Lachit Borphukan was a prominent military general of the Ahom Kingdom in the 17th century. He is celebrated for his decisive leadership in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671, where the Ahom forces successfully defeated the Mughal army, preventing their advance into Assam. His bravery, strategic acumen, and patriotism are widely revered. In his honour, the National Defence Academy (NDA) confers the Lachit Borphukan Gold Medal upon the best cadet each year.