Guwahati, Jan 31: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced that the state government will rewrite history textbooks for high school students, citing the need to correct historical narratives.
Addressing the closing ceremony of the 10th Mising Youth Festival at Kareng Chapori, organised by Takam Mising Porin Kebang, Sarma questioned the depiction of Ahom warrior Bagh Hazarika in existing textbooks. He stated that Bagh Hazarika was not part of Lachit Barphukan’s forces during the 1671 Battle of Saraighat and asserted that Mising leader Miri Handique fought against the Mughal army in Kamrup.
“There was no Bagh Hazarika with Lachit Barphukan in the Battle of Saraighat. It was Mising leader Miri Handique who fought against the Mughals in Kamrup,” the chief minister said.
Traditional historical accounts describe Ismail Siddique, known as Bagh Hazarika, as a 17th-century Ahom warrior from an Assamese Muslim family in Dhekerigaon near Garhgaon, now in Sivasagar district. He is commonly credited with fighting alongside Lachit Barphukan against the Mughal forces during the Battle of Saraighat.
Sarma said he has directed the Education Department to begin the process of rewriting the textbooks and has informed Education Minister Ranoj Pegu about the decision. The announcement was made in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The chief minister also spoke about the role of the Mising community in Upper Assam, stating that their presence had helped prevent encroachment and infiltration in the region. He remarked that such issues were absent from Golaghat eastward and attributed this to the community’s vigilance and contributions. During his remarks, Sarma used the term “Miya” while referring to Bengali-speaking Muslims, a term that has been part of public debate.
At the event, Sarma announced financial assistance of Rs 100 crore for the Mising Youth Festival and Rs 10 crore for the Donyi-Polo society, and praised the Mising community for its cultural role and contribution to Assamese society.
