Welcome, prospective readers, to another chapter of the Assam Year Book 2023. In this continuous series of blogs, we aim to provide concise yet comprehensive chapter-wise notes based on the Assam Year Book 2023. The previous chapters of the Assam Year Book 2023 have already been covered. Click here to check out the previous chapters. Chapter 3 of the Assam Year Book 2023 is divided into three sections for easy reading: Part I delves into the political history of different Assamese kingdoms; Part II concentrates on Ahom rule; and Part III covers the period from British rule to modern-day Assam. Today’s focus is on the Ahom rule, and we’ll be discussing the relevant notes from Chapter 3 of the Assam Year Book 2023.

Sukapha

• 13^th century witnessed the advent of the Ahoms, led by the first king Sukapha, who was the prince of Monlung of upper Burma (now Myanmar)
• He gathered with a band of followers in the Patkai mountains and entered Assam in 1228 through the Naga Kingdom.
• Formed capital Charaideo in 1253
• Sukapha died in 1268

Suseupha (1268-1281)

• Sukapha’s son, Suseupha, became king and extended the boundaries of Ahom kingdom from Dikhow river to Namdang river

Subinpha, Sukhangpha, Sukrangpha, and Sutupha succeeded Suseupha. Sutupha could not hold the reins of the Ahom kingdom in a form grip so there were ministers who ruled twice, from 1376 to 1380 and 1389 to 1397.

Sudangpha (1397-1407)

• Another name of Sudangpha was Bamuni Konwar, because he was born and brought up in the house of Brahmins.
• His accession marks the first stage in the growth of Brahmanical influence amongst the Ahoms
• He built a town at Dhola but afterwards made his capital at Charguya, near the Dihing River.

After Sudangpha, there came Sujanpha, Suphapha, Susenpha, Suhanpha, and Supimpha.

Suhungmung (1497-1539)

• Supimpha’s son Suhungmung’s rule is considered one of the most memorable in the 600 years of Ahom rule.
• Assumed Hindu name: Swarganarayan
• Also known as Dihingia Raja, because he shifted Ahom capital to Bokota near the Dihing River.
• Created a third class of ministers, Barpatra Gohain, to the already existing two classes of ministers, Borgohain and Burhagohain.
• first ever census took place in his reign
• The Mughals invaded the Ahom kingdom three times in his reign but could not conquer it. These invasions taught the Ahoms the use of gunpowder.
• The Mughals, who were taken as prisoners of war, were settled in different areas of Assam. Most of them prepared bell metal. Later on, they came to be popularly known as Morias.
• Srimanta Sankardeva got full impetus to preach his Vaishnava Dharma during the rule of Swarganarayan
• He died in 1539 AD at the hands of a Kachari servant as a consequence of a conspiracy planned by his son Suklengmung.

Suklengmung (1539-1552)

• He shifted his capital to Gargaon from Bokota, which is why he is also called Gargainya Raja.
• Gargaon Pukhuri and a road named Naga Ali were constructed.

Sukhampha (1552-1603)

• He was also known as Khora Raja or Lame Raja owing to his having hurt his foot, while bunting elephants.
• His reign is remembered for the large-scale propagation of Vaishnavism.

Susengpha (1603-1641)

• He took the name of Pratapa Singha.
• He created the post of Barphukan to look after the administration of the areas beyond Kaliabor. A new post, Barbaruah, was created during his reign.
• The three classes of ministers—Borgohain, Burhagohain, and Barpatra Gohain had their own well-defined areas to rule, and those parts of the kingdom that did not fall under their jurisdiction were bought under the control of Barbaruah.
• Momai Tamuli Barbaruah was the first official to hold the post of Barbaruah.
• He introduced the Pyke (Common Rayat) system. Under this system, people were divided into groups of 1000, 100, and 20, and over each group, officials Hazarika, Saikia, and Bora were elected.
• He was also known as Buddhi Swarganarayan for his organisational capability, Political acumen and great wisdom
• He died in 1641.

Sutyinpha (1644-1648)

• Sutyinpha was usually known as the Nariya (sick) Raja on account of his ailing health. He suffered from curvature of the spine; hence, the nickname Kekora (crab) was also sometimes applied to him.

Jayadhvaj Singha (1648-1663)

• After Sutyinpha, his son Surampha (1648–1663) ascended the throne and assumed the Hindu name Jayadhvaj Singha. Owing to his flight from Gargaon at the time of the Muhammadam invasion, he is also known as the Bhagania (fugitive) Raja.
• After Aurangzeb was crowned Mughal king, he ordered his commander-in-chief, Mir Jumla, to attack Assam once more. The Mughal forces attacked Assam and occupied Gargaon in 1662 but Jayadhvaj Singha did not face the Mughal commander-in-chief. This was the 11th invasion of Kamrup. In 1663 AD, an accord was signed between the Ahoms and Mughals. Accordingly, Jayadhvaj Singha had to part with his daughter Ramani Gabharu and a large amount of money.

