Context:
Prime Minister unveiled 25-foot-high statue of Lachit Borphukan.
Statue of Valour:
- Location – Jorhat, Assam
- Made of – Bronze
- Sculptor – Ram Vanji Sutar, a Padma Bhushan awardee
Lachit Borphukan:
- Lachit Borphukan – Legendary army commander of the Ahom kingdom (1228-1826).
- Born in – Assam
- Known for – Leadership in the Battle of Saraighat, 1671
- One of the greatest naval battles in India
- Led by – Raja Ram Singh I
- Fought on the banks of the Brahmaputra in Guwahati
- Resulted in the victory of Ahoms over the Mughals.
- Contribution –
- United and bought together the tribal forces of Assam
- Inspiration behind strengthening India’s naval force
- Commemoration –
- Lachit Borphukan Gold Medal is awarded to the best cadet from the National Defence Academy.
- Lachit Divas celebrated on November 24
Ahom Kingdom:
- Founder – Chaolung Sukapha
- Economy – Depended upon Forced Labour
- Those forced to work for the state were called paiks
- Society – Worshipped their own tribal gods, yet they accepted the Hindu religion
- Important forts – Chamdhara, Saraighat, Simlagarh, Kaliabar, Kajali and Pandu.
- Demise – Annexed to British India by the Treaty of Yandaboo
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
Which amongst the following provided a common factor for tribal insurrection in India in the 19th century?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2011 Prelims]
(a) Introduction of a new system of land revenue and taxation- of tribal products
(b) Influence of foreign religious missionaries in tribal areas
(c) Rise of a large number of money lenders, traders and revenue farmers as middlemen in tribal areas
(d) The complete disruption of the old agrarian order of the tribal communities
Answer: (d)
