Version of the Legend
Queen of Shutia
Sadhani was born around 1493 to king Dhirnarayan. In 1512, she married at age 19, and was crowned Queen in 1522. after Chutia King Dhirnarayan won the battle of Mungkhrang fort (1520). Unable to find a suitable groom for Sadhani, the king organised a meeting. The king promised to marry Sadhani to anyone who could shoot down a running squirrel on the top of a ''Mori-xali'' (cemetery) with an arrow. To everyone's surprise, a cowherd named Nitai (from the Chakusara clan) killed the squirrel. The king kept his promise and married the princess to Nitai who was then given the name Nitipal. The king retired to the hills leaving the throne to Nitipal and Sadhani.Nitipal's rule
A cowherd before becoming king, Nitipal was inefficient in the role. He had no idea how to rule a kingdom, so Sadhani took charge. Nitipal dismissed the experienced ministers and instead recruited his own friends from his village. The old ministers rebelled, led by Surdhwajpal, the brother of the former king. The rebellion was soon crushed. Chaos spread in the kingdom, and the Chutia chiefs of other areas became independent. Nitipal was popularly known as ''A-nitipal'' because of this inefficiency and recklessness. Sadiya was solitary and had no contact with Chutia chiefs of the other parts of the kingdom.Prior royal mandate
As per the Darrang buranji, one of the Chutia princesses was married to an Ahom prince (probably Suhunmung) in the years before theThe first day of the attack
The Sadiya attack took place on the first Wednesday of Chutia Bisu/Bihu, on 16 April 1524. This day is known for the ''Bor-bali'' (grand sacrifice). It is still practiced in Sadiya. On this day, no other person is allowed to carry weapons besides Deori priests. The siege of Sadiya is referred to as ''Kosu-kota Ran'' in the Buranjis, which literally translates to Battle of Yam-cutting, because no resistance was offered by unarmed soldiers.Last battle of Chandangiri
The sudden attack at Sadiya forced the king and queen, along with some of the soldiers who survived, to flee to the hills above Sadiya. The Chutiyas applied guerrilla warfare strategies and used ''Faakdhenu'' (crossbows) and spears to defend themselves. Sadhani formed a female fighting squad of 120 warriors. They assisted the army by rolling boulders onto the enemy below. That day was 21 April (7th Bohag) and was widely considered as Ujha (Drummer's) Bisu. One of the former ministers of the Chutias whom Nitipal had removed sided with the Ahoms and suggested the Ahom commander Phrasengmung Borgohain play the ''Divas
Every year inAward
The Sati Sadhani award was established by the Sutiya Jati Unnayan Parishad. The award is given to someone with outstanding contributions to the field of art, culture and literature. The honoree is selected by a committee formed by the Parishad.See also
*References
*{{cite book , first = Col. Ved , last = Prakash , title = Encyclopedia of North East India.Vol.2 , year = 2007 , publisher = Atlantic Publishers & Dist. Legendary Indian people Indian female royalty Kingdoms of Assam People from Dhemaji district Indian torture victims 16th-century Indian monarchs 16th-century Indian women 16th-century Indian people 1523 deaths Year of birth unknown Women from Assam People from Tinsukia district Women in 16th-century warfare Indian women in war Chutiya community Hindu monarchs