Guwahati: President Ram Nath Kovind said on Friday the defeat of Emperor Aurangzeb’s army in the historic Saraighat battle to the troops led by Lachit Barphukan, the brave General of the Ahom dynasty, proved to be the final nail in the coffin of the expansionist policies of Mughals in India.
Kovid, who is on a three day visit to Assam, inaugurated the year-long celebrations of the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Barphukan.
“Mughals made repeated attempts for expanding their empire in the northeastern region. In the battle of Alaboi in 1669, around 10,000 brave soldiers of Assam sacrificed their lives. Two years later, in the battle of Alaboi, Lachit Barphukan retaliated and not only Aurangzeb’s army was defeated in the historic battle of Saraighat, but that defeat proved to be the final nail in the coffin of the expansionist policies of Mughals in the northeast,” the President said.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his address during the function held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra here, highlighted the heroic sacrifice and contribution of the 17th-century war hero from Assam. Kovind, accompanied by his wife and daughter, arrived in Guwahati on Friday on a three-day visit to Assam.
He also visited the Kamakhya temple atop Nilachal Hill and offered his prayers. Later in the day, the President will address the 19th convocation of Tezpur University in Sonitpur district and then visit the famous Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and take a jeep safari at the Bagori range.
