Staff Reporter,
Guwahati, November 23:Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in presence of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Wednesday inaugurated the 3-day celebrations of the 400th birth anniversary of the 17th century Ahom Army General Lachit Barphukan at Vigyan Bhawan organized centrally in New Delhi today. Speaking at the event, Union Minister Sitharaman congratulated Chief Minister Dr. Sarma for making a comprehensive attempt for the first time in making the rest of the country aware of a personality as towering as Lachit Barphukan. Referring to Lachit as a "total patriot", she said it is important for every Indian to know about his indomitable display of valour and courage, along with strategy, in the battlefield. The Union Finance, making an appeal to the Government of Assam to organise similar events highlighting the Ahom era in various parts of the country said that she would request the Union Ministry of Culture to co-operate with the State government in this regard. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, paying rich tributes to the great Ahom army general, said that the saga of courage, patriotism and sacrifice displayed by Lachit Barphukan is undoubtedly one of the most glorious chapters of Indian history. It was Lachit's leadership and generalship in the battle of Saraighat of 1671 that ensured the continuation of Ahom rule, which in turn led to the preservation of indigenous Assamese identity and culture, the Chief Minister stated. Had the Ahoms succumbed to the invading Mughals, the unique cultural identity of not only Assam but that of the entire Southeast Asia would have been different. It is, therefore, important that Lachit Barphukan is accorded his due place in history in the manner other great warriors and monarchs of ancient and mediaeval period have been accorded. The Chief Minister further said that the initiative to centrally organize Lachit's birth anniversary in the national capital would make the people of India realize that "India had better kings and monarchs than Aurangzeb." The Chief Minister also spoke about measures such as the upcoming grand-memorial at the Maidam of Lachit Barphukan in Jorhat district, installation of a statue of the great Ahom general at the premises of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, among others. Dr. Sarma also expressed his gratitude to Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman for gracing the inaugural ceremony of the 3-day event with her presence. Referring to her a well-wisher of the people of Assam, the Chief Minister said her presence, and the scheduled presence of the Union Home Minister tomorrow and that of the Prime Minister day after tomorrow, are manifestations of the importance, the current dispensation at the Centre attaches towards the overall uplift of the Northeastern region. Later in the day, a panel discussion on the subject "Ahom saga of hope, skills and courage", moderated by former Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua and participated by eminent personalities such as Lt. General Rana PratapKalita, Former Director General of Police Prakash Singh, Kapil Kapoor, Samundragupta Kashyap, Kuldeep Patowary and Chandan Kumar Sarma, was held at the same venue.
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