Page 40 - Journeys Through Society-7

Wow Fact Ahom ruler to adopt a Hindu name, Swarga narayan.
However, the Ahom power in Assam reached its peak
An interesting feature of the Gond lifestyle during the reign of King Rudra Singh (1696-1714) who
was the ghotul or the dormitory system. Here
unmarried boys and girls led a highly came in conflict with the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. The
organised life and received training in leading British overthrew the Ahoms in the nineteenth
a dutiful life. century.

Society and Culture
inhabitants of the region. The Ahoms ruled over
The Ahoms were a tribal community and followed the
Assam for about 600 years, from 1228 CE to 1826 CE. tribal way of life. They practised agriculture and rice
was their main crop. Though some Ahoms adopted
The Ahom Kingdom
Hinduism as their religion, yet the prevalent practice
The Ahom kingdom was divided into provinces and
was to follow the traditional beliefs marked by
the kings governed with the help of a council of
ancestor worship.
ministers called the patro montris.
The influence of Brahmins increased during the
The first Ahom leader was
seventeenth century. But even though the Ahoms
Sukaphaa, Tai prince who,
built Hindu temples, with Hindu priests, they
along with his followers,
continued to worship their tribal gods. They also used
crossed the Patkai Hills in
their tribal language and followed their tribal customs.
the mid-thirteen century
and settled in the
Brahmaputra area by
establishing his capital at
Charaideo near Shivsagar.
It was under his leadership
that the dispersed tribal
groups were brought
Founder of
under one roof and the Ahom Kingdom
foundation of modern-day
Assam was laid.
The next phase of expansion took place under the Stupa of Sanchi
famous Ahom king Suhungmung, who was the first

Revision Notes

• India has the world’s largest tribal population.
• The peninsular region of the country was dominated by tribes such as Bhils, Kelis, Gonds and
Khonds.
• During the medieval period, many tribes interacted with the Mughal Empire.
• Tribals led a nomadic life and practised shifting agriculture. Tribals had a self-sufficient economy.
They interacted with the mainstream society for trade.

• Rani Durgavati belonged to the Gond kingdom.
• The Ahoms belonged to the Shan tribe of Southern China and South-East Asia.

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Social Studies-7