GUWAHATI, Nov 24 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the Battle of Saraighat, fought in 1671 between the Mughal empire and the Ahom kingdom and led by none other than Lachit Borphukan on the river Brahmaputra at Saraighat, and the subsequent victory by the Ahoms led the foundation of Assam�s supremacy in the larger contour of the
country.
Leading the State in paying rich tributes to the Ahom general on his birth anniversary at a programme held at Kachomari Ghat along the Brahmaputra in the Fancy Bazar area here today, Sonowal said valour of Vir Lachit Borphukan and his spirited resistance that kept the Mughal empire away from conquering Assam and its territory, is a glittering example of the rich legacy of Assam and its people.
He also said the heroics of Vir Lachit and his patriotism which even did not spare his own maternal uncle to be complacent and negligent in duty towards motherland, needs to be emulated, especially by the young generation, to revive the past sheen of the State. He said that following the footsteps of Lachit Borphukan, Assam can be transformed into a state second to none.
The Chief Minister said in Assam, where people belonging to Barak and Brahmaputra valleys, and hills and plains, have been living in peace and harmony for ages and where people take allegiance to patriots like Vir Lachit, the future and existence of the State can never be at stake.
The Chief Minister also witnessed a short skit produced by Anup Jyoti Chowdhury that enacted the Saraighat Battle on the occasion. Sonowal also presented awards to the winners who participated in an art competition as a part of the Lachit Divas programme organised by the State cultural affairs department.
Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Cultural Affairs Minister Naba Kumar Doley, Guwahati MP Queen Oja also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier the Chief Minister attended another Lachit Divas programme organised by voluntary organisation �Raised� at Lachit Borphukan Park at Jalukbari. Synchronising with the programme, Sonowal also inaugurated a blood donation camp where several members of the organisation and outsiders donated blood.
