Guwahati (Assam) [India], October 9 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday unveiled a statue of medieval-era Ahom army commander, Lachit Borphukan, and a Swahid Smarak at Bir Lachit Borphukan Park inside Narengi Military Station in Guwahati, said a press release.
The two structures, funded by the Government of Assam, were conceptualised by Major General (Retired) R.K. Jha, former General Officer Commanding of 51 Sub Area of the Indian Army in Narengi, said the official statement.
CM Sarma also became witness to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Assam and the Indian Army for upskilling of ex-servicemen and their dependents, added the official statement.
As per the official release, the Assam CM termed the unveiling of the statue of Lachit Borphukan as a major milestone in the current dispensation’s relentless attempts at spreading the valorous saga of the medieval-era Ahom army commander across the nook and corner of the country.
CM Sarma further said that the statue of Lachit and the Swahid Smarak, built to keep alive the memories of the supreme sacrifices of the country’s brave soldiers, shall inspire a sense of deep patriotism among the visitors to the park where they have been installed.
Stating that this is the first time a statue of Lachit Borphukan has been installed at a military station, CM Sarma extended his gratitude to the Indian Army’s Eastern Command and its General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lt. General Rana Pratap Kalita for the initiative which would go a long way in further strengthening the military-civilian administration ties in the State.
Referring to Mahabir Lachit Borphukan as a military commander and strategist par excellence, the Assam CM said it is important and necessary that the valorous saga of a personality such as the Ahom commander does not remain confined within the perimeters of the State alone.
He also mentioned the brilliant military exploits of Lachit that thwarted the Mughals’ expansionist designs for Assam, said the press release.
The state government has been taking numerous steps aimed at providing Lachita, a status similar to that of Shivaji Maharaj and Maharana Pratap in the nationalist discourse, said CM Sarma.
He further said, one such attempt is the ongoing translation of the book, Assam’s Braveheart Lachit Borphukan, authored by Arup Kumar Dutta in all the major regional languages of the country. Once the translation works are over, the State government will take the initiative to distribute them across the libraries of the colleges in the country, he added.
According to the official release, CM Sarma also announced the installation of a 150-feet-tall statue of Lachit at Hollongapar in Jorhat in February 2024.
A mega drama on the life of Lachit, in line with ‘Janta Raja’ based on the life of Shivaji Maharaj, is being conceptualised, said the Assam CM.
Additionally, CM Sarma spoke about the MoU signed today between the State government and the Indian Army, and he exuded confidence that the upskilling of ex-servicemen and their dependents would help them immensely in gaining remunerative employment and self-employment.
He further spoke about steps such as reservations in jobs for ex-servicemen.
CM Sarma lauded the role of the Army in bringing peace to the once strife-torn state.
The Army has made immense sacrifices for more than 40 years with the aim of bringing normalcy back to the state, CM Sarma said, adding that the people of Assam will forever remain indebted towards them.
According to the official release, the Assam CM exuded confidence that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act shall disappear completely from the state in the coming days, as normalcy finally returns to the State.
The event was also graced by the presence of Assam ministers Jayanta Mallabaruah, Bimal Borah, GOC-in-C of Army’s Eastern Command Lt General Rana Pratap Kalita, Lt General Sanjay Malik (GOC, 101 Area), Major General (Retd.) R.K. Jha (Former GOC of 51 Sub Area), Director General of Police G.P. Singh, along with senior officials of the Army and civilian administration, said the official statement. (ANI)
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