 Chakradhvaj Singha (1663-1669)

• Supungmung or Chakradhvaj Singha, succeeded Jayadhvaj Singha and ruled from 1663–1669.
• He enlisted the help of Lachit Barphukan, who was the son of Momai Tamuli Barbaruah. He was also assisted by Aton Burhagohain.
• In August 1667, under the excellent leadership of Lachit Barphukan, the Ahoms were able to get Guwahati and Pandu back. Hearing the news of this defeat, Aurangzeb sent a huge force with Ram Singh to attack the Ahom portion once again.
• A fierce battle took place between the Ahoms and the Mughals in 1671 at Saraighat. As expected, the Mughals suffered an ignominious defeat. Consequently, in the west, the Manas River became the demarcation line between the Ahom and Mughal territories and remained so until the British occupation in 1826 AD.

Troublesome period of Ahom’s reign (1670–1681)

• It is an unfortunate period of Ahom history that unfolded itself from 1670 to 1681. After Chakradhvaj, Sunyatpha, or Udayaditya Singha (1669–1673), an Ahom prince was deposed by his brother Suklampha, or Ramadhvaj (1673–1675), who succeeded him.
• Debera Hazarika was the brain behind the conspiracy, He was awarded the title of Barbaruah. As expected, he misused his power and spread a reign of terror among the local population. He was responsible for the deaths of three kings and ultimately met the end he deserved at the hands of Aton Burhagohain. Even though many kings came after Ramdhvaj Singha, it was Aton Burhagohain who kept the reins of power in his hands. Although some historians point out that he was wrong and unscrupulous,.

Laluk Sola Barphukan

• The mention of Laluk Sola Barphukan becomes pertinent at this stage because, with him, Ahom history entered one of its darkest phases. In his thirst for power, he murdered Aton Burhagohain. He then installed a very young boy, Sulikpha, or Ratnadnvaj Singha (1679–1681), as king, which is why he is also known as Lora Raja (the boy king).
• In order to safeguard his position, Laluk Sola Barphukan passed an order that all the princes belonging to different clans should either be maimed or killed, a cruel plot that met with almost full success, but for the escape of Gadapani, who belonged to the Tunghungia clan.
• Laluk Sola Barphukan tried his best to find out about his whereabouts from his wife, Joymoti. But Joymoti was determined to save her husband; therefore, she revealed nothing even after suffering the most inhuman torture. But what is evil has never lasted for very long. Laluk Sola Barphukan met his death at the hands of Gadapani.

Gadapani (1681-1696)

• Gadapani then ascended the throne in 1681. He assumed the Ahom name Supatpha and the Hindu name Gadadhar Singha (1681–1696). He made his capital in Barkola.
• First of all, he waged a war against the Mughals, also famously known as the Itakhulir Rann (War of Itakhuli), in 1682 and captured Guwahati from the Mughals.
• He was a Shaivite and to help propagate this form of Hindu worship, he built ‘Umananda Devaloya’ at Guwahati. He also built Dhodar Ali, a road near Golaghat.
• He also had the land surveyed. The earliest known copper plates recording grants of land by Ahom king to the Brahmins date from the period of Gadadhar Singha.

Rudra Singha (1696–1714)

• Gadadhar Singha’s eldest son, Lai, succeeded him. He took the Ahom name Sukhrumpha and the Hindu name Rudra Singha (1696–1714).
• In honour of the memory of his mother Joymoti, he dug the Joysagar tank and his other architectural monuments and structures accredited to him are stone bridge built over the Namadang river, Kharikatia Ali, Meteka Ali, etc.
• Rudra Singha gave royal patronage to ‘Bihu’. He also created Khels, or positions like Khaund, Kotoki, Bairagi, Doloi, and Kakoti. He also created high-profile posts like Satriya Baruah, Gayon Baruah, Senchowa Baruah, Kukurachowa Baruah, Bezbaruah, etc.
• He also subjugated the Kacharis and the Jayantias, who had to remain content as vassal kings and accept the overlordship of the Ahoms
• Throughout his long reign, Rudra Singha tried his level best to raise the standard of living of the people, which is why even now his rule is emblazoned as a glorious chapter in the annals of Ahom history. He died in 1714.

Shiva Singha (1714–1744)

• He was succeeded by his eldest son, Shiva Singha (1714–1744). He took on the Ahom name of Sutanpha.
• He became a Shakti worshipper, as he was initiated in the tenets of the Shakti cult by Krishnaram Bhattacharya, who was later installed as head priest of the Kamakhya temple, which is situated atop the Nilachal hill. Since he was the priest of a temple built on a hill (Parbat), he and his descendants were called Parbatiya Gossains.

