Momai Tamuli Borbarua

Momai Tamuli (Assamese: মোমাই তামুলী বৰবৰুৱা ) was an able administrator and the commander-in-chief of the army in the Ahom kingdom of Assam, India. He was the first Borbarua, a new office created during the rule of the Ahom king Prataap Singha. He rose from a humble position as a bondsman to the office of the Borbaruah, which was a combined function of the Chief Executive Officer and those of the Lord Chief Justice. His sons Lachit Borphukan and Laluksola Borphukan played very significant roles in the History of Assam, as did his brother Baduli Phukan and daughter Pakhori Gabhoru, an important Ahom queen. His granddaughter Ramani Gabhoru, daughter of Pakhori Gabhoru and Ahom King Swargadeo Jaydhawaj Singha, was married to Muhammad Azam Shah, son of Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb.

Sukuti, better known as Momai Tamuli was at first an ordinary bondsman pledged to serve under his nephew for a sum of four rupees only. One day he was working with his hoe in a field by the side of the road to the Ahom necropolis at Charaideo, raising bunds for storing rain water. The nephew used to call him Momai (maternal-uncle in Assamese) and Sukuti was popularly known as Momai amongst the people of the locality. The Ahom king Swargadeo Prataap Singha passing by that road saw Momai at work and was pleased at the quality of work in the paddy field. The king who had a keen eye for merit released Sukuti from his obligations to his nephew, and appointed him first as Tipamia Rajkhowa and afterwards as Bar Tamuli or superintendent of the royal gardens. Momai Tamuli rose from one office to another until he was appointed Borbaruah.

During the wars with the Mughals, Momai Tamuli was appointed the commander-in-chief of the Ahom forces. He was instrumental in enacting an important treaty with Allah Yar Khan in 1639, which fixed the Barnadi river as the boundary and which formed the basis of Ahom-Mughal relations for decades to come. His foresight and courage was a great asset to King Prataap Singha. A Mughal envoy had once reported to his master: "O Saheb, what do say of Assam? The king is a veritable Mahadeva, and Momai-Tamuli is Mahadeva's chief henchman or Nandi. As long as these two wield the affairs of Assam it is impossible to turn your face to that country."

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