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Question 81 of 94 · Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms
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The Ahom kingdom of Assam was founded in 1228 by the Tai prince:

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Answer: Option D — Sukapha

Detailed Solution

The Ahom kingdom of Assam was founded in 1228 by Sukapha (Chaolung Sukapha), a Tai (Shan) prince who came from Mong Mao, in present-day Yunnan (China) and Myanmar.

How the kingdom was founded:

  • Sukapha crossed the Patkai hills with a band of followers and entered the upper Brahmaputra valley in 1228.
  • He subdued or made alliances with the local tribes, such as the Morans and the Borahis.
  • He founded a kingdom, with his capital eventually at Charaideo.
  • The kingdom grew over the centuries to cover most of the Brahmaputra valley.

About the Ahoms:

  • They ruled Assam for about 600 years (1228-1826).
  • They gradually adopted Hinduism and the Assamese language, while retaining some Tai traditions.
  • They were famous for their resistance to the Mughals, who tried several times to conquer Assam.
  • They kept detailed historical chronicles called "buranjis", first in the Ahom (Tai) language and later in Assamese.

Ahom administration:

  • They used the "paik" system, under which every adult male (paik) had to give service to the state (labour or military service) for part of the year, in return for land.
  • NCERT notes that the Ahoms built a large state by suppressing the older political system of the bhuiyans (landlords), and that their state depended upon forced labour (paiks).

Famous Ahom rulers:

  • Suhungmung (Dihingia Raja): expanded the kingdom in the 16th century.
  • Pratap Singha: fought the Mughals.
  • Chakradhwaj Singha and Gadadhar Singha: fought the Mughals in the 17th century.
  • Rudra Singha: a powerful ruler of the early 18th century.

Decline:

  • In the late 18th century, the Moamoria rebellion weakened the kingdom.
  • The Burmese invaded Assam (1817-1826).
  • After the First Anglo-Burmese War, Assam came under British control (1826).

Remembrance:

  • "Sukapha Divas" (Asom Divas) is celebrated in Assam on 2 December.
  • The "Moidams" (royal burial mounds) of the Ahoms at Charaideo were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Rudra Singha, Chakradhwaj Singha and Gadadhar Singha were later Ahom rulers.

Quick tip

Remember: Ahom kingdom founded by Sukapha (1228); capital Charaideo; buranjis (chronicles); paik system; Moidams of Charaideo = UNESCO (2024); Asom Divas = 2 December.

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Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers India from about the 7th to the 12th century: the Rajput dynasties, the tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, and the South Indian kingdoms of the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas, along with the Sangam age and the temple architecture of the period. Questions often ask which dynasty built a temple (the Pallavas built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, and Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur), the capitals of dynasties, and the local self-government of the Cholas. Learning each dynasty with its capital, greatest ruler and one monument is the quickest way to answer these questions. Practise the early medieval India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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