Laluksola Borphukan is a controversial name in the history of Assam. Many people know him as the elder brother of Lachit Borphukan. Laluksola Borphukan was a minister in the Ahom dynasty during the most tumultuous period of Ahom history. He was notorious for hatching a conspiracy against the king. This blog will the career of this Ahom general in detail.
Laluksola Borphukan : Initial Years
Laluksola Borphukan was the son of Momai Tamuli Borborua, an ahom general and the first Borborua (an ahom minister) of the Ahom dynasty. Momai Tamuli Borborua was responsible for commanding the Ahom forces during the war with the Mughals. Laluksola Borphukan, being the eldest son, also followed his father to fight the Mughals. Under the guidance of Momai Tamuli Borborua, Laluksola Borphukan and his brother Lachit Borphukan were well-trained in warfare and royal affairs. After the death of his father, the position of Borborua was given to his brother Lachit. Lachit Borphukan fought valiantly against the Mughals and drove them Mughals back beyond the Kamrup area. All these years, Laluksola Borphukan took an active part in helping his father and brother.
His Role as Borphukan
As Lachit Borphukan died just after the famous Saraighat Battle (1672 AD), King Udayaditya Singha appointed Laluksola Borphukan as the next Borphukan. He was given the same responsibility of commanding the western front of Ahom kingdom. Those were the very critical phases of Ahom’s history.
The Ahoms and the Mughals fought a protracted war that lasted more than 30 years. Even though, the Ahoms were victorious in the battle of Saraighat; there was a continuous threat of the Mughal army from Bengal involving the Ahom kingdom. There was no question of lowering the guards at Guwahati and its neighbouring area, despite knowing that Mughal invaders had abandoned their positions. So,Laluksola Borphukan had to stay at Guwahati. Till now, Laluksola Borphukan was the hero of the Ahom army and was revered by his soldiers and commoners equally. However, things took a sharp turn within Ahom royalty at Garhgaon (then the capital of Ahom Kingdom) as the danger of the Mughal army waned.
The Conspiracy at Ahom Royal Court
After the deposition and execution of Udayaditya Singha in 1672, the Ahom kingdom entered into a period of weak kings, with de facto power wielded by ministers of the Ahom kingdom. Initially, one minister named Debera Borbarua became all-powerful and assumed dictatorial power. It is to be noted that most of the able and powerful Ahom nobles were at Guwahati during that period fighting the Mughals. If Debera had to hold his power, he must eliminate his rival nobles mainly Laluksola Borphukan and Atan Burhagohain.
Debera sent his agent Lao Deka, brother of Laluk Sola Borphukan, to Guwahati under the alleged orders of the king and summoned many nobles to the capital. When they reached Garhgaon, they were killed by order of Debera without the knowledge of then-king Gobar Singha. However, his main rivals survived.
The End of Debera Borbarua
Laluksola Borphukan stationed at Guwahati got information about the intrigues at Ahom court. Soon, an expedition was sent under the leadership of Atan Burhagohain to get rid of Debera and the weak king. The expedition was successful and both were deposed and executed.
The nobles wanted to make Atan Burhagohain the king, but he said no because only people from the Royal Ahom Dynasty could be kings. So, they looked for someone else and found Arjun Konwar, who they thought would be a good king. Atan Burhagohain then chose Arjun Konwar to be the king of the Ahom kingdom in 1675 AD.
Court Intrigue Again
Arjun Konwar’s rule, guided by the wise counsel of Atan Burhagohain, seemed like it would bring prosperity and peace. However, some officers and nobles were unhappy with this partnership, particularly resenting Atan Burhagohain’s increasing influence. Seeds of mistrust and foul play were sown in the minds of the king and Atan Burhagohain. That resulted in a failed coup by Burhagohain. Eventually, the king was deposed and Tej Singha was installed by Atan Burhagohain as the new king and Burhagohain became the defacto ruler again.
