Assam: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma unveils grand statue of Birangana Sati Sadhani at Sarupathar

In a solemn ceremony on the occasion of Birangana Sati Sadhani Divas, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled a grand statue of Birangana Sati Sadhani, the legendary warrior queen of Chutia, at Sarupathar, Assam. The Chief Minister expressed the government's commitment to celebrating the lives of Assam's greatest heroes as a people's movement.

Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Sarma praised the courage and sacrifice of Birangana Sati Sadhani, whose valour and devotion have inspired generations. The Chief Minister, in his speech, also highlighted the government's efforts to address the issues faced by the Chutia community in Assam. The government has allocated 125 crores for the development of the Chutia community, with 50 crores already released. Efforts are also being made to provide reservations for Chutia community students in universities and institutions.

Sati Sadhani was born in Sadiya and was the daughter of King Dharmadhwajpal, also known as Dhirnarayan. King Dhirnarayan had organized a svayamvara ceremony for Sadhani to choose a husband from a group of suitors when she turned 19 years old. The king pledged to wed Sadhani to anyone who could shoot a running squirrel with an arrow. A cow-herder named Nitai emerged victorious and became Sadhani's husband, changing his name to Nitipal after their marriage.

In 1522, Nitipal and Sadhani ascended to the throne as king and queen of Chutia. However, Nitipal's lack of experience in governance led to a tumultuous reign. He replaced the old ministers with his friends from his hometown, leading to a rebellion and the splitting of Chutia into several independent parts. Despite Nitipal's ineffective rule, Sadhani took charge of the kingdom. However, the damage had been done, and the neighboring Ahom Kingdom took advantage of Chutia's weakened state.

The two kingdoms' dispute, which had started during Dhirnarayan's rule, came to a head in 1523 when the Ahom king annexed Chutia. Despite their best efforts, Sadhani and Nitipal were unable to reach a settlement. On April 16, 1524, the Ahom army attacked Sadiya, the Chutia capital. Sadhani and Nitipal fled to the mountains with some surviving soldiers and launched a guerrilla war against the invaders. Sadhani even assembled a force of 120 female warriors.

Sadly, some of the former Chutia ministers and military commanders sided with the Ahom Kingdom, resulting in Chutia's defeat. King Nitipal was shot with an arrow, and Queen Sadhani fought until the end. She chose to take her own life by jumping from a hill, rather than be captured and face dishonor. According to another account, Nitipal was killed during the capture of Sadiya, and Sadhani was offered to marry the new governor of the city, appointed by the ruler of Ahom. She chose death over dishonor and leaped from a hill.