Ahoms

Ahoms, also known as Tai-Ahom, are an ethnic group in Assam, a state in Northeast India. They belong to the Tai-speaking peoples whose ancestors reportedly migrated from regions of Southeast Asia, traditionally associated with present-day Yunnan. Led by Sukaphaa, they established a political center in the Brahmaputra valley around 1228, forming a distinctive Tai polity that came to be known as the Ahom Kingdom.

The Ahom kingdom endured for about six centuries, shaping the political and cultural landscape of Assam. The early capital was Charaideo, the royal burial grounds; later, capitals included Garhgaon and Rangpur as the realm grew. The administration blended Tai institutions with local practices; the Paik system mobilized peasants for state service, and powerful noble houses such as the Burhagohain and Borgohain held key posts. The Buranji chronicles recorded the kingdom’s events, preserving royal edicts and military campaigns.

The Ahoms expanded by subjugating neighboring groups and resisting external powers, notably repelling Mughal advances in battles such as Saraighat in 1671 under leaders like Lachit Borphukan. Over time, Assamese language and identity grew within the realms they controlled. The Ahoms fostered a syncretic culture, supporting Hindu reform movements in the 16th and 17th centuries and integrating local customs with Tai traditions.

The 18th and early 19th centuries brought internal strife and external pressure, including Burmese invasions. After the First Anglo-Burmese War, Assam was ceded to the British in 1826 by the Treaty of Yandaboo, and the Ahom state collapsed, marking the end of the dynasty’s rule in the region. Today, the Ahom are recognized as a distinct ethno-linguistic group, and their legacy remains central to the history of Assam.