions escalated until, on the 5th of August 1669 (20 Sravan, Saka 1591), the two forces clashed at Alaboi, near present-day Dadara in Kamrup district. The battle that followed was not merely a fight between two armies—it was a soul-stirring testament to the Assamese spirit of resistance. Facing a numerically and technologically superior enemy, the Assamese soldiers displayed unparalleled bravery. In that blood-soaked battlefield, 10,000 of them embraced martyrdom, laying down their lives not for glory or reward, but for the honour of their land and their people.
Their sacrifice was not in vain.
Galvanised by the loss at Alaboi, the Assamese forces regrouped and struck back with renewed determination. Two years later, in 1671, they would deliver a crushing blow to the Mughals in the famed Battle of Saraighat. It was a naval battle like no other—the mighty Mughal fleet, equipped with large warships, was met by the smaller but swifter Ahom boats. The Ahoms, under Lachit Borphukan, showed exceptional tactical brilliance by spanning the Brahmaputra with an improvised bridge of boats and launching a deadly two-pronged attack. The Ahoms routed the Mughals, sending them fleeing in disgrace. It was a defining victory—not just for Assam, but for the soul of Bharat.
As we remember the martyrs of Alaboi, we do not mourn defeat—we celebrate resistance. We honour 10,000 unsung heroes who chose death over dishonour, and whose sacrifice paved the path to one of India’s most glorious victories at Saraighat.
Their bravery is a reminder that Assam was never merely a frontier—it was a fortress. A land where love for the motherland outweighed fear, where the soil was defended with blood and spirit, and where the flame of resistance burned as fiercely as in any other part of India.
Let us remember them not just on memorial days, but every time we speak of Bharat’s history. Let us give the Northeast its rightful place in the nation’s freedom story. And let the names of Lachit Borphukan and his fellow warriors be passed down from generation to generation—as symbols of valor, sacrifice, and eternal devotion to dharma and motherland.
We bow our heads in solemn tribute to the heroes of Alaboi. May their legacy continue to inspire and awaken the spirit of resistance wherever freedom is threatened.
