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The Systems of Digging Ponds by the Ahoms, the Greater Tai Tribe in the North-East India

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The Systems of Digging Ponds by the Ahoms, the Greater Tai Tribe in the North-East India International Journal of Management Volume 11, Issue 09, September 2020, pp. 657-662. Article ID: IJM_11_09_061 Available online at http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJM?Volume=11&Issue=9 Journal Impact Factor (2020): 10.1471 (Calculated by GISI) www.jifactor.com ISSN Print: 0976-6502 and ISSN Online: 0976-6510 DOI: 10.34218/IJM.11.9.2020.061 © IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed THE SYSTEMS OF DIGGING PONDS BY THE AHOMS, THE GREATER TAI TRIBE IN THE NORTH-EAST INDIA Dr. Nandita Goswami Nagaon, Assam, India ABSTRACT The meaning of the word ‘Ahom’ in local language of Assam is “Tai People’. The Ahoms are the biggest Tai tribe of North-East India. They reined Assam for six hundred years in the medieval era. They are the descents of Prince Chaolong Su-Ka-Pha who was hailing from the area of Chipchong Panna Dehang of Yunnan Province of China. The course of time they came to be known as the Ahom. They started the process of writing History for the first time in this part of the sub-continent. The period of their rule (1228 AD to 1826 AD) is named as Ahom Yug (Ahom Era). They were very advance in science and technology. The artistic construction and architectural technology of Ahom dynasty was unparalleled and bewildering. The creative and aesthetic designs built hundreds of year ago with unbelievable scientific analysis create inquisitiveness even today. Out of many such creations, one that has long been talked about is the systems of digging voluminous ponds. The most spectacular characteristic of those ponds is that, both during summer and winter season, the water level remains unchanged. How these ponds were built by a class of people without any institutional education or training of engineering nearly eight hundred years back is the subject of this research paper. Keywords: Ahom, Yug, Technology, Chaolong Digging, Ponds. Cite this Article: Dr. Nandita Goswami, The Systems of Digging Ponds by the Ahoms, the Greater Tai Tribe in the North-East India, International Journal of Management, 11 (9), 2020, pp. 657-662. http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJM?Volume=11&Issue=9 1. INTRODUCTION Out of many glorious pillars of Ahom Kingdom, created by application of high standard architectural designs, the notable ones are the great historical ponds. It is really surprising to see the majestic size, shape and depth of those artificial water bodies constructed manually about eight hundred years ago with incredible innovative methods. The most fascinating feature http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJM 657 [email protected] The Systems of Digging Ponds by the Ahoms, the Greater Tai Tribe in the North-East India of these ponds, an almost mystery till date, is that the level of water remains unaltered irrespective of seasons – either in summer or winter. Lots of tests and experiments with the soil were carried out in terms of its quality, its compactness and bearing capacity before going for excavation of a pond. After completion of digging, a layer of Raah or Para was laid on the bed. Sometimes, charcoal and chips of stones were used in place of Raah for filtration and controlling the flow of spring water. The ponds built in those days based on such advanced science and technology maintaining all the required parameters still remains full of water throughout the year. 1.1. Objectives of the Research Paper 1. To find out and expose the facts, how the Ahoms were so experienced and technically expert in building the ponds even without any academic education. 2. To lay the acts public the engineering technologies the Ahoms used for digging the huge sized ponds. 1.2. Research Methodology 1. Descriptive Methodology 2. Analytical methodology 1.3. Detailed Discussion on the Subject The architectural engineering based on experience and imaginative conclusions were very high standard in Ahom dynasty. The examples are the historical ponds which are still standing not only with their gravity and depth, but bearing high the glorious distinction of the advanced technology they followed. Consent of the king was the primary requirement before someone proceeding for building a pond and then using his own innovative applications. The gazetted Ahom executives like the Barbarua, Phuka etc. take permission of their majesty Swargadeu (the King) in consultation with him following which, as per advice of the Deodhai (the Chief Priest of the King) and the Brahmin Pundit, the digging starts. 