13TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THAI STUDIES GLOBALIZED THAILAND? CONNECTIVITY, CONFLICT AND CONUNDRUMS OF THAI STUDIES 15-18 JULY 2017, CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Tai Ahom Tradition and Culture vis- a -vis Thai Culture: an In-depth Analysis Gogoi, Hironmoni Borgohain Namrup College, Dibrugarh University Assam India -------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract The Study is an attempt to understand some of the basic Tai traits and traditions interweaved in the lives of the Tai Ahom people in Assam, India and trying to relate them to the Thai culture which forms the essence of life in Thailand. The Tai Ahoms living in India and the Thais living in Thailand and all other Tai communities are the inheritors of the ancient Tai Culture and Civilization which could make an impress on world civilization almost five thousand years ago and persists till date. Because of migration to different parts of the world, occasioned by varied factors, they have been influenced by various social, cultural and religious factors in their new places of habitation - wherein they had adapted and assimilated themselves. Though they still carry with them their Tai cultural legacies, which are deeply embedded in their psyche and their way of life, they are not very aware of the underlying cultural and philosophical significances. Therefore, studies which attempt to identify and probe into these basic traits appear to be an urgent necessity for Tai/ Thai culture to be rediscovered, interpreted, understood, and analyzed to keep them alive, vibrant, and universal for contribution to the world of knowledge. The Methodology will be the Qualitative Approach and focus basically on the Primary Sources like religious rituals of birth, death, marriage, work culture, monuments, music and dance, manuscripts, interviews etc. Secondary sources include authoritative books, critical articles. Some of the salient findings are the understanding of the ‘Humanism‘ inherent or interweaved into their culture, philosophy, way of life, and social relationships. It was this humanism that could set them apart from many other communities of the world where varied social discrimination existed. Uncovering this humanism would throw greater light on Tai/Thai Studies and Culture. Keywords: humanism, tai traits, tai ahoms, underlying philosophy, Thai culture For the humanist interested in art, literature, philosophy and religion, the ancient societies of China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam hold a mirror up to Western culture (John K.Fairbank, 1998) In reality the civilizations of the Occident and Orient are so interwoven that education built on the exclusion of one or the other can hardly be called education at all for it ignores half of human experience. (Clyde & Beers, 1972) 347 13TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THAI STUDIES GLOBALIZED THAILAND? CONNECTIVITY, CONFLICT AND CONUNDRUMS OF THAI STUDIES 15-18 JULY 2017, CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Introduction As is the case of all other ancient civilizations of the world, Tai culture and civilization began evolving and developing in its own characteristic manner influenced by environmental and social factors and the hard struggle and toil for survival of the people. One distinguishing feature of this culture is that this group of people inhabiting the eastern region of the world who were predominantly Mongolian in origin had remained comparatively isolated for a very long period of time from the remaining communities of the world. This happened because of their geographical isolation occasioned by the natural barriers (like the Himalayas, the Tibetan Plateau more than ten thousand feet high, the mountain chains radiating there – from, and the vast deserts and steppes of Central Asia and the rugged mountains and jungles of Southwest China and Southeast Asia) (John K.Fairbank, 1998). The Tai Culture and Civilization which is the focal point of discussion forms one of the major foundations of the ancient Chinese civilization which in turn forms the basis for the cultures of the present day China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia (John K.Fairbank, 1998). The study will be an attempt to understand the manifestation of Tai culture and civilization extant in the kingdom of Assam in North Eastern India which had been under the rule of the Tai Ahoms from 1228 AD to 1826 AD, a period spanning six hundred years. Efforts will be made to understand the underlying truths of culture and philosophy behind the massive stamps etched on the landscape in the form of vast sea-like ponds, hill- like pyramid –shaped burial mounds, palaces with underground tunnels, the solid stone bridges, the facts laden, objective historical records, the development of an organized system of governance, the relationships established with the neighboring kingdoms, the creation of human resources with versatile abilities, the