Can the paik (forced labour) system of the Ahoms be relevant for the present day - society?
Answers
Answer:
The Paik system was a type of corvee labour system on which the economy of the Ahom kingdom of medieval Assam depended. In this system, adult and able males, called paiks were obligated to render service to the state and form its militia in return for a piece of land for cultivation owned by the kingdom—believed to be a legacy the Ahoms brought with them from South-Eastern Asia in 1228. But it wasn't the Ahom kingdom alone that used a corvee system like this in Northeast India—Kingdom of Manipur and in a simpler form Jaintia kingdom and the Kachari kingdom too used similar systems that had tribal origins.The mature structure was designed by Momai Tamuli Borbarua in 1608, and extensively and exhaustively implemented by 1658 during the reign of Sutamla Jayadhwaj Singha. The system continued to evolve over time to meet the needs of the Ahom state and in time began to accumulate contradictions. By the end of the Moamoria rebellion (1769–1805) the Paik system had collapsed.
Answer:
NO paik (forced labour) system of the Ahoms is not relevant for the present day society now the society has completely changed.
Explanation:
- The Ahoms are a tribe in the North eastern part of India. They migrated from Myanmar in the 13th century. The Ahom state depended upon forced labour. Those forced to work for the state were called paiks. A census of the population was taken. Each village had to send a number of paiks by rotation.
- Paik system was the most important part of the social and political life of Ahom Kingdom. It was a compulsory labour service system of Ahom Kingdom. It was systematically introduced by Momai Tamuli Barbarua under the patronage of Pratap Singha.
- By this system Ahom rulers able to utilise the available human resource for the Kingdom during peace as well as wartime.
- Every adult between the age of 16 and 50 years were registered as a paik.
- These paiks had to render both civil duties such as road building, arrow making, etc and military service for the kingdom during wartime.
- Paiks were organised into a group of four which is called Got, these number is latter reduced to 3 during the time of Rajeshwar Singha.
- Each paiks in return for his service got 2 puras(4 bighas) of fertile land from the King.
- First levy from a got(service from first paik)was called: Mul.Second levy was called: Dewal.Third levy was called: Tewal.
- Paiks were divided into different groups on the basis of work specialisation and these groups were called Khels. e.g Dhenu-dhora-arrow makers.