2. PURPOSE OF DIGGING POND There were certain objectives for building the ponds in Ahom dynasty. The prime was as a mark of respect to those killed in the battles like the Swargadeu, LangphaKonowar, Amatya, Dangariya(ministers) and other martyrs, and also for dedicating in memory of those victorious in the battle. In addition to these dedicative reasons, there were some other purposes too, like – for drinking water, for soaking the Kothiya (the paddy shoots), for holy rituals in the royal family and for soaking Mah-Prasad (grams and green grams offered in the name of God), for cleaning the spade used in the Maidam (domical superstructure for Royal burials), for cleaning the Nangal (plough), for cleaning the dresses of the Royal family, for nurturing of fish a part of fish culturing, for Nao Khel ( Boat race / Rowing competition) and big sized ponds for holy washing of the dead bodies of the Chaopha and Nangpha (two sub-tribes of the Ahoms), a customary funeral practice. 3. THE LABOURERS FOR DIGGING The Chaophas used to build the public ponds with the help of the Pikes (the labourers were so called in Ahom kingdom). The chief Pike took the responsibility for digging while they were paid according to their merits. http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJM 658 [email protected] Dr. Nandita Goswami 4. THE CENTRAL MAN-IN-CHARGE The gazetted officer in the Royal assembly who was given the responsibility for building a pond was called Chang Rung Phukan. He was supposed to be an expert and experienced person in architectural and sculpture design. Even without any degree of formal qualification, he was no less than an Architect Engineer of modern time. The ponds built by them in the medieval kingdom of the Ahoms are still standing with grandeur. The entire plan and measurement were done in details by them. In addition to that, the account of the materials used, time – from year to minute count like dates, Danda, Pal (small units of time in Hindu culture), Stars, height of construction, diameter of the base, breadth, area, number of bricks, volume of soil and stone, date of commencement and completion – everything were tabulated and kept safely for records. 5. SELECTION OF BEST PLACE FOR EXCAVATION OF A POND In Ahom dynasty, they used to adopt some unorthodox procedures to identify the best possible location for building a pond. Chang Rung Phukan was responsible for taking the lead role for such a selection process. At first, the Deodhai, the Royal priest who could foretell an auspicious date, made his calculation by applying ‘Bancheng’ to choose the best plot. At an auspicious moment in a no moon night, soil experiment is done in the selected land. Then, 20 to 25 numbers of squares are drawn inside a bigger square covering the land. On each cross intersection of the lines, a clay Diya is lighted. After sometime, those few gone off are kept in place while removing the lighting ones. The soil from the point of those intersections where the Diyas go off is tested by Maticheleka (executive in charge of soil testing) by his tongue. If he smells water in it, a bit deeper is dug out at that point and another lamp is lightened. This time also, the places of the extinguished lamps are marked while the others (still burning) are discarded. The process continues each time by digging a little those depressions where the flame fails to last long and the Maticheleka goes on testing the dampness by his tongue. Towards the end, only two or three Diyas are left out of which the first one to go off is finally proved to be the best source of spring water underground. If the expert does not smell water in any spot within the square, he will leave that area and look for another area. The springs of underground water is assumed to be Navisthan (Navel point) or Nagasthan. The proposed pond is earmarked with its boundary around the Nagasthan or Navisthan. Then only the excavation begins for the pool. 5.1. Work to be done in the source of water There are some particular jobs to be done in the source of water after its being detected. A pointed stick in the form of a needle is inserted to the source. The Ahoms believe the underground to be the home of the snakes. The stick inserted is said to place at the centre of the Naagsthan (place of the snake). A Tamrapatra(a special Copper Sheet) is placed near the foot of it. Specially prepared juice is poured over the Tamrapatraand at the same time filling it over with pieces of stone or charcoal. This procedure is adopted to filter the water. The needle placed in the Nagasthan is called Nagastambha. Nagastambha is actually a post of a big trunk of Sal tree. Some holes are made in the trunk so that water can pass through them and a hollow iron pipe is tied around the post through which water can come up from the underground. The main objective of placing Tamrapatra in the Nagsthan is that – it kills the germs in water and is believed that the needle through the Tamrapatra makes a profane spot to a sacredone.
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