Exploring the AHOMS.
During the first part of the 13th century, a price from northern Myanmar, Sukapha, laid the foundation of a kingdom in upper Assam (A state in the Northeast India), at present in the Sibsagar district. He belong to the TAI branch of the Mongoloid race. Members of his family and his compatriots were known in Assam as 'Ahom'. It is from their name that the state later came to be known as 'Assam'.
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The Ahoms once inhabited some parts of Mongolia and Northern China. Gradually, they spread over some areas of Yunan province of China and the entire Hukong valley in Northern Burma. There they formed a number of small states. The most well known of these states was Mungmao. In course of time, this state became divided into two-- Mungrimungram & Maolung. From Maolung in Northern Burma, the Ahoms under Sukapha migrated to Assam.
In the year 1215 C.E, Sukapha left Maolung for Assam along with his family, followers and soldiers. After wandering for about thirteen years in the hilly areas, he entered the Brahmaputra valley in 1228 C.E. Sukapha then followed the course of the Dihang river and advanced towards Namrup and Tipam. He arrived at Abhaypuri in 1236 C.E., where he stayed for a few years. As this region was affected by recurrent floods, he left for Having where he stayed for two years. He left Having as it too was prone to devastating floods, and reached Dikhowmukh from where he shifted to Lligiragaon and then to Simalugan. Finally in the year 1258 C.E., Sukapha arrived at Charaideo and established his capital. This was the first capital of the Ahom kingdom. The Ahoms claimed that the royalty were the descendants of Langdon or Indra, the Hindu God.
KING SUKAPHA.
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(Statue of king Sukapha)
Sukapha had an extra ordinary personality. With courage and perseverance, relentless energy and foresight, he laid the foundation of one of the strongest kingdoms in the north-east region of India.
Through collective effort, the Ahoms reclaimed marshes and made them suitable for wet rice cultivation. All such lands became community lands and were distributed among the various families. This communal ownership of land was the basis of the entire Ahom state. The Ahom economy was dependent on forced labour or paiks. Barter was the chief means of exchange.
Sukapha laid the foundation of a sound administration. He appointed two members -- Known as Buragohain and Borgohain -- from the noble families as ministers. The Ahom society was divided into clans or khels. He adopted a conciliatory policy of love and friendship with tribes inhabiting the neighborhood of Charaideo. He unified all the smaller state and feudal territories into one big Ahom state.
The Ahom kingdom after Sukapha.
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(Rang Ghar, built under the reign of the Ahom king Swargadeo Rudra Singha)
Sukapha died in the year 1268 C.E. and was succeeded by a number of kings, the most important of whom was Sudangpha who ascended the throne in the year 1397 C.E. He brought several Brahmin families to the capital and started the worship of 'Salagram Vishnu' in the palace. Thus, while Hinduism was introduced in Assam through the Ahoms, the system of Sumdeo worship continued as before. Naturally, the Ahom priestly class protested against Hinduism on several occasions. Sudangpha established a new capital at Charaguwa.
Among the kings following Sudangpha, Suhungmung or 'Dihingiya Raja' (1497-1539 C.E.) was the most powerful. He established a new capital at Bakata. His reign is very significant in the history of Assam. It was during this time that the Brahmanical legend of divine origin of the Ahom kings was deployed, linking the Ahom royalty with God Indra. Suhungmung took the title of 'Swarganarayan'. Since then, Ahom kings began to take the title 'Swargadeo'. He defeated the Chutiya king and annexed his territory. He also deported members of the Chutiya aristocracy from the state and established them in the Ahom kingdom. He appointed an official called Sadiyakhowa Gohain to rule over the annexed territories.
Now the Ahom kingdom was extended as far as the Arunachal hills. As a result, forest products like elephant, minerals, brine salt, etc., became easy to procure. Later on Suhungmung also subjected the Bhuyans and annexed most of their territories. Likewise, Suhungmung finally crushed the power of Kacharis and annexed their territory. Thus, the Ahom state extended up to Nagoan in the south Brahmaputra region. Suhungmung added a third minister called Borpatra Gohain. Thereafter, at the top of Ahom administration, there were three ministers besides the king.
Suhungmung is considered as one of the real builder of the Ahom state. He undertook the first population census of his kingdom and brought different classes of craftsman from outside of his state and established them in his kingdom. Sankardeva started his neo-Vaisnavite movement in Assam during his reign. He established friendship with king Pratapruda of Orissa and excavated a tank near Jagannath temple. The Ahoms faced many invasions. In 1662 Mughal attacked Ahoms and despite have defense they were defeated.
The important facts about the Ahom state are : Ahom state dependent on forced labour (paiks). Each village had to send a number of paiks by rotation and adults were employed in army during the war. Ahom society was divided into khels. The village administration was controlled by khels.
