History In Time

Season 1 · Episode 002 ·

Lachit Borphukan — The Man Behind Saraighat

Lachit Borphukan: the Ahom commander who rose from his sickbed to lead the attack at Saraighat in 1671.

Lachit Borphukan — The Man Behind Saraighat: cover, an illustrative reconstruction Play the video on YouTube

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Lachit Borphukan commanded the Ahom army that defeated the Mughal fleet at Saraighat, on the Brahmaputra near Guwahati, in early 16711,2. He was a son of Momai Tamuli Barbarua3, and the chronicles say his father rose from a bondsman to Barbarua, one of the kingdom’s highest offices4.

Rising through the royal offices

Before 1667 Lachit held royal offices, among them superintendent of the royal horses (Ghora Barua), commander of the Simaluguri levy (Simaluguria Phukan) and superintendent of the king’s guards (Dolakasharia Barua)5. Sources differ on his part in the war against Mir Jumla’s invasion of 1662: S. K. Bhuyan says he fought with considerable success, while Padmeswar Gogoi says he was forced out of his fort6.

Borphukan

King Chakradhwaj Singha, who came to the throne in 1663 and held court at Garhgaon, the Ahom capital, made Lachit Barphukan and gave him command of the army in 16677,8,9. The king presented him with a gold-hafted sword10. The chronicles tell that before appointing him, the king tested Lachit by having an attendant snatch off his headdress11.

The kingdom prepared for war. It trained recruits, raised food under state supervision, ran its arsenals night and day and built war-vessels12. In August 1667 the Ahom army sailed down the Brahmaputra in two divisions and camped at Kaliabor13. At the start of November it captured Itakhuli and Guwahati after a siege of about two months14. The prime minister, Atan Buragohain, was appointed to fortify both banks of the river, and Lachit to post a contingent at each strategic point15,16.

Ill at Saraighat

At the time of the battle of Saraighat, Lachit was gravely ill with a high fever17, and without him the fleet’s commanders and troops were losing heart18. As the Mughal fleet advanced, Lachit, too weak to move, had his men carry him on his bed to the gate-house to watch it19. According to the chronicles, with his troops beginning to retreat, he sent word that he would die on that spot rather than abandon his charge20.

Then he boarded his boat and led the attack with a handful of war-boats21. His charge at once restored his army’s morale22, and Saraighat became a decisive Ahom victory2.

After the battle

Lachit died about a year later, around April 167223. Historian Padmeswar Gogoi concluded that he did not die of the illness he had at Saraighat, because he went on working after Ram Singh left24. His elder brother, Laluk Sola, succeeded him as Barphukan25. Lachit Divas is marked across Assam every 24 November26; that is his birthday by the date used officially, 24 November 162227.

What is uncertain

  • When he died. The date is disputed; the sources put his death about a year later than Saraighat, around April 167223.
  • When he was born. 24 November 1622 is the date used officially27.
  • His face. No contemporary portrait of Lachit is known; one old chronicle describes his broad, moon-like face28.
  • His uncle. Legend says Lachit executed his maternal uncle for failing to finish a rampart on time29. It is a famous story, but it is told as legend.

On the map

Map of the Brahmaputra marking Saraighat
Illustrative reconstruction Saraighat on the Brahmaputra, from the video. Its location is approximate.
Map of the Brahmaputra valley marking Guwahati and Garhgaon
Illustrative reconstruction Guwahati and Garhgaon, the Ahom capital, from the video. Garhgaon's location is approximate.

Timeline

  1. 1667 Lachit made Barphukan
  2. August 1667 Ahom army sails
  3. November 1667 Guwahati retaken
  4. March 1671 Battle of Saraighat
  5. April 1672 Death of Lachit

Narration

Read what the video says

He was gravely ill. His men were losing heart. Then he led the attack himself.

Lachit Borphukan's father, the chronicles say, rose from bondsman to high office.

Lachit rose too, in charge of the king's horses, then the king's guards.

In 1667, King Chakradhwaj Singha made him Borphukan, commander of the army.