Phuleswari Bor Raja

• Shiva Singha was a weak person who relied heavily on astrologers, which explains the fact that when an astrologer told him that he was in danger of being dethroned, he installed his Queen Phuleswari, who assumed the name Pramateswari (one of the names of Durga) as Bor Raja, or chief king, thus engineering the beginning of the end of the Ahom dynasty.
• Phuleswari was an orthodox Shakti worshipper who persecuted the Moamoria Mahantas by forcibly making them take the Prasad of Durga worship and anointing their foreheads with sacrificial blood. This resulted in the famous Moamoria rebellion.

Ambika Bor Raja

• After Phuleswari died in 1731, Shiva Singha married her sister Drupadi, or Deopadi, and made her the next Bor Raja, with the name Ambika.
• She was the one who constructed the Shiva Doul (temple) at Sivasagar, which is one of the tallest Shiva Douls in Assam.
• Drupadi died in 1738, Shiva Singha then married the daughter of Salal Gossain, whose name was changed to ‘Sarbeswari’ from ‘Anadori’.

• It was during Shiva Singha’s reign that “Dhai Ali” was constructed at Sivasagar. Gaurisagar tank and Sivasagar tank were dug at the instructions of Bor Raja Phuleswari and Ambika, respectively.

• Shiva Singha’s reign is remembered for developments in literary and cultural matters. But this positive aspect was ultimately overshadowed by the sharp rise in fanatic Shaivism, which ultimately paved the way for the downfall of the Ahom rule.

Pramatta Singha (1744–1751)

• Shiva Singha’s brother Pramatta Singha (1744–1751) was next in line as per the instructions of their father, Rudra Singha.
• Pramatta Singha’s, or Sunenpha’s, reign is chiefly remembered for the various temples and other buildings constructed during his reign. For example, Singhaduar (the main gate) at Gargaon; Sukleswar and Rudreswar temples at Guwahati.
• Swargadeo Rudra Singha, under whose instructions the Ranghar was originally built of bamboo and wood, was later given the present shape by Pramatta Singha.

Rajeswar Singha (1751–1769)

• Rudra Singha’s fourth son, Surampha, took on the mantle of kingship. He took on the name Rajeswar Singha (1751–1769).
• He stopped the atrocities of the Dafalas and Miris on the people of the plains. He also extended full support to the Manipur king to fight against the Burmese. Rajeswar Singha sent Haranath Phukan with forces to the aid of the Manipuri king. The Ahom force had to make its way through dense forests, which is why this particular battle is also called Lata-kata Rann. In gratitude, the Manipuri king gave his daughter Kuranganayani in marriage to Rajeshwar Singha
• Towards the end of the reign of Rajeswar Singha, Kirti Chandra, alias Gendhela, became powerful. He passed an order to burn all the Buranjis (history books) written by Numali Borgohain because he had adopted a negative stance against Gendhela’s family in the Buranjis. As a result, much useful information was lost.
• Rajeswar Singha constructed Kareng Ghar at Gargaon, Basistha Ashram, Navagraha Mandir, Monikarneshwar Mandir, Chitrachal Mandir, Har-Gouri Devalaya at Guwahati and Talatal Ghar at Sivasagar.
• He died in 1769.

Lakshmi Singha (1769–1780)

• Lakshmi Singha, or Sunyeopha (1769–1788), was installed as king by Kirti Chandra Barbaruah. There was doubt regarding his legitimacy, since the Parbatiya Gossain refused to initiate him. Following this, Lakshmi Singha was initiated by Na Gossain from Bengal.
• Lakshmi Singha was the antithesis of what a king should be, hence, the seat of power was actually occupied by Kirti Chandra Barbaruah.

Moamoria Rebellion

• The rebellion by Moamorias is a dark chapter of Assam history. Kirti Chandra Barbaruah’s atrocities served as the ultimate blow. Two examples are given as an illustration of the highhandedness of Barbaruah. Kirti Chandra once insulted Moamoria Gossain for omitting to pay his respects to him while he was with the king. Another day, a disciple of Moamoria Gossain and leader of Moran, Nahar, gifted an elephant directly to the king without meeting Kirti Chandra. Kirti Chandra caused serious physical harm to Nahar, the disciple.
• In 1769, the Moamorias raised the standard of revolt against Ahom rule and occupied Rangpur as a measure of independence. The Moamorias captured Lakshmi Singha and murdered Kirti Chandra Barbaruah. The Moamorias placed their nominee, Ramkanta, on the throne. But this state of affairs was not to last long for their inexperience in matters of the state and internal dissensions cost them the throne.
• Consequently, after one year, Lakshmi Singha was again installed as king and in an act of revenge, he ordered terrible punishments for the Moamorias. But one thing could not be denied: the Ahom rule was inevitably heading towards the end, and the atrocities perpetuated by the Moamorias only served to fan the fire of the revolt.

