Himanta Biswa Sarma

When I talk about menace of rhino poaching, some give example of dehorning in Africa. By removing horns are we not accepting the defeat. What do you think. Is Conservation is about changing the animal to suit the threat. Or it must be about eliminating the threat itself.

What Himanta Biswa Sarma is doing with Lachit Borphukan’s legacy is not mere commemoration, it is a calibrated project of civilisational repositioning. The Ahom era, which represents nearly 600 years of indigenous statecraft, military resilience, and administrative sophistication, is being reintroduced as the foundational narrative of Assam’s identity. By investing in physical symbols (Lahdoigarh redevelopment, grand statues), intellectual engagement (nationwide essay competitions, academic integration), and national visibility (celebrations beyond Assam), the state is transforming Lachit from a regional hero into a pan-Indian icon of resistance, especially against Mughal expansion. This reframing subtly shifts Assam’s historical axis from the margins of Indian history to its strategic core. More importantly, this revival serves three deeper functions: •Civilisational assertion: Reclaiming Ahom legacy challenges long-standing colonial and Mughal-centric historiography, placing indigenous governance models at the forefront. •Identity consolidation: In a state marked by linguistic, ethnic, and religious complexities, Lachit becomes a unifying symbol rooted in shared pride rather than division. •Political-cultural continuity: By embedding Ahom values, discipline, sacrifice, sovereignty, into public consciousness, the government is shaping a future-oriented identity anchored in historical strength. In essence, the Ahom legacy is being repurposed as a living political framework, where Lachit Borphukan is not just remembered, but operationalised as a symbol of how Assam sees itself in the present and projects itself into the future.