Assam’s Secret Weapon: The Untold Story of Bodo-Kachari Soldiers in the Ahom-Mughal War

Описание: While Ahom kings were the political leaders of medieval Assam, their army was a massive, multi-ethnic force that relied heavily on indigenous tribes. There is significant historical evidence that the Bodo people (and related groups like the Kacharis) played a crucial role in the Ahom-Mughal wars. This video explores the "untold story" of these indigenous warriors who formed the backbone of the resistance.

​Under the "Paik" system of mandatory national service, every adult male, regardless of ethnicity, was a soldier-laborer. Bodo-Kachari soldiers were prized for specialized roles, particularly their expertise in archery and boat-making, which were critical for defending against the Mughals. They brought unique weaponry to the battlefield, such as the heavy "Thungri" (Boro Dao) for close-quarters jungle combat, and deadly arrows tipped with aconite poison.

​The Bodos were masters of guerrilla warfare, or "Daga-Yuddha," using the terrain of Lower Assam to their advantage. They utilized clever tactics like hidden bamboo spikes called "Panjis" to neutralize Mughal cavalry and built instant earthen forts called "Garhs" to baffle the enemy.

​We also look at the immense sacrifices made. During the Battle of Alaboi in 1669, 10,000 Assamese soldiers—a massive portion of whom were local Bodo-Kachari men—were martyred in a single day fighting on open plains. This tragedy fueled the "do-or-die" intensity that led to the ultimate victory at the Battle of Saraighat two years later. Without the Bodo-Kachari soldiers' knowledge of the terrain and their sheer numbers, the Ahom Kingdom likely would not have survived the Mughal invasions.


​Time Splits (8:09 Total)
​0:00 - Introduction: The "Hidden" Army of Assam
​1:12 - The Paik System and Indigenous Manpower
​2:25 - Specialized Skills: Master Archers and Boat-Makers
​3:38 - Bodo Weaponry: The Thungri, Poisoned Arrows, and Shields
​4:55 - Guerrilla Tactics: Panjis (Spikes) and Instant Forts
​6:10 - The Tragedy at the Battle of Alaboi (1669)
​7:20 - Victory at Saraighat and Modern Recognition
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​#AssamHistory #BodoWarriors #AhomMughalWar #LachitBorphukan #NortheastIndia #BattleOfSaraighat #IndigenousHistory