withstanding of repeated Mughal invasions, the establishment of a self-sufficient economy etc. Nartsupha and Wichasin (2007) observe that this group of Tai people had been able to carve the second largest Tai Kingdom in the world, next to Ayutthaya. Since the kingdom was independent for six centuries, it became the depository of a highly developed culture in the form of manuscripts, buildings, rituals and customs. The Ahoms did not have contact with other Tai groups over a long period. Therefore their historical documents reflect many archaic elements of the Tai community, which have been lost or obscured among other Tai groups. They did not have Buddhism and retained beliefs in natural and ancestral spirits. Their chronicles are supposed to be mines of knowledge of ancient Tai society and culture. Lying in close proximity to medieval India, the Ahoms had to constantly withstand the attacks by the Mughals who had by then conquered almost the whole of India, except a very small handful of independent kingdoms. They were able to resist the Mughal Army seventeen times. There was only one time when they were defeated by the Mughals who tried to gain occupation of their land but this happened for a short period of time as the Ahom King, nobles and common men could not rest in peace until they were able to free their kingdom left to them by their ancestors. This bears evidence of their intense craving for freedom, valour, courage and deadly determination to triumph by virtue of their indomitable spirit no matter how strong and huge are the enemy forces. When the first Tai Prince Choulung Siukapha arrived in the present day North Eastern Region of India, the land was inhabited by different indigenous communities belonging to the Mongolian stock and they had their chiefs and kings who ruled over them. He had set forth from Moung Mao Lung (located in present day Yunnan Province in South China) in 1215 AD accompanied by a huge band of nine thousand men folk comprising of nobles, queens (there are differences of opinion regarding this), priests, soldiers, the revered 348 13TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THAI STUDIES GLOBALIZED THAILAND? CONNECTIVITY, CONFLICT AND CONUNDRUMS OF THAI STUDIES 15-18 JULY 2017, CHIANG MAI, THAILAND deity Somdeo, their necessities of daily life, seeds of food grains etc. Moreover the Tai ruler had brought along with him Tai culture and civilization with which he would be working to carve a Tai Kingdom or Empire. It is recorded that his maternal grandmother had taken the initiative to send him to a different land to build a kingdom there. This strong hold of culture and civilization nourished and enriched with the lifeblood of ‘humanism’ would help him to win the hearts of the different communities residing in his new land who could recognize a sort of dignity and worth in the people. One of the attributes for the name of Assam appears to be interpreted as ‘Asama’ meaning ‘unparalleled’ or ‘peerless’ in Sanskrit (Devi, 1968). Statement of the Problem Strangely enough it is the word ‘humanism’ which appears silent in the books on history and culture dealing with the Tai Ahoms. History books appear to be concerned with the facts that had happened or occurred or ‘what’ happened and ‘how’ it happened. This paper would be an attempt to try to understand ‘why’ did the Tai people think in a certain line, behave in a certain manner. It would try to trace its origins and to see in what manner they differed from other cultures and civilizations. Objectives The study will be an attempt to understand: a) The salient aspects of Tai culture still visible in the form of historical records, architectural heritage, the rituals, customs and traditions practiced by the Tai Ahoms in their day to day lives and a glimpse into their personalities as shaped by this culture. b) To attempt to penetrate to the underlying philosophy of Tai culture which has been identified as the ‘Humanism’ predominant in the culture and civilization and to understand how this has manifested itself in the different aspects of life. c) To attempt to relate it to the Thai culture prevalent and practiced in Thailand. Relevance of the Study This study bears relevance in the context of the present day world as insightful studies which will help to understand the essence of Tai Culture and civilization and its contribution to the present day scenario where in amidst the boiling cauldron of globalization, the time has arrived for every culture and civilization to understand whether it is trekking the right direction in order that culture can thrive for the better. On the other hand if in the name of change or modernity or globalization it becomes perverted or distorted then it will not be able to achieve its organic growth which is the need of the hour and is the case with all other culture and civilizations. The flow of civilization can be compared to a flowing river which even when it meets a barrier it takes a new bend but it does not lose its essence.