Consider the following statements.1. The Moamarias were low-caste pea...
- The revolt of the Moamarias in 1769 was a potent challenge to the Ahom kings of Assam's authority.
- The Moamarias were low-caste peasants who followed Aniruddha Deva's teachings (1553-1624), and their rise was similar to that of other low-caste groups in north India.
- Their revolts weakened the Ahoms and opened the doors for others to attack the region. For instance, in 1792, the King of Darrang (Krishnanarayan), assisted by his band of burkandazes (the demobilised soldiers of the Muslim armies and zamindars) revolted.
Consider the following statements.1. The Moamarias were low-caste pea...
The Moamarias and their Impact on the Ahom Kingdom
Statement 1 is correct:
- The Moamarias were a low-caste group of peasants who followed the teachings of Aniruddha Deva, a medieval saint who preached a syncretic form of Hinduism mixed with elements of indigenous beliefs.
- Aniruddha Deva was born in 1553 and lived in Assam, where he attracted a large following among the lower castes and tribes.
- The Moamarias were one of the many sects that emerged from Aniruddha Deva's teachings, which emphasized devotion, asceticism, and egalitarianism.
- The Moamarias rejected the authority of the Brahmins and the Ahom rulers, and formed their own communities based on shared beliefs and practices.
- The Moamarias also participated in various rebellions and uprisings against the Ahom kingdom, which they saw as oppressive and unjust.
Statement 2 is correct:
- The Moamarias were one of the many groups that rebelled against the Ahom kingdom, which ruled Assam from the 13th to the 18th century.
- The Ahoms were a Tai-speaking people who migrated from Yunan in China and established a powerful state in Assam, with a well-organized army, a sophisticated bureaucracy, and a rich cultural heritage.
- However, the Ahom rulers faced constant challenges from various groups, such as the Moamarias, the Koches, the Chutias, the Jaintias, and the Mughals, among others.
- The Moamarias launched several rebellions in the 16th and 17th centuries, which weakened the Ahom kingdom and diverted its attention from external threats.
- For example, during the reign of King Pratap Singha (1603-1641), the Moamarias rebelled in 1615, 1627, and 1637, and caused significant damage to the Ahom economy, society, and culture.
- The Moamarias also allied with other groups, such as the Koches, who invaded Assam in 1615 and 1637, and the Mughals, who attacked Assam in 1662 and 1667.
- The Moamarias thus played a role in the decline of the Ahom kingdom, which eventually fell to the Burmese invaders in 1817.
Conclusion:
Both statements are correct in the sense that the Moamarias were a low-caste group that rebelled against the Ahom kingdom and contributed to its weakening, but they also had their own distinct identity and beliefs that distinguished them from other groups. Moreover, their impact on Assam's history was complex and multifaceted, and cannot be reduced to a simple narrative of rebellion and defeat.