Q. Briefly discuss the Ahom Mughal conflict during the 17th century.

The annexation of Cooch Behar by the Mughals paved the way for direct clash of Mughals with the Ahoms.
The main grounds for the initial Ahom Mughal friction were in boundary disputes and commercial relations.
During the rule of Pratap Singha (1616-1639)
- Boundary disputes between Ahom and Mughals started in 1616 which often led to small-scale military
conflicts.
- The first major conflict started in 1617, when Ahoms provided support to the raja of Darrang
Dharmanarayan in his conflict against the Mughals.
- The conflicts between Ahoms and Mughals continued for a prolonged period of 12 years without any
decisive result.
- Both the parties so exhausted their resources that both desired for peace.
- Treaty of Asurar Ali (1639) was signed and Barnadi and Asurar Ali were decided to be the border
between Ahoms and Mughals in the northern and southern bank of Brahmaputra respectively.
Mir Jumla’s invasion
- In 1658 when the sons of Shahjahan were busy in the war of succession, Pran Narayan, the king of
Koch Behar declared independence and captured Guwahati.
- Jayadhvaj Singha defeated the Koch and captured Gauhati and area up to Sankosh river.
- Aurangzeb sent Mir Jumla to restore the lost territories. Mir Jumla reached Assam in 1662.
- Mughals under Mir Jumla defeated Ahoms and advanced up to Gargaon.
- Jayadhvaj Singha had to sign a humiliating treaty known as Treaty of Ghilajarighat in 1663.
Ram Singha’s campaign and battle of Saraighat
- Chakradhvaj Singha succeeded Jayadhvaj Singha and appointed Lachit as the new Borphukan.
Ahoms under Lachit Barphukan recaptured Gauhati in 1667.
- Aurangzeb, this time, sent Raja Ram Singha to recapture Gauhati.
- Ahoms initially created much difficulty to the Mughals through their Guerrilla warfare but lost thousands
of Ahom soldiers in the pitched battle of Alaboi.
- Lachit, realizing that the Mughals could not be defeated on land, forced the Mughals to take the river
route by constructing blockades on the bank of Brahmaputra.
- Finally the Mughals were defeated in the battle of Saraighat because of the great leadership of Lachit
Borphukan in 1671.
Battle of Itakhuli
- After the death of Lachit, Laluk Sola became the new Borphukan. Lalok Sola in order to come to
power, sought help from the Mughals and in return surrendered Gauhati to Mughals.
- Later, Gadadhar Singha overthrew Lalok Sola and recaptured Gauhati by defeating the Mughals in the
Battle of Itakhuli in the year 1682.
- In this battle Mughals were decisively defeated.
Thus, Mughals who established their authority on the major portion of India, could not defeat the Ahoms and
establish control over Assam.

Q. Discuss how did Lachit Borphukan succeed in defeating the mighty

Mughals under Ram Singha in the 17th century?
Lachit Borphukan was the son of Mumani Tamuli Barbarua. After the humiliating treaty of Ghilajarighat (1663),
Jayadhvaj Singha was succeeded by Chakradhvaj Singha and Chakradhvaj Singha appointed Lachit the new
Borphukan.
 - Under Lachit, Ahoms captured Gauhati challenging the Mughals.
- The news of defeat reached Aurangzeb and he sent Raja Ram Singha to recapture Gauhati.
- Lachit started making ramparts on the bank of the river Brahmaputra at Saraighat to resist the
Mughals. For this, he bought some time by tactful negotiations with Ram Singha.
- In the conflicts that followed, although Ahoms suffered initial defeat, but soon afterwards they
overthrew the Mughals in a naval encounter. Mughals thus retreated to Hajo.
- Then Ram Singha challenged Chakradhvaj Singha for a pitched battle. Although Lachit wanted to
avoid it, as ordered by Chakradhvaj Singha, Ahom foughts the Mughal in the battle of Alaboi and lost
ten thousand soldiers.
- Chakradhvaj Singha died after the battle of Alaboi and was succeeded by Udayaditya Singha.
- Lachit Borphukan realized that the mighty Mughals could not be defeated on land and hence forced
them to take the river route by constructing blockades on the bank of Brahmaputra.
- Mughals started to proceed through Brahmaputra and faced the Ahoms at Saraighat, the place Lachit
thought to be suitable for the combat.
- Though Lachit was seriously ill on that day and was not present in the battle field, seeing the initial
retreat of the Ahoms, he rushed to the battle field and under his leadership Ahoms fought with renewed
vigour and defeated the Mughals.
This battle known as Battle of Saraighat in 1671, brought a decisive victory for the Assamese and officially
closed their long-drawn conflict with the Mughals.