Laidhan Khan – Valiant Moriya hero from Saraighat
By Muhammad Talha Amin Baruah
Bagh Hazarika wasn’t the only Muslim warrior in the battle of Saraighat, many other Muhammdans stepped up too. One of them is Laidhan Khan, the fierce Moriya warrior. During the epic Battle of Saraighat in 1671, he battled the Mughals on the Brahmaputra with skill and heart, helping Ahoms turn the tide. His courage made him a legend in Assam’s rich history.
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Laidhan Khan was a Muslim warrior from the Moriya tribe of Assam.¹ He traces his origins to Turko-Afghan invaders of Assam from 1532. ²The Buranjis tell us that these Turko-Afghan forces were defeated and their remaining soldiers were taken prisoners by the Ahom army. The Ahom king eventually put them on certain duties of the Kingdom and they came to be known as the ‘Moriyas’.³
Laidhan Khan was a bodyguard of Lachit Borphukan. He eagerly participated in the battle of Kaliabor in the year 1667-68 and then he participated in the legendary battle of Saraighat in 1671. Both these battles were major victories of the Ahom forces. Laidhan is said to be have been a trusted ally of Lachit Borphukan. ¹
It’s my personal opinion that Laidhan probably descended from a Moriya man who had once married an Ahom woman. To support my theory, I would first like to reference ‘Tarikh-e-Assam’ written by Shehabuddin Talesh, the Mughal Chronicler who came to Assam during Mir Jumla’s invasion. His work includes includes the words “The Muslims who were earlier made prisoners of war, married local women according to their choice. Their offspring now have accepted the manners and customs of the Aashamese people. They are Muslims in name only and had nothing to do with Islam. They are more inclined to be associated with the local people than the Muslims.”⁴
It Is much obvious from Talesh’s words “Prisoners of war” that he is referring to a group of Moriya people. The Ahom king had once married off Ahom girls to the Moriya men.⁵ It can be assumed that Laidhan descended from them since his name itself is not a Muslim name, rather an Assamese one. This further proves Talesh's words “Their offspring now have accepted the manners and customs of the Aashamese people.”
Nothing much is known about Laidhan Khan since he is a surviving oral tradition among the Moriya people and he doesn’t appear in any of the Buranjis of the Ahoms. But his bravery will always be remembered among the Assamese people.
References :
1. ‘Lachit Barphukan And Bagh Hazarika’ by Dr. Devbrata Sarma (2025). Ekalabya Prakashan. Pg. 63-64
2. Proceedings of North East India History Association – Volume 6 (1985). NEIHA. Pg. 9
3. ‘Assam Buranji’ by Harakanta Barua Sadar Amin (2022 edition). DVS Publishers. Pg. 96
4. ‘Tarikh-e-Aasham’ by Shehabuddin Talesh (2022 edition). DHAS. Pg. 60
5. ‘The Moria Muslims of Assam’ by Pradyot kumar Guha (2007). Abhijeet Publications. Pg. 26
Bagh Hazarika wasn’t the only Muslim warrior in the battle of Saraighat, many other Muhammdans stepped up too. One of them is Laidhan Khan, the fierce Moriya warrior. During the epic Battle of Saraighat in 1671, he battled the Mughals on the Brahmaputra with skill and heart, helping Ahoms turn the tide. His courage made him a legend in Assam’s rich history.
.jpeg)
Laidhan Khan was a Muslim warrior from the Moriya tribe of Assam.¹ He traces his origins to Turko-Afghan invaders of Assam from 1532. ²The Buranjis tell us that these Turko-Afghan forces were defeated and their remaining soldiers were taken prisoners by the Ahom army. The Ahom king eventually put them on certain duties of the Kingdom and they came to be known as the ‘Moriyas’.³
Laidhan Khan was a bodyguard of Lachit Borphukan. He eagerly participated in the battle of Kaliabor in the year 1667-68 and then he participated in the legendary battle of Saraighat in 1671. Both these battles were major victories of the Ahom forces. Laidhan is said to be have been a trusted ally of Lachit Borphukan. ¹
It’s my personal opinion that Laidhan probably descended from a Moriya man who had once married an Ahom woman. To support my theory, I would first like to reference ‘Tarikh-e-Assam’ written by Shehabuddin Talesh, the Mughal Chronicler who came to Assam during Mir Jumla’s invasion. His work includes includes the words “The Muslims who were earlier made prisoners of war, married local women according to their choice. Their offspring now have accepted the manners and customs of the Aashamese people. They are Muslims in name only and had nothing to do with Islam. They are more inclined to be associated with the local people than the Muslims.”⁴
It Is much obvious from Talesh’s words “Prisoners of war” that he is referring to a group of Moriya people. The Ahom king had once married off Ahom girls to the Moriya men.⁵ It can be assumed that Laidhan descended from them since his name itself is not a Muslim name, rather an Assamese one. This further proves Talesh's words “Their offspring now have accepted the manners and customs of the Aashamese people.”
Nothing much is known about Laidhan Khan since he is a surviving oral tradition among the Moriya people and he doesn’t appear in any of the Buranjis of the Ahoms. But his bravery will always be remembered among the Assamese people.
References :
1. ‘Lachit Barphukan And Bagh Hazarika’ by Dr. Devbrata Sarma (2025). Ekalabya Prakashan. Pg. 63-64
2. Proceedings of North East India History Association – Volume 6 (1985). NEIHA. Pg. 9
3. ‘Assam Buranji’ by Harakanta Barua Sadar Amin (2022 edition). DVS Publishers. Pg. 96
4. ‘Tarikh-e-Aasham’ by Shehabuddin Talesh (2022 edition). DHAS. Pg. 60
5. ‘The Moria Muslims of Assam’ by Pradyot kumar Guha (2007). Abhijeet Publications. Pg. 26
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