Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah released the book 'Assam's Braveheart Lachit Barphukan' in Guwahati, Assam today. Many dignitaries including Assam Chief Minister Shri Himant Biswa Sarma were present on this occasion.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that a person in Northeast of the country fought the battle of Swabiman, Swaraj and Swabhasha against bigoted and power-greedy people and won.  This tale of valour will make every citizen across India proud. He said that Lachit Borphukan can be called Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj of Eastern India. He said that the battle of Saraighat is an important chapter of India's freedom struggle and if Lachit had not won this war, today Assam would have been a part of Bangladesh. Shri Shah said that today the entire Northeast and Assam is a part of India, the basic reason for this is that all the invasions from Khilji to Aurangzeb were stopped here and from King Prithu to Lachit defeated them and saved Assam. He said that Lachit Borphukan was a brave son not only of Assam but of the entire India.

The Union Home Minister said that we were taught history from the British point of view and because of this, thousands of years old glorious tales of bravery of our country were removed from the history. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had decided to celebrate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to awaken the consciousness of the country. He said that Modi ji did 3 things through the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav- first to make young generation aware about the sacrifices of  the countless freedom fighters, second to glorify the achievements of the country in the last 75 years and move forward on this foundationand third, to take a pledge to build a India which will be first in the world in every field by 2047. He said that this 2-year long campaign has filled the mind of every youth of the country with confidence that the next 25 years belong to India and we are going to move forward by becoming a fully developed and self-reliant nation. Shri Shah added that only when public confidence is awakened, the progress of the nation begins. He said that bringing the personality and character of Lachit Borphukan in front of the entire country will awaken the collective consciousness and self-confidence of the country.

Shri Amit Shah said that we can learn a lot from the life of Lachit Borphukan. He said that by adding self to the word pride, it becomes self-respect and self-respect does not allow anyone to fall down but vanity does not allow anyone to rise, Borphukan understood this very well. He said that despite being a commander, leading the war by being in the first line like a soldier is the best example of Lachit not being arrogant. He said that Northeast cannot develop without taking everyone along and after so many years, we are trying to move forward with this basic mantra. Home Minister said that, if we study about thecomposition of the army of Lachit Borphukan, then by appointing soldiers of various community groups on different posts, he made all the communities of the Northeast a part of his army and by taking them all together, he tried to keep this part of the country safe from invaders through the Ahom Empire.

The Union Home Minister told the youth of Assam that all the controversies that were raised in the state during the rule of the opposition parties were artificial controversies. He said that since the time of Lachit Borphukan, all the groups of the Northeast have worked together, built large empires and repelled major invasions. He said that due to the efforts of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, all disputes have ended today and through 9 agreements, all the extremist groups have now come into the mainstream. He said that even now some people try to create controversies in the name of language and religion, but at such time we have to create a great Assam for development. He said that this work can be done only when we work together and rise above small things. The Home Minister called upon the youth of Assam to come together and support the breeze of development that is blowing in the entire region today due to Prime Minister Modi's concept of developed Northeast. He added that we should rise above small disputes and move forward in the interest of Assam and the entire Northeast. He said that Assam has always been independent, fought for freedom and dignity and this glorious history is suitable to inspire the youth of not only Assam but entire India.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Assam government has got this book translated in all the scheduled languages. He said that having multiple languages in a country is not a weakness but a strength and we should consider it as a strength. He added that we should respect all languages, literature, grammar and make it a great strength for the unity of the country. Home Ministersaid that leadership is defined by positive decisions, not by words and Prime Minister Modi has tried to inculcate countless heroes from across the country in literature and in the minds of the people. This will increase the self-respect of the country and awaken consciousness and by 2047 we will be able to make India a self-reliant and fully developed nation.

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