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The Ahoms Organised State Service Through a Sophisticated Rotation System

For centuries, the Ahom kingdom of Assam (1228 to 1826 CE) maintained an unusual system of administration known as the Paik system, through which manpower for defence, public works and specialised state services was systematically organised.

Under the system, able-bodied adult males known as paiks were organised into small groups called gots, generally consisting of four men. Instead of all four being taken away from their farms and households at the same time, one member served the state for a fixed period while the others remained behind and looked after agricultural and domestic responsibilities. They then took turns in state service. This rotational arrangement helped the administration mobilise substantial manpower without completely disrupting agricultural production. Paiks could be called upon for military duty as well as civilian works such as building roads and boats. By rotating state service among groups of cultivators, the Paik system allowed the Ahoms to maintain agriculture while simultaneously providing manpower for defence, administration and public works-a practical integration of economy and governance.

The Paik system offers a fascinating glimpse into the distinctive institutions through which the Ahom state governed the Brahmaputra Valley.