Saikia was a Paik officer of the Ahom militia who led a hundred ''paiks''. There was a similar office in the

Koch kingdom The Kamata Kingdom (pron: ˈkʌmətɑ) emerged in western Kamarupa probably when Sandhya, a ruler of Kamarupanagara, moved his capital west to Kamatapur sometime after 1257 CE. Since it originated in the old seat of the Kamarupa kingdom, a ...

as well. As it was a purely administrative position, the title holder could belong to diverse ethnic groups. Today, this title is used as a surname by people of various ethnic origins. It is found among Kaibarta community. The ''Saikia'' in the Paik system was higher in rank to the '' Bora'' (in charge of 20 ''paiks'') but lower in rank to the ''

Hazarika Hazarika was a Paik officer under the administration of the Ahom kingdom and Koch kingdom. The commander over 1,000 (''Hazar'') ''paiks'' was known as a ''Hazarika''. As it was a purely administrative position, the title holder could belong to ...

'' (in charge of a thousand ''paiks'').

Etymology

The word Saikia is a derivative of the Assamese word - ''Xô'', meaning 'one hundred - 100'. It was a military title given to people of various ethnic origins.

Historical Usage

The Ahom Kingdom of medieval Assam used the

Paik system The ''Paik'' system was a type of corvee labour system on which the economy of the Ahom kingdom