Naga-Ahom Relations in Pre-Colonial Period

The book studies the political-economic relations that was developed between the Ahom kingdom and the Naga hills tribes roughly between 13th to 18th centuries by focusing on the mechanism of socio-political relations that was established by the Ahom monarchy. The Ahoms obtained the commodities they needed on reciprocal term from the hills and lower lands, ushering in a policy of conciliation, friendship, and appeasement with the Naga hill tribes. Salt became a politico-economic element in hill and valley relations. The relations were maintained through various duar market (pass or gate), which facilitated contacts and a socio-economic dependence between the hill dwellers and plains men. Each duars’ was assigned with katakis’ (Ahom official) to maintain a mode of channel and to communicate with the Nagas. Strategically for the Ahoms, the Naga hills was important, as it was a transit route and trade route from Ancient times, and they had to pass through the Naga hills to enter the Brahmaputra valley which enabled their independence and mutual existence. The Patkai-Naga hills allowed cultural and commercial exchange between the foothills Naga and the Ahom kingdom. The hills also provided sanctuary to the valley population and even the runaway Ahom prince’s escaping to the hills against their conspirator or adversaries. Centuries old contacts and socio-economic interactions and dependence resulted in a pidgin language called Nagamese which continue to be used as medium of communication between the Nagas and the Assamese plainsmen and serve as a lingua franca among the different Naga tribes. These politico-economic interactions stretched for over 600 years. The book reconstructs the alternating friendship, hostility, and of enculturation of the Ahom rulers towards the neighbouring Naga tribes.