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dams and roads, and brought forests and swampy lands under rice cultivation. People were
regularly moved from the settled areas into these newly reclaimed lands.
With the exception of the nobles, nearly all males aged fifteen to sixty had to do compulsory
public service as paiks. The paiks were organised into four-member groups each called a
got. Each got sent one member by rotation for public work. The others took care of his land
during his absence. More members were called up at wartime.
sOcieTy, ecOnOmic sysTem and religiOn
The Ahom society was divided into clans called Khels. These castes did not include artisans
which joined the Ahom society from other adjoining areas. A Khel often controlled several
villages. The peasants in Ahom society were land owners. Even the king could not take
away the land without the community’s consent. All males in the Ahom society served in
the army. During peace time they engaged themselves in building dams, irrigation systems
and other public works. They also introduced a new method of rice cultivation.
Ahoms worshiped their own tribal gods. Although, they had accepted Hinduism, they
continued their tribal culture. The influence of Brahmins was also felt in Ahom society.
The Brahmins were also given land grants. In the reign of Sib Singh (1714-1744), Hinduism
became more predominant religion. But, many Ahoms did not give up their traditional
beliefs and culture.
Now I Know :
A tribe can be defined as a community living in hilly forest or well demarcated areas having its own culture, religion,
language and strong ethnic identity.
Two influential tribes of Punjab were : Khokhar tribe and Gakkhars tribe.
Indian tribal people play a key part in constructing the cultural heritage of India.
The tribal people were engaged in agriculture, herding and hunting gathering.
Nomads are known as a group of communities who use to travel place to place for livelihood.
A tribal society consists of close-knit clans that are led by chiefs and are governed by the tribe’s own laws. Gener-
ally there is no division based on wealth or caste. Land, cattle etc. are collectively owned by the members. We get
information about tribal communities mainly from their songs and ballads passed down orally over generations.
Among the many tribes of the North-West, Punjab and Sind had adopted to Islam very early.
Rani Durgavati of Garh Katanga ruled on behalf of her minor five-year son Bir Narain. Under her the kingdom of
Gonds became very powerful and extensive.
Ahoms in the upper Assam area managed to rule on their own from fifteenth century until 1826. Under Rudra
Singh, they had reached the maximum extent covering three-fourths of Assam.
The Buranjis (Chronicle) tells about the Ahom rule in Naga hills and their system of administration known as Paik system.
The Gond tribes lived in the forests of central India. The Gond kingdom of Garh Katanga was formed in the fifteenth century.
(Assessment of Learning Outcome)
A. Tick () the correct option :
1. Tribal societies were not divided on the basis of:
(a) wealth (b) caste
(c) both ‘a’ and ‘b’ (d) none of these
Social Studies-7 73
