| Ahoms
The Ahoms are the only Mongoloid race whose arrival
in Assam is historically recorded. This is because they came very late,
viz, in 1228 AD. and they recorded their own activities in the chronicles
called 'Buranjis', meaning 'store -house of unknown things'. The Ahoms
spoke Chinese-Siamese. In upper Burma and western Yunnan, they had styled
themselves as Shans. The Ahoms, though scattered all over the valley,
are concentrated in Sibsagar district, the seat of their administration.
Assam, the present name of the state, is in all probability an Ahom contribution.
The other Shan tribes who followed the Ahoms along the same Patksi Range
route are the Khamtis, Naras, Phakials, Aitaniyas,Turungs and Khamjangs,
all Buddhists. The Ahoms were the only non-Buddhists. The Aryan Hindus
of Assam are numerous with their sub-sects. Principal castes or
classes of people of Assam, excluding the tribes are: Brahmana, Kayastha,
Kalita, Koch, Keot, Ganaka or Daivajna, Kaibarta, Kumara Hari, the
last two being potters. This classification is based on old records and
present social conditions. They inhabit every nook and corner of the plains.
They originally came to Assam from the west like other Aryan
descendants of northern India, they are also tall and fair. The Kalitas
are agriculturists by profession, though during Ahom rule they proved
their might as soldiers also. The Brahmanas and Kayasthas are generally
given to intellectual pursuits such as learning, diplomacy, statecraft
and religious teaching. It is they who are largely responsible for propagating
the scriptures, building up literature and developing the Assamese language.
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