A History of Assam c13.20

c13.20

Sulikphā, from his tender age, was generally known as Larā Raja, or "the boy king." Prompted by the Bar Phukan, his first act was to cause the execution of Sangrai, the Burhā Gohāin, who had compassed the death of Gobar and Sujinphā, and whose overbearing conduct had led to the rebellion which culminated in the late king's death. The Bar Phukan now occupied the position recently held by the Burhā Gohāin and, before him, by Debera Bar Barua. But, undeterred by their fate, he resolved not merely, as they had done, to exercise the power, but also to assume the rank of king. It is said that he communicated his design to the Emperor of Delhi, who sent a reply conveying his approval, but whether this be true or not, there is no doubt that he openly asserted his equality with the king and clothed himself in garments which the latter alone was allowed to wear. But his triumph was short-lived. His overweening arrogance set the other nobles against him, and he was assassinated. His three sons and two of his brothers shared his fate. The Bhātdharā Phukan, a third brother, who was at Koliābar, saved his life by a timely flight to Muhammadan territory, where he tried to induce the local officials to give him troops to avenge his brother's death. He seems to have received some encouragement from Prince Muhammad Azam, but the latter had not a sufficiently strong force at his disposal to invade the Ahom country with any great prospect of success; and, in the end, he decided not to interfere. In order to prevent further conspiracies, by removing all possible rivals, Larā Raja determined to maim or kill all the descendants of former kings, and it is said that several hundred scions of the royal family were deprived of life or mutilated. He failed, however, to find one of his most formidable rivals; and Gadāpāni, the son of Gobar, though he was sought for everywhere, succeeded in eluding his pursuers.