Technology, Production and Social Formation in the Evolution of the Ahom State

Ahom rule in Assam is traced to A.D. 1228 when Sukapha, a prince of Shan origin established his kingdom in Assam. In time it emerged the most powerful kingdom that encompassed the major part of the region and halted the eastern onslaught of the Mughals beyond Bengal. Interestingly, Ahom rule lasted longer than that of the Mughals. Though a lot of work has been done on the political history of the Ahoms, not much has been done to understand the true nature of the Ahom state, its economy, technology and production processes. By subjecting the Ahom state to a thorough review, and tracing the stages of its evolution, examining whether the parameters of feudalism or the Asiatic Mode of Production could be applied to the Ahom state, a lot of new insights on the Ahoms have emerged. The author’s assertion that the Ahom system of production does not permit its categorization under any known category and his attempt to categories it as the Paik Mode of Production is a very interesting assertion and will surely initiate a serious debate on the issue.