HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, Nov 24: Bir Lachit Borphukan College marked Lachit Divas on Monday with a daylong programme that began with educationist Dipali Chaliha lighting the ceremonial lamp before the statue of Lachit Borphukan. Inaugurating the meeting, Chaliha said students and teachers must continue to regard the Ahom general as a symbol of heroism and patriotism.
College principal Dr Pankaj Hazarika, in his welcome address, urged everyone to work with dedication for the uplift of the Assamese community, drawing parallels with the resilience of the Jewish people. Prof Navajyoti Sharma anchored the programme and led the chorus singing.
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Guest speaker Prof Pabitra Bora of SPP College, Namti noted that debates over the historical presence of Bagha Hazarika were secondary to the fact that 18 Hazarikas assisted Lachit Borphukan during the Battle of Saraighat. He added that the recently discovered human remains near Nagaon could possibly belong to some of the 10,000 soldiers who perished in the Battle of Alaboi.
Prof Boloram Das of Gargaon College emphasised the importance of remembering the military brilliance of Lachit Borphukan and Aton Buragohain, whose leadership defeated the Mughal forces led by Ram Singh at Saraighat.
Former Commerce College principal Kartick Dutta released the souvenir, while Manoj Kr Borthakur garlanded the statue. The event was attended by Dipali Neog, Bibhuti Chetia, Arnov Changmai, Manjumala Sharma, Dhruvajyoti Borthakur, Aparajita Sharma, Dr Santanu Buragohain, Pinki Das, Jintu Saikia, Daisyrani Saikia, Khirod Bora, Asabuddin Ahmed and Purna Phulkonwar. Dr Simanta Barua offered the vote of thanks.
Our Tezpur Correspondent adds: The Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) observed Lachit Divas in Tezpur with tributes at Assam’s first statue of Lachit Borphukan, installed in 1987 by the Sonitpur district committee. Tezpur MLA Prithiraj Rabha, District Commissioner Ananda Kumar Das and former AJYCP leaders, including Santanu Baruah, Jatin Bora and Leela Bora, paid homage at the statue in front of Nehru Maidan.
Former AJYCP president and Chief Advisor Rana Pratap Baruah urged renaming Nehru Maidan as Lachit Bakori and called for justice for singer Zubeen Garg. He highlighted AJYCP’s ongoing commitment since 1978 to honor Assam’s national heroes and uphold Lachit Borphukan’s values.
DC Das described Lachit as “the embodiment of Assamese courage” and praised the community’s progress inspired by such figures. The programme began with AJYCP flag hoisting by district advisor Mridul Kumar Sarma.
Meanwhile, Maharshi Vidya Mandir celebrated Lachit Divas with processions, songs, dances, speeches, and dramatizations of Lachit’s valor under Principal Rekha Jaiswal’s guidance.