Gaurinath Singha (1780–1794)

• Lakshmi Singha’s successor and son, Suhitpahgpha or Gaurinath Singha (1780–1794), followed the policy of his father. This only served to alienate the Moamorias further, thus turning them into sworn enemies of the Ahoms. As a result, in 1782, the Moamorias revolted for the second times Even though Purnananda Burhagohain tried his best to quell the rebellion, he met with partial success.
• In 1786, the Moamorias captured Gargaon, forcing Gaurinath Singha to flee to Guwahati. As expected, insecurity and lawlessness became the order of the day. Gaurinath Singha was faced with no other option, but to ask help from the British, thus paving the way for their advent in Assam.
• Lord Cornwallis acceded to his request and sent Captain Wells to quell the rebellion in 1792. The Moamorias were no match for the British forces. They were defeated.
• Gaurinath Singha was again re-installed as king and Captain Wells went back to West Bengal in 1795.
• The revolt of the Moamorias, however, was far from over. Hence, Gaurinath Singha thought it wise to shift the capital from Rangpur to Jorhat.

Kamaleswar Singha (1795-1810)

• After the death of Gaurinath Singha, Purnananda Burhagohain enthroned Suklingpha or Kamaleswar Singha (1795–1810) as the king.
• The Ahom rule further received a setback when two brothers, Birdutta and Hardutta, declared independence in Kamrup. Their revolt is also more famously known as Dandua Droh, for the army of Hardutta was also known as Dandua. Purnananda Burhagohain suppressed the rebellion with the help of the kings of Beltola and Dimoria.
• This was just the beginning of a spate of revolts, for around the same time, the Dafalas to the east, the Singphows, Khamtis, and Morans in and around Sadiya declared independence. They were suppressed by Purnananda Burhagohain, who graced the post of Burhagohain for 32 long years; he tried his level best to revive the former glory of the Ahoms, thereby creating some semblance of order.

Chandrakanta Singha (1810–1818)

• Sudinpha or Chandrakanta Singha, succeeded Kamaleswar Singha.
• His reign is infamous because it was during his rule that the Burmese (Maan) had a chance to invade Assam. The cause of the invasion lies in the betrayal of Badan Chanda Barphukan in the times to come. in 1815. Badan Chandra Barphukan attacked Assam with an 8,000-strong Burmese force.
• To take revenge for his father Purnananda Burhagohain’s death, his son Ruchinath Burhagohain occupied Jorhat and maimed Chandrakanta Singha.

Purandar Singha (1818–1819)

• Ruchinath Burhagohain then had Purandar Singha (1818–1819) installed as king.
• The friends of the murdered Barphukan fled to Burma and informed the King of that country of the course of events in Assam. A fresh force was dispatched under a general named Ala Mingi (or Kio Mingi). This resulted in the second invasion by the Burmese in 1819.

Chandrakanta Singha

• The Burmese attacked Assam in 1819 and installed Chandrakanta Singha on the throne, which, of course, was only an eyewash for they were the real power behind the throne.
• But in 1820, when the Burmese Commander-in-Chief Mingimaha Tilwa left for Burma, Chandrakanta Singha tried to regain his lost power and prestige, which resulted in the third Burmese invasion in 1821. Even though Chandrakanta Singha fought with the Burmese to the best of his ability, he could not make a dent in the Burmese stronghold.

Maanar Din (Days of Maan)

• The Burmese let loose a reign of terror on the local people. Indiscriminate killings became the order of the day. The people were robbed of their land and property. All these took a toll on the social fabric. The foundation of the prevalent social order was shaken to the very core. So much so that even now that period is remembered with much hatred as Maanar Din (Days of Maan).
• The situation further worsened when the Burmese invaded British occupied territory. The British did not take it lightly and consequently, the first battle between the British and Burmese took place in 1824.  The Burmese did not meet their match in the British and were upstaged by them on account of their superior warfare techniques. Two years later, a treaty was signed on February 24, 1826, at Yandaboo—a treaty that came to be called the “Yandaboo Treaty’. Assam passed into the hands of the British, thus pulling the curtains on the glorious 600-year rule of the Ahoms.

Download PDF Notes

Best Books for Assam Government’s Recruitment Exams

Choosing the right study materials for any recruitment exam is critical to success. A well-organized selection of highly recommended books can greatly aid exam candidates in learning subjects. These materials cover many aspects of the exam, providing detailed information and insights to help candidates succeed in Assam government recruitment exams. We’ve compiled a list of books, including the Assam Year Book 2023, that you can read while studying for any recruitment exam. The table below also includes online shopping links. Explore the links in the accompanying table to gain access to these important study materials, which will provide a solid and effective preparation strategy for your exam.

Assam Year Book 2023: FAQ