Meanwhile, the relationship between Atan Burhagohain and Laluksola Borphukan, who was still at Guwahati, soared. The informers of Borphukan at the court revealed that Atan Burhagohain is aiming to sack Laluksola Borphukan from his post. They decided to seek Mughal aid to strengthen their position
Laluksola Borphukan : The Traitor
Laluksola Borphukan dispatched messengers to Mughal prince Muhammad Azam, the Subedar of Bengal. In his letters, Laluksola Borphukan expressed his willingness to evacuate the garrison of Guwahati on the condition that the Mughals must help him in his endeavour to become the king of the Ahom dynasty. Prince Azam was related to Laluksola Borphukan by marriage as Borphukan’s niece Ramani Gabharu or Rahmat Banu was married to the Prince. The prince agreed and in addition, agreed to a huge amount of money to Borphukan for giving up Guwahati to the Mughals.
The Secret Became Open-Secret
Even though Atan Burhagohain took all the measures to keep the dealing with the Mughals secret, somehow that information got leaked to Atan Burhagohain. However, Burhagohain did not create an alarm after hearing this. Probably, he didn’t want a division within the nobility in the face of a future Mughal attack.
However, Burhagohain very well knew the intention of Laluksola Borphukan. He understood that an attack from Borphukan and other nobles stationed at Guwahati was imminent. So, he decided to fortify the capital by building a large rampant known as the Chintamani rampart. This proved the last straw.
Laluksola Borphukan Vs Atan Burhagohain
Laluksola Borphukan raised this issue to obtain the support of other Phukans and Ahom nobles residing in Guwahati against Prime Minister Atan Burhagohain. The other Ahom Phukans and nobles supported Laluksola Borphukan and jointly decided to negotiate with the Mughals with the object of surrendering Guwahati to them.
Meanwhile, Prince Mohammad Azam Shah obtained permission from his father Emperor Aurangzeb to invade Assam. He issued orders to Nawab Mansur Khan, the Faujdar of the Mughal outpost to proceed to Guwahati and take delivery of the fortification of Guwahati from Laluksola Borphukan. It was 1679 AD.
So, in a matter of a few years, all that was gained by the heroic efforts of Lachit Borphukan and other Ahom soldiers was lost. The place for which thousands of Ahom soldiers lost their lives and shed their blood was lost without a fight. What a shame! The honour of Lachit Borphukan was all but lost by his elder brother Laluksola.
Laluksola Takes Control of Ahom Kingdom
After having evacuated Guwahati, Laluksola Borphukan moved to Kaliabar. On the other hand, forces of Atan Burhagohain were coming towards Kaliabar to front Borphukan. At this moment, Laluksola Borphukan tricked Burhagohain knowing that the forces of Burhagohain were stronger and larger in number.
He sent a message to Atan Burhagohain, telling him to stay in Biswanath and send his subordinates, the Phukans, to Kaliabar to join forces for an attack on the Mughals in Guwahati. However, Atan Burhagohain didn’t realize the true intention of the cunning Laluksola Borphukan. Later, the commanders of Atan Burhagohain’s army were killed, and his soldiers were placed under Borphukan’s command. Upon hearing this, Atan Burhagohain decided to confront Laluksola Borphukan directly. Unfortunately, his forces were outnumbered and outmanoeuvred by Laluksola’s army. Eventually, Atan Burhagohain was captured and killed.
Laluksola Borphukan and his supporters marched towards the capital Garhgaon. The king was assured of his place. The royal officers were purged and new persons loyal to Borphukan were appointed. After settling all issues in his favour, Laluksola Borphukan proceeded towards Kaliabar, the Ahom frontier next to Guwahati.
Now, King Tej Singha began to assert his authority and made plans to arrest Laluksola Borphukan. Laluksola Borphukan and his colleagues marched towards Garhgaon to frustrate Sudoiphaa’s attempts to arrest them. The king opposed the insurgents in an armed conflict, but his soldiers were defeated with heavy casualties. He took shelter in the palace and was eventually executed by Borphukan.
The Last Phase of Laluksola Borphukan
In October 1679, Prince Sarugohain of the Samuguria branch of the Royal Ahom Dynasty, only 14 years old, was placed on the throne. The new king assumed the Ahom title Sulikphaa and the Hindu title Ratnadhwaj Singha. He was famously known as Lora Roja (Boy King) because of his early age.
Lora Raja was a mere puppet whom he could remove at will, but the other princes of royal blood, all descended from King Sukaphaa, would always be an obstacle to fulfilling his goal of ascending the throne. So, Laluksola Borphukan decided to mutilate the limbs of all the able-bodied princes belonging to the Royal Ahom dynasty. After many bloodbaths in the state, Laluksola was killed by his sentry.
