Lachit, India’s Hero

 The Government of Assam must be appreciated for its initiative to establish Lachit Barphukan as a national hero. While Lachit Barphukan’s 400th birth anniversary was observed in a grand manner in the national capital in November 2022, on Saturday Union Home Minister Amit Shah released 24 different language versions of a well-researched book on the Barphukan in Guwahati. The Government has also done well by commissioning internationally acclaimed writer Arup Kumar Dutta, to author the book. Simultaneous translation of the book, written in English, to all Scheduled languages of the country is a record in itself. Historians of the country have grossly neglected Assam and the Northeastern region. Thus, while generations of children across the country have grown up reading stories about Harshavardhan, Chatrapati Shivaji, Maharana Pratap, Ranjit Singh, Ahalyabai, Rani of Jhansi, Nanasaheb Peshwa, Mangal Pandey, Tantia Tope, and Bhagat Singh etc, great heroes of equal prowess from the region – like Kumar Bhaskarvarman, Lachit Barphukan, Maharaja Prithu, Suhungmung, Chilarai, Naranarayan, Rudra Simha, U Tirot Singh, Tikendrajit, Pasaltha Khuangcherra, Ropuiliani, Gomdhar Konwar, Ranuwa Gohain, Bom Singpho, Taji Mideren, Maniram Dewan etc – have not even found place as footnotes of Indian history. Yet, the fact remains that the contribution of these and many others from the region, were equally significant, if not more, in shaping this nation. It is disgusting that the history of India, as authored by the so-called secular historians, only glorified the invaders. While the Modi government has been working to correct these serious and damaging errors, the Assam Government’s approach to project Assam’s heroes at the national level will serve several purposes. One, people across India will be able to read about Lachit Barphukan in their own respective languages, and thus know how the Assamese had fought, resisted and defeated the Mughals. Secondly, the young generation of Assam will feel confident that the Assamese too had displayed amazing courage, heroism and patriotism in the long process of building this nation. In this context, it is important to note that the Government of India had, while celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, published a highly informative book on the contribution of the people of the Northeast to India’s freedom movement. It is important that this kind of a book be also translated into various languages of the country, so that the message is spread about the contribution of the people of the Northeast in the nation-building process.