Exploring the Water Management System of the Ahoms: A Historical Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2023.v08.n05.025Keywords:
Water, Ahoms, Management, Tank, FloodAbstract
Water, a vital component of human civilization has been playing a significant role in regulating the lives of the people from ancient times to the present. From early agricultural societies to the modern one, water is being utilized to meet the daily needs of the people. It is also a fact that for the proper and best utilization of water, a management system is followed. Ancient civilizations that have been explored reflect a similar thing. The Ahoms, an ethnic community of Assam ruled the state for nearly six centuries and they had a fascinating water management system. They developed an impressive system of water management and conservation. They dug different pukhuri or tanks for different purposes by following their own traditional methods. The tanks dug during the reign of the Ahom rulers looked like big rivers and they never dried up. The Ahom officer named Barboruah planed and supervised the tank digging activities. Interestingly, tanks were dug strategically, at the place where the water layer was found. It may also be noted that during the medieval period in Assam, there was an acute problem of flood and to get rid of this, embankments were constructed.
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