Sati Sadhani was the last queen of the Chutia dynasty. She was the daughter of the Chutia King Dharmadhwajpal also known as Dhirnarayan. Born in Sadiya, she was married to Nityapal or Nitai. In 1524, due to Nityapal's weak leadership, the Ahoms took advantage and attacked the kingdom at its weakest state, they conquered Sadiya and killed Nityapal. So Sadhani who played a prominent role in the fight against the Ahoms was asked to marry Sadiyakhowa Gohain, the Ahom governor of Sadiya. Sadhani preferred death to dishonour, and sacrificed her own life by jumping from the top of Chandragiri hills near Sadiya in 1524.
Sadhani was born in around 1493 A.D. to king Dhirnarayan. She was married at the age of 19 years in the year 1512 A.D. and crowned queen in 1522 A.D. after the aged Chutia king Dhirnarayan won the battle of Mungkhrang fort in 1520 A.D. Being unable to find a suitable groom for Sadhani, a Swayamvara was organised by the king. The king promised to marry Sadhani to any person who would be able to shoot down a running squirrel on the top of a Mori-xali with an arrow. To everyone's surprise, it was a cow-herder named Nitai who was able to kill the squirrel. The king kept his promise and married off the princess to Nitai who was since then given the name Nitipal. The king retired to the hills leaving the throne to Nitipal and Sadhani.
Nitipal's weak rule
Being a cow herder before becoming king, Nitipal was an inefficient king. He didn't have any idea how to rule over a kingdom and it was Sadhani who had to take charge. Nitipal dismissed all the old wise ministers and instead recruited his own friends from his village as his ministers. This resulted in a rebellion within the kingdom by the old ministers which was led by the brother of the former king named Surdhwajpal. But, it was crushed soon. Due to this chaos spread in the kingdom, the Chutia chiefs of other areas like Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Biswanath became independent. Nitipal was popularly known as A-nitipal because of this inefficiency and recklessness. Sadiya was solitary and had no contact to any of the chutia chiefs of the other parts of the kingdom. After the defeat at Dibrugarh, Nitipal sued for peace. The Ahom king Suhungmung demanded the royal heirloom and queen Sadhani. But, Nitipal disagreed and instead send other gifts.
Prior Royal mandate
As per the Darrang buranji, one of the Chutia princesses was married to an Ahom prince in the years before the annexation. This princess helped him get one of the royal Golden Cat idols which were the heirlooms of the Chutia kings. Although it was not the original one, it later gave Suhungmung royal mandate to annex and rule over the Chutia kingdom at a later time.
The Sadiya attack took place in the year 1524 A.D. on the first day which was 16 April 1524. This day is reserved for the Bor-bali. It is still practiced today in Sadiya. On this day, no other person is allowed to carry weapons besides the Deori priests. The invaders very well knew this fact. At that time, Chutias were the only people in the entire Northeast India who possessed firearms like Hiloi and Bortop. So, the invaders very well knew that a frontal attack was never possible. So, they planned a sudden attack on this very day. They attacked when the entire city was busy celebrating Bisu. The siege of Sadiya is referred to as Kosu-kota Ran in the Buranjis which literally translates to Battle of Yam-cutting. This was evidently because there was no resistance provided by armless soldiers and the invaders slaughtered innocent people like chopping vegetables.
The sudden attack at Sadiya forced the king and queen along with some of the soldiers who survived, to flee to the Chandangiri hills situated above Sadiya. The Chutiyas attacked valiantly against the invaders from the hills. They applied gurella warfare strategies and used Faakdhenu and spears. The army killed hundreds of enemies. Queen Sadhani formed a female fighting squad of 120 warriors. They assisted the army by rolling big boulders onto the enemy below. The invaders were unable to do anything. That day was 21 April and was widely considered as Ujha Bisu. Therefore, one of the former ministers of the Chutias whom Nitipal had removed sided with the Ahoms and suggested the Ahom commander Phrasengmung Borgohain to play the Dhol. Thus the general ordered some captives to climb up Ghila creepers and play the Bisu drum or Dhol. As it was the season of Bihu, the Chutia army took it to be a sign that re-enforcements had arrived from other parts and that it was a sign of victory, thinking the Ahoms were chased out. So, thinking the drum beats to be a signal of victory they came down to the lower hills where the enemies were hiding. Another former Chutia commander named Gajraj Borua who had sided with the Ahoms showed the enemies the exact way to the location where the king was hiding. The king was attacked and killed by an arrow while Sadhani fought till her last breath at the end sacrificing her life by jumping from a hill.
Sati Sadhani Divas
Every year in Assam, 21 April is celebrated as Sati Sadhani divas to honour the sacrifices made by the Sutiya Queen. The Government of Assam declares this day as state holiday.
Sati Sadhani Award
The award is instituted by the Sutiya Jati Unnayan Parishad. The award is given to a person every year, having outstanding contributions to the field of art, culture and literature. The person to be honoured by this Award is selected by a committee formed by the Parishad.
