COURAGE IN THE BATTLEFIELD: MULAGABHARU IN THE AHOM-TURK CONFLICT

The military history of medieval Assam has traditionally focused on kings, generals, and territorial expansion, while the participation of women in warfare has received comparatively little scholarly attention. Among the notable female figures preserved in the historical memory of Assam, Mulagabharu occupies a distinctive place for her participation in the Ahom resistance against the invading forces of Turbak Khan during the sixteenth century. Her courage at the Battle of Duimunisila has become an enduring symbol of sacrifice and patriotism in Assamese historical consciousness. Yet, despite her prominence in regional memory, the available historical evidence concerning her life remains scattered across Ahom chronicles, later historical writings, and popular traditions. This study critically examines Mulagabharus role in the Ahom - Turkconflict by analysing primary sources, particularly the Ahom Buranjis, alongside modern historical scholarship. Rather than presenting her merely as a legendary heroine, the paper situates her within the broader political, military, and social context of sixteenth-century Assam. It explores the organisation of the Ahom military system, the strategic importance of the conflict with the Bengal Sultanate, the role of royal women during wartime, and the construction of Mulagabharus historical legacy.