SHILLONG, Nov 17 - The Battle of Saraighat in 1671 motivated the British to have a fighting unit comprising of men from the martial races of North East, which is now known as the Assam Regiment (AR).
Addressing a gathering of soldiers and veterans, Lt Gen Subrata Saha, Colonel (chief) of the Assam Regiment and Arunachal Scouts, said this today during his address at AR training centre at Happy Valley as part of the four-day celebrations of the 75th anniversary of AR. He said, after the Mughals were comprehensively defeated by the Ahoms in 1671, and after several centuries the idea took shape with the raising of AR in 1941.
In fact, the British raised the AR to fight the advances of the Japanese forces during World War II. It was raised in 1941 by Lt Col Ross Howman in Shillong. Lt Gen Saha said men in the AR have lived up to its reputation of being a fearless fighting unit and was part of all wars after independence and also pre-independence, taking part in World War II.
Presenting some figures, he said there are 18,804 serving personnel in the AR and roughly �10 per cent of these men are decorated soldiers� and has won several laurels for its courage unparalleled in Indian military history.
He informed that this year in May, Havaldar Hangpan Dada laid down his life while fighting the militants in the Kashmir valley. He was awarded Ashok Chakra posthumously for exhibiting �exceptional bravery, beyond the call of duty� and today the �Main Office Block� at the AR centre was dedicated in memory of the soldier in the presence of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju. It was inaugurated by Chasen Lowang Dada, widow of the martyr.
Meanwhile, in his address to the soldiers, Rijiju highlighted the achievements of the Regiment over the past 75 years and congratulated the regiment for spearheading the enviable saga of honour, glory and sacrifice in its service to the Nation.
The Minister also paid homage to the fallen heroes of the Regiment by laying wreath at the War Memorial. Thereafter, he inaugurated the refurbished �Bishnu� Museum at the Centre dedicated in memory of former Chief Minister of Assam, Bishnuram Medhi.
