Current context:
=> The battle of Alaboi was fought between the Ahom armed force and Mughals trespassers on August 5, 1669 in the Alaboi Hills near Dadara in North Guwahati.
=> Recently speaking on the anniversary of battle of Alaboi Minister of Forest and Environment Chandra Mohan Patowary informed that the government is planning to set up a panel for extensive research on Alaboi war.
=> The government has already setup an Alaboi war memorial at Amingaon in Kamrup.
Background:
=> Mughal army under Mir Jumla invaded Assam in the year 1662.
=> The Mughals defeated Ahoms, captured Ahom territory including Guwahati.
=> Treaty of Ghilazarighat was signed in the year 1663
=> Jayadhwaj Singha died out of despair in 1663, and he was succeeded by his cousin Chakradhwaj Singha.
=> Chakradhwaj Singha appointed Lachit, the son of Momai Tamuli Barbarua, to command the expedition against the Mughals and appointed him the Borphukan.
Battle of Alaboi:
=> Ram Singha challenged Chakradhvaj Singha to a single combat and undertook in case of his defeat to return with his army to Bengal.
=> The Assam king, in his turn, grew impatient and ordered his commanders to attack the Mughals immediately.
=> The Mughals then concentrated their army near the Alaboi bill in the vicinity of Dalbari. There was a vast plain in front of the Mughal camp.
=> In the battle of Alaboi, ten thousand Assamese soldiers lost their lives.
=> Soon after the battle of Alaboi, Chakradhvaj Singha died in 1669.
=> He was succeeded by his brother, who in his accession assumed the Hindu name Udayaditya Singha.
Battle of Saraighat,1671:
=> Ahom army – demoralized after battle of Alaboi.
=> Lachit Barphukan was seriously ill and was in his sickbed. Not present in the battle field.
=> The Ahom army started to retreat soon after the battle started.
=> At this crucial moment, Lachit Barphukan, in spite of his illness, rushed into the thick Mughal fleet.
=> He had with him six war-vessels.
=> This unprecedented attack of the Barphukan restored to courage of the retreating Assamese soldiers who came back and fell upon the enemy.
=> A terrible contest took place. The Mughals could not stand the “dash and fury of the Assamese onset”.
=> They had to retreat with ignominy and disaster.