That August, the Ahom army sailed down the Brahmaputra. By November, it had retaken Guwahati.

Atan Buragohain fortified both banks. Lachit posted troops at every strategic point.

In 1671, the Mughal fleet closed in at Saraighat. Too weak to move, Lachit had his men carry him out on his bed.

Then he boarded his boat and led the attack. The Mughals were beaten.

He died about a year later. Every November, Assam marks Lachit Divas.

Notes

Each number in the text leads here: the fact, how well it is supported, and where it is written. How we grade the evidence.

  1. The Battle of Saraighat was fought on the Brahmaputra near Guwahati in early 1671, after which Ram Singh retreated. Verified: two independent sources agree Sarkar (1928), p. 190 (approx.); Gait (1906), p. 150 (approx.); Gogoi (1968), p. 740 (approx.) ↩
  2. Saraighat was a decisive Ahom victory. Verified: two independent sources agree Bhuyan (1947), p. 83 (approx.); Dutta; Administration; Gogoi (1968), p. 740 (approx.) ↩
  3. Lachit was a son (per Bhuyan, the youngest) of Momai Tamuli Barbarua. Verified: two independent sources agree Bhuyan (1947), p. 15 (approx.); Gait (1906); Gogoi (1968), p. 708 (approx.) ↩
  4. Lachit's father Momai Tamuli rose from a bondsman to Barbarua, one of the kingdom's highest offices. Supported: one solid source Bhuyan (1947), p. 17 (approx.); p. 18 (approx.); p. 15 (approx.) ↩
  5. Before 1667 Lachit held royal offices including superintendent of the royal horses (Ghora Barua), commander of the Simaluguri levy (Simaluguria Phukan) and superintendent of the king's guards (Dolakasharia Barua). Verified: two independent sources agree Bhuyan (1947), p. 22 (approx.); Gogoi (1968), p. 708 (approx.) ↩
  6. Lachit fought Mir Jumla's invaders in 1662: Bhuyan says with considerable success; Gogoi says he was forced out of his fort. Disputed: sources disagree Bhuyan (1947), p. 22 (approx.); Gogoi (1968), p. 844 (approx.) ↩
  7. Chakradhwaj Singha became Ahom king in 1663, after Jayadhwaj Singha's death. Verified: two independent sources agree Sarkar (1928), p. 185 (approx.); Gait (1906), p. 144 (approx.) ↩
  8. King Chakradhwaj Singha held court at Garhgaon, the Ahom capital. Verified: two independent sources agree Gait (1906), p. 146 (approx.); Bhuyan (1947), p. 63 (approx.) ↩
  9. King Chakradhwaj Singha made Lachit Barphukan and gave him command of the army in 1667. Verified: two independent sources agree Gait (1906); Bhuyan (1947), p. 24 (approx.); Gogoi (1968), p. 708 (approx.) ↩
  10. The king presented Lachit with a gold-hafted sword on his appointment. Supported: one solid source Bhuyan (1947), p. 24 (approx.) ↩
  11. Before appointing him, the king tested Lachit by having an attendant snatch off his headdress. Supported: one solid source Bhuyan (1947), p. 23 (approx.); p. 24 (approx.) ↩
  12. Before the campaign the kingdom trained recruits, raised food under state supervision, ran arsenals night and day and built war-vessels. Supported: one solid source Bhuyan (1947), p. 15 (approx.) ↩
  13. In August 1667 (about the 20th, per Bhuyan) the Ahom army sailed down the Brahmaputra in two divisions and encamped at Kaliabor. Verified: two independent sources agree Bhuyan (1947), p. 26 (approx.); Gait (1906) ↩
  14. The Ahoms captured Itakhuli and Guwahati at the start of November 1667, after a siege of about two months. Verified: two independent sources agree Bhuyan (1947), p. 27 (approx.); Sarkar (1928), p. 186 (approx.); Gait (1906), p. 147 (approx.) ↩
  15. Atan Buragohain was the Ahom prime minister. Supported: one solid source Bhuyan (1947), p. 88 (approx.) ↩
