Exploring the Paik System in Ahom Society: Interactive Guest Lecture by Mayouri Nath | Inarch Center
INARCH CENTER
Second Guest Lecture and Interactive Session
The Paik System in Ahom Society: Labour, Land, and Social Relations
Are you a history enthusiast curious to explore the lesser-known chapters of Assam's rich medieval history? Or have you ever wondered how the Ahom dynasty organized its people, managed labour, and maintained its social and administrative structures for centuries?
Join our session for an engaging discussion that will take you into the world of the Paik System, a unique institution that played a significant role in the functioning of the Ahom Dynasty. We will explore the lives of ordinary people, their responsibilities towards the state, and the relationship between labour, land, power, and society—going beyond the familiar narratives of battles and rulers' history in Assam.
So, who were the Paiks? What responsibilities did they carry? How did their labour support the kingdom? And what did this system mean for the people who lived under it?
Let's explore these questions together!
Mark Your Calendar
Date: 22 November 2026 (Sunday)
Time: 7:00 PM IST
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Registration: Free [Click Me]; For Technical Assistance: Whatsapp our team on +918826672990
Key Areas of Discussion
Organisation of the Paik System
Labour and Occupational Responsibilities
Land and Economic Life
Social Hierarchy and the Position of Paiks
Collective Responsibilities and Social Relations
Socio-Economic Constraints
About the Session
The Paik system was a significant institution in the socio-economic organisation of Ahom society in Assam. This lecture examines the organisation of Paiks, their labour obligations, land allocation, occupational divisions, and social hierarchy. It also explores the relationship between collective responsibilities and the economic conditions of Paiks. Through this lecture, we aim to understand how the Paik system shaped labour organisation, land relations, and the socio-economic lives of people in the Ahom kingdom in Assam.
About the Speaker
Mayouri Nath is a Ph.D. Research Scholar in the Department of History at SNDT Women's University, Mumbai. She completed her M.A. in History from Sikkim University, securing a Silver Medal. Her research interests include social and economic history, women's history, and gender history, with particular reference to Ahom society in Assam.
She has published research papers in peer-reviewed journals and presented papers at international conferences and national seminars on various historical themes. She also works as an Assistant Editor for the Indian History Journal.
ABOUT THE HOST
Aparna Singh, a heritage researcher and multidisciplinary storyteller working at the intersection of archaeology, visual art, and heritage preservation. She volunteers with INARCH, where she leads research writing, fact-checking, and editorial strategy shaping how the platform communicates archaeology to the public. She holds a postgraduate degree in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai University, her work spans field documentation, artifact analysis, and digital mapping backed by training in Brahmi, Grantha, and Sharada scripts and manuscript survey experience under the Gyan Bharatam Mission initiative by Ministry of culture, alongside a background in Filmmaking and New Media Studies.
Before heritage research and archaeology, she spent over a decade in the creative field as a theatre and film professional, working with IPTA, BNA, and SNA. A Max Emerging Star titleholder, also assisted on a Filmfare-nominated short film. That grounding in the creative space now shapes how she brings India's past to life in sessions like this combining the discipline of a researcher with the instinct of a storyteller.
If you love exploring new perspectives and are passionate about history, archaeology, and finding stories that deserve greater attention, this session is for you.
Because history has more stories than we think!
Organised by:
INARCH CENTER
(Open to all)
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