By Dipak Kurmi
Lachit Barphukan’s rise to immortal stature in the annals of Assamese history was neither abrupt nor accidental; it unfolded through a relentless journey of discipline, learning, and battlefield experience that culminated triumphantly at Saraighat. His glory at that legendary battle was only the final flourish of a career shaped by years of engagement with the Mughal Empire, beginning with earlier encounters such as the clash against Mir Jumla’s forces at Dikhaumukh along the Tilao River. Yet the true transformation in Lachit’s destiny occurred when he rose from being an ordinary royal official to the coveted rank of Barphukan, one of the highest positions in the Ahom kingdom. As a patra mantri and commander-in-chief of the western Ahom armies, he held sweeping authority over military operations, diplomacy, and frontier administration. This elevation allowed him not only to execute military strategy with renewed autonomy but also to act as the kingdom’s principal bulwark against imperial aggression, steering Assam through one of its most perilous phases with unmatched insight and resolve.
The making of the Barphukan began long before he commanded men on the battlefield. From childhood, Lachit was deeply embedded within the administrative world of the Ahom court, largely due to the influential role of his father, Momai Tamuli Barbarua, who served as Barbarua, the chief executive officer responsible for both civil and military affairs. Growing up in such an environment meant that Lachit was exposed early to the complexities of governance, the sensitivities of diplomacy, and the disciplined structures of the Ahom system. He regularly accompanied his father to court, witnessing royal deliberations, ministerial debates, and the intricate balance between authority and responsibility. This intimate exposure cultivated in him a profound understanding of statecraft and nurtured the qualities of observation, patience, and political intelligence that would prove invaluable in his later years. The Ahom system, with its absence of rigid demarcations between civil, judicial, and military responsibilities for its officials, allowed Lachit to develop a holistic grasp of administration—an advantage that shaped his evolution into one of the most formidable leaders of his era.
Before reaching the pinnacle of power as Barphukan, Lachit Barphukan charted a long and varied administrative path within the Ahom hierarchy. He began humbly as a Sola Dhora, a scarf bearer who functioned akin to a private secretary, a role that demanded absolute loyalty and sharpened his discipline. His diligence and integrity earned him successive appointments, including the positions of Ghora Barua, overseeing the royal stables, and Dulia Barua, chief of the royal palanquin bearers. He further served as Simaluguria Phukan, commanding a levy stationed near the capital Gargaon, gaining critical experience in supervising armed men. His subsequent elevation to Dolakasharia Barua placed him in charge of royal guards and afforded him direct access to the king’s person during official duties. Even though these positions were not strictly military, they positioned Lachit close to the center of decision-making and allowed him to demonstrate unwavering commitment, administrative competence, and natural leadership. This progression formed the bedrock of trust that eventually led the Ahom monarch to entrust him with supreme military command.
Once he assumed the mantle of Barphukan, Lachit’s military brilliance emerged unmistakably. In his first major campaign in 1667, he launched an audacious initiative to reclaim Guwahati from Mughal occupation. Recognizing the logistical challenges of overland warfare against the well-equipped Mughals, he adopted the river as his strategic highway. With a fleet of war-boats, he sailed from eastern Assam and established a command post at Kaliabor. This innovative decision, coupled with a surprise riverine assault, disoriented the Mughal garrisons, preventing reinforcements from Rangamati and Dhaka from reaching Guwahati in time. In relentless waves of attack, Ahom forces pushed Mughal troops on the north bank back beyond the Barnadi River, while on the south bank, forts such as Kajali, Sonapur, Panikhaiti, and Tatimara fell one after another. These victories, achieved through both courage and calculated strategy, rekindled the Ahom army’s confidence and paved the way for the liberation of Guwahati, an objective that demanded both audacity and patience.
The fort of Itakhuli, perched atop Sukreswar Hill, dominated Guwahati with its sweeping vantage over the Brahmaputra. It became the focal point of Lachit Barphukan’s operations as he sought to dislodge the Mughal presence from the region. Establishing a base at Latasil, a short distance upstream, the Ahom army initially struggled against the fort’s heavy defenses. In response, Lachit redirected his approach toward Jaiduar, an eastern gateway into the city, and unleashed a series of cunning tactics. Among these was the deployment of spies tasked with infiltrating the Mughal camp and sabotaging their cannons by quietly filling the muzzles with water. This strategy proved decisive during the nocturnal siege launched in November 1667 when Ahom forces stormed the fort. With Mughal cannons rendered useless, the defenders crumbled, fleeing downriver under Ahom cannon fire. The faujdar of Guwahati and Mir Bakshi Sayyid Salar Khan retreated in disarray toward the Manah River, marking a resounding victory for the Ahoms and restoring Guwahati to their control for the first time in years.
The aftermath of Itakhuli brought a seismic shift in the balance of power between the Ahoms and the Mughals. Although sporadic skirmishes continued, the Mughal forces failed to reclaim lost ground, and Guwahati remained firmly under Ahom authority. The victory invigorated King Chakradhwaj Singha and the entire kingdom, prompting preparations to fortify Guwahati and anticipated future attacks. Aurangzeb, enraged by the loss, appointed the Rajput prince Ram Singh of Amber to lead a massive expedition to reassert Mughal control. The ensuing year and a half witnessed a complex interplay of diplomacy and conflict as both empires maneuvered strategically, occasionally skirmishing but largely relying on negotiations, misinformation, and tactical retreats. The Ahoms adopted guerrilla warfare, striking Mughal camps at night and avoiding large-scale confrontations that might expose them to Mughal cavalry superiority. Despite Ram Singh’s efforts to destabilize the Ahom administration through bribes and deceit, the leadership held firm, maintaining unity and vigilance.
The Mughal advance eventually resulted in the fateful Battle of Alaboi in August 1669. Pressured by the king to engage despite his reservations, Lachit Barphukan reluctantly confronted the Mughals on an open plain near Alaboi hill, where the enemy’s cavalry held a lethal advantage. He attempted to employ an old Ahom strategy, placing Brahmin soldiers at the forefront in hopes of deterring the Rajput troops, but the effort failed. The initial Ahom losses were heavy, though clever trench-based ambushes allowed them to capture key Mughal officers, including Mir Nawab. However, Ram Singh’s counterattack decimated the Ahom retreat, resulting in catastrophic casualties. Although the Mughals won the field, they failed to gain strategic advantage, but the battle deeply scarred the Ahom psyche and taught the kingdom an unforgettable lesson regarding the consequences of political interference in battlefield decisions.
Negotiations that followed the battle only widened the gulf between the two sides. The Mughals demanded the relinquishment of Guwahati, while the Ahoms insisted that the Manah River remain the natural frontier. With neither side willing to yield, the conflict marched inexorably toward the decisive Battle of Saraighat in 1671. In that epochal confrontation, fought entirely on the Brahmaputra, Lachit Barphukan would etch his name into eternity, orchestrating a victory that thwarted Mughal ambitions and preserved Assam’s sovereignty. His leadership, forged through years of administrative experience, military adaptation, and unshakable resolve, not only saved a kingdom but also created a legacy that continues to inspire generations across the land he once defended with unmatched valor.
(the writer can be reached at dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com)