  16. The king appointed Atan Buragohain to fortify both banks of the river, and Lachit to post a contingent at each strategic point. Supported: one solid source Bhuyan (1947), p. 29 (approx.) ↩
  17. Lachit was gravely ill with a high fever at the time of the battle of Saraighat. Verified: two independent sources agree Bhuyan (1947), p. 79 (approx.); p. 87 (approx.); Gogoi (1968), p. 740 (approx.) ↩
  18. The fleet's commanders and troops were losing heart without Lachit. Verified: two independent sources agree Bhuyan (1947), p. 79 (approx.); Gogoi (1968), p. 740 (approx.) ↩
  19. As the Mughal fleet advanced, Lachit, too weak to move, had his men carry him on his bed to the gate-house to watch it. Supported: one solid source Bhuyan (1947), p. 80 (approx.) ↩
  20. With his troops beginning to retreat, Lachit sent word that he would die on that spot rather than abandon his charge. Supported: one solid source Bhuyan (1947), p. 78 (approx.); p. 181 (approx.); p. 79 (approx.) ↩
  21. Lachit then boarded his boat and led the attack with a handful of war-boats. Verified: two independent sources agree Bhuyan (1947), p. 81 (approx.); p. 82 (approx.); Gogoi (1968), p. 740 (approx.) ↩
  22. Lachit's charge at once restored his army's morale. Supported: one solid source Gogoi (1968), p. 740 (approx.) ↩
  23. Lachit died about April 1672, roughly a year after Saraighat. Disputed: sources disagree Gogoi (1968), p. 742 (approx.); Bureau (2022); Bhuyan (1947), p. 85 (approx.); Dutta ↩
  24. Historian Padmeswar Gogoi concluded that Lachit did not die of the illness he had at Saraighat, because he went on working after Ram Singh left. Supported: one solid source Gogoi (1968), p. 742 (approx.) ↩
  25. Lachit's elder brother Laluk Sola succeeded him as Barphukan. Verified: two independent sources agree Bhuyan (1947), p. 87 (approx.); Gogoi (1968), p. 742 (approx.) ↩
  26. Lachit Divas is marked across Assam every 24 November. Supported: one solid source Bureau (2022) ↩
  27. Lachit was born on 24 November 1622, by the date used officially. Disputed: sources disagree Bureau (2022) ↩
  28. No contemporary portrait of Lachit is known. One old chronicle describes his broad, moon-like face. Supported: one solid source Bhuyan (1947), p. 21 (approx.); p. 22 (approx.) ↩
  29. Lachit executed his maternal uncle for failing to finish a rampart on time. Tradition: told as legend Bhuyan (1947), p. 37 (approx.) ↩

Sources

  • Jadunath Sarkar, History of Aurangzib, Vol. 3 (1928). scholarly · Read it
  • E. A. Gait, A History of Assam (1906). public_domain_book · Read it
  • Padmeswar Gogoi, The Tai and the Tai Kingdoms (1968). scholarly · Read it
  • S. K. Bhuyan, Lachit Barphukan and his Times (1947). scholarly · Read it
  • Arup Kumar Dutta, The Ahoms: A Reimagined History (excerpt on ThePrint, 8 Jan 2023) (). scholarly · Read it
  • Kamrup District Administration, Government of Assam, The Battle of Alaboi and the Battle of Saraighat (). institution · Read it
  • Press Information Bureau, Government of India, 400th Birth Anniversary of Lachit Borphukan (Ministry of Culture document on PIB) (2022). institution · Read it

How this video was made

  • Terrain: SRTM and GMTED2010 courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey; ETOPO1, NOAA.
  • Rivers and coastlines: Natural Earth (public domain).
  • Narration: synthetic voice made with the open Kokoro-82M text-to-speech model.
  • Music and sound effects: generated in code for this channel.
  • 3D scenes: rendered with Blender (free, open source).

More from Season 1

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