Susenghphaa
| Susenghphaa | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaopha Swargadeo of Ahom Kingdom | |||||
| Ahom king | |||||
| Reign | 1603–1641 | ||||
| Predecessor | Sukhaamphaa | ||||
| Successor | Suramphaa | ||||
| Born | Langi Gohain c. 1545 Ahom kingdom | ||||
| Died | 1641 (aged 95–96) Ahom kingdom | ||||
| Spouse |
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| Issue | |||||
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| Dynasty | Ahom dynasty | ||||
| Father | Sukhaamphaa | ||||
| Religion | |||||
| Ahom dynasty |
|---|
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Susenghphaa (c. 1545 – 1641), also known as Pratap Singha, was the 17th and one of the most prominent kings of the Ahom kingdom. As he was advanced in years when he became king, he is also called the burha Raja (Old king). His reign saw an expansion of the Ahom kingdom to the west, the beginning of the Ahom-Mughal conflicts, and a reorganization of the kingdom with an expanded Paik system and reoriented village economy designed by Momai Tamuli Borbarua. His expansion to the west is underlined by the two new offices that he created: that of the Borbarua and the Borphukan.[2] The alliances he formed with the rulers of Koch Hajo resulted in a formation that successfully thwarted Mughal expansion. He was the first Ahom king to adopt the "Singha" (meaning "lion king") title[3] The administrative structure that he created survived until the end of the Ahom kingdom in 1826.[4]
Reign
[edit]After the death of Sukhamphaa in 1603, his son Langi Gohain was installed as the Swargadeo by the ministers Tonkham Borgohain, Chaopet Burhagohain and Banjangi Borpatrogohain.[5] At his coronation, he was 58 years old and assumed the name Susenghphaa, accorded to him by the Tai priests. He married a daughter of the Khatowal Chetia family (of Chutia lineage)[b], named her as his Barkunwari, or principal queen, and granted her Mechaghar and the tank situated there.[7] He accepted an offer of marriage to a princess of the Jaintia kingdom, and the subsequent events brought him into conflict with the Kachari kingdom.[8] He also established an alliance with the rulers of Koch Hajo by marrying Mangaldahi, the daughter of Parikshit Narayan, in 1608.[9]
According to historian Late Benudhar Sarma, the present form of worship of Durga with earthen idol in upper Assam was started during the reign of King Susenghphaa or Pratap Sinha. The King heard about the festivity, the pomp and grandeur with which King Naranarayan of Koch Bihar celebrated Durga Puja from one Sondar Gohain, who was held captive by the Koch Raja. King Pratap Singha sent artisans to Koch Bihar to learn the art of idol making. The King organised the first such Durga Puja celebration in Bhatiapara near Sibsagar. This was the first time Durga Puja with earthen idols in upper Assam was held for the masses, in addition to the worship in Durga temples. Inscriptions from the reign of Pratap Singha indicate that an officer styled Bhandari Chutia Gohain[c] held important military and fortification responsibilities. The Chamadhara pillar inscription names him as a senapati among the commanders associated with the Ahom campaign against the Mughals, while the Bhomoraguri rock inscription records that a rampart was constructed under his supervision. The Biswanath pillar inscription further attributes the construction of Pratap Garh, also known as Solal Garh, to him under the king's orders.[11]
Conflict with Mughals
[edit]The conflict between Koch Bihar and Koch Hajo drew the Mughals and finally the Ahoms into the conflict in 1615, which finally ended in 1682 with Supaatphaa, a later Ahom Swargadeo, removing Mughal influence forever from Assam. An interim truce (Treaty of Asurar Ali) was signed during Susenghphaa's reign. A necessary outcome of the Ahom-Mughal conflicts was cessation of Ahom-Kachari hostilities and restoration of peace, to confront a common enemy.[12]
Administration
[edit]As the Mughal attacks weakened Koch Hajo state powers and Ahom influence spread west, Susenghphaa appointed Langi Panisiya (who descended from a Chutia family) the first Borphukan as his western viceroy, based at Kajali, and in charge of all Ahom territories west of Kaliabor.[13] The three classes of ministers Burhagohain, Borgohain and Borpatrogohain had their well defined areas to rule and function, and those part of the kingdom which did not fall under their jurisdiction were brought under the control of the Borbarua, a new office that was also created during the rule of Pratap Singha. Under him Momai Tamuli Borbarua, the first Borbarua, made extensive changes to the Paik system and village economy.[14]
He redistributed populations to consolidate his rule. He moved the Bhuyans, the remnant of the Bhuyan chieftains, from the north to the south bank of the Brahmaputra, decreasing their power considerably. He moved eight thousand families to the sparsely populated Marangi area which was originally recovered from the Kachari kingdom by Suhungmung.
Creation of other posts like Rohiyal Barua, Jagiyal Gohain, Kajalimukhiya Gohain is also credited to him. For his organizational capability, political acumen and his wisdom, he was also known as Buddhi Swarganarayan.
Pratap Sinha died in the year 1641 after a long reign of 38 years. Although a great part of his reign was distracted by wars with the Kacharis and the Mughals, he was still able to devote much attention to the internal organisation of his kingdom, development of backward tracts and construction of roads, bridges, embankments and tanks. He also built a number of towns[2]
References
[edit]- ↑ Goswami, Hemchandra, "Purani Assam Buranji",p.23-24
- 1 2 Assam State Gazetteer. Editor-in-Chief, District Gazetteers, Government of Assam. 1999. p. 134.
- ↑ "At some point in time the Tai-Ahoms appropriated the lion symbol as its royal emblem. Sutengmnung was the first Tai-Ahom king who used the title Singha, meaning the 'lion king'. On his ascension to the throne, he took the Hindu name of Pratap Singha. Since then, the Tai-Ahom Swargadeos have referred to themselves as Singha."(Saikia 1997:25)
- ↑ Jahnabi Gogoi (2002). Agrarian System of Medieval Assam. Concept Publishing Company. p. 29. ISBN 9788170229674.
- ↑ (Gogoi 1968:331)
- ↑ Goswami, Hemchandra, "Purani Assam Buranji",p.23-24
- ↑ Bhuyan, Suryya Kumar, ed. (1960). Satsari Assam Buranji (in Assamese). Gauhati: Publication Department, Gauhati University. p. 26.
খাতোৱাল চেটিয়াৰ জীয়েক বৰকুঁৱৰীক মেচাঘৰ দিলে। এতেকেসে মেচাঘৰৰ পুখুৰী দিলে।
- ↑ (Gogoi 1968:333–335)
- ↑ (Gogoi 1968:341)
- ↑ (Saikia 1997:25)
- ↑ (Kakati 2023:108–110)
- ↑ (Gogoi 1968:351)
- ↑ (Gogoi 1968:365)
- ↑ (Gogoi 1968:382)
Notes
[edit]- ↑ The Khatowal Chetia clan was formed by the descendants of a Chutia family incorporated into the Ahom fold during Sukaphaa's reign[1]
- ↑ The Khatowal Chetia clan was formed by the descendants of a Chutia family incorporated into the Ahom fold during Sukaphaa's reign[6]
- ↑ Saikia's translation of the Satsari Assam Buranji preserves a tradition concerning his rise at court. According to this account, when a daughter of the Parbatiya Bargohain married Pratap Singha, she received as part of her dowry a man described in the chronicle as a Chutia slave. After she placed him in charge of her estate, the king, reportedly pleased with his conduct and manner, appointed him Bhandari Gohain.[10]
Bibliography
[edit]- Gogoi, Padmeshwar (1968). The Tai and the Tai Kingdoms. Guwahati: Gauhati University.
- Saikia, Sayeeda Yasmin (1997). In the Meadows of Gold: Telling Tales of the Swargadeos at the Crossroads of Assam. Guwahati and Delhi: Spectrum Publications. ISBN 81-85319-61-8.
- Kakati, Swapna (2023). "Inscriptions as a Source for the Ahom-Mughal Conflict of Medieval Assam". Journal of Indian History and Culture (32).