Arise Bharat

On this #MahaVijayDiwas in 1206 CE, at the “Battle of Kamarupa,” Maharaja Prithu of ancient Kamarupa, the present day Assam, delivered a crushing defeat to Bakhtiyar Khilji, the ruthless Turkish invader known for destroying India’s famous knowledge centres like Nalanda and Vikramshila Universities. It is said 90 lakh books of Nalanda Library were burnt.

Khilji’s campaign into Kamarupa was met with fierce resistance, as King Prithu employed the Scorched Earth Policy to weaken Khilji’s forces. Facing a united Assamese army led by King Prithu and supported by assembled tribal warriors, Khilji’s army suffered heavy losses. The retreating forces were ambushed, and Khilji narrowly escaped with only a few hundred men. This catastrophic defeat led to Khilji’s downfall — he never led another campaign and was eventually assassinated by his own general.

King Prithu’s victory not only saved Assam from destruction but also preserved India’s northeastern frontier from Islamic conquest. Despite this historic triumph, King Prithu remains a forgotten hero in Indian history.

It’s time we remember and honor the defenders of our civilization!