Guwahati, Feb 25: President Ram Nath Kovind today said, that 17th Century war heroes of the country, Ahom Commander Bir Lachit Borphukan and Maratha king Chatrapati Shivaji, who fought valiantly against the invading Mughal army to protect the sovereignty of their motherlands, would eternally inspire patriotism among younger generations for protection of sovereignty as well as integrity of the country.
Kovind today attended as the Chief Guest a function here in Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra to set the ball rolling for the year-long celebrations of the 400th birth anniversary of Ahom Era war hero Lachit Borphukan who defeated the invading Mughal Army led by Ram Singh in the historic Battle of Saraighat in 1671, to protect the sovereignty of the erstwhile Ahom Kingdom in Assam.
The President also virtually inaugurated Alaboi War memorial to be built at Pachariya in Kamrup district of the state as well as Lachit Moidam revamping project at Holongapar at Teok in Jorhat district of Assam.
Assam Chief Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma presented the President with a portrait of Lachit Borphukan which, the President announced, would be installed in the museum of Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi with due honour.
The Chief Minister announced that Assam government will observe August 5 every year as Alaboi Sangram Divas in memory of the 10,000 Assamese jawans who had sacrificed their life in a single while fighting the Mughal Army led by Ram Singh in Alaboi War.
Addressing the function, Governor of Assam, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi while recalling the heroics of Lachit Borphukan stated that awarding of the Best Cadet of the National Defence Academy with Lachit Borphukan Medal is a practice to accord glowing tributes to the unparalleled war hero from the bank of River Brahmaputra.
The President who arrived here this morning for a three-day visit of the state, expressed his gratitude to the people of Assam for the rousing welcome accorded to him. He will attend the convocation of Tezpur Central University tomorrow and visit Kaziranga National Park. He will depart to New Delhi from Jorhat on February 27.