GUWAHATI, Aug 14 � Rich tributes were paid to the 10,000 Assamese soldiers, who embraced martyrdom to keep their compatriots free from the colonial rule of the Mughals on August 14 of 1669 AD at Alaboi near Agiathuri on the north bank of the Brahhmaputra, at a meeting organised by the Saraighat Journalists� Forum in the city today.
Speakers who included Jnanpeeth Award winning litterateur Dr Indira (Mamoni Roisom) Goswami, historian Dr Ramesh Burhagohain, Dr Bharat Kalita and archaeologist Dr NP Dev Choudhury, spoke on the role of the battle of Alaboi in shaping the zeal of the Assamese forces for their historic win in the battle of Saraighat, after about two years. The function was presided over by Saraighat Journalists� Forum president Paresh Baishya.
The 10,000 Assamese troops were massacred by the Mughal cavalry on 28 Shravana of Saka 1591, when they were returning to their camps after defeating the Mughal infantry.
Lachit Barphukan, the Ahom general was against making any advancement against the Mughals at Alaboi on strategic grounds, but his objection was overruled by the then Ahom king Chakradhwaj Singha. And the disaster at the battle of Alaboi proved Lachit Barphukan right, observed historian Late Dr Surya Kumar Bhuyan, who is an authority on Lachit Barphukan.
Dr Indira Goswami, who addressed the function as the chief guest, laid stress on writing books on Alaboi in English or translating the Assamese writings on the battle into English for wider publicity in the rest of the world.
Parama Rajbongshi, general secretary of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, said that if manuscripts of books on the battle were submitted to the Sabha within the next three months for publication, the Sabha would go for publishing such books.
Dr Burhagohain suggested erection of a martyrs� column at Alaboi in memory of the martyrs of the battle. He said that the exact English date of the battle should be recorded as August 5 of 1669 AD, instead of August 14.
Dr Bharat Kalita gave the historical background of the battle, while Dr NP Dev Choudhury read out a paper on the Saraighat battle with special reference to the battle of Alaboi.
From among the audience, renowned physicist Dr Ananda Barbora spoke on the battle of Ghoramora near North Guwahati. In this battle, which took place in the same year, the Assamese forces massacred a Mughal cavalry brigade, contrary to the battle of Alaboi. This made the place known as Ghoramora.
In his presidential address, Paresh Baishya offered thanks to the Sahitya Sabha for its proposal to publish books on the Alaboi battle and accepted the offer. On the issue of building a martyrs� column at Alaboi, he said that the Journalists� Forum has a plan to build the column with the generous donation of Rs 1 lakh offered by former Asam Sahitya Sabha president Kanak Sen Deka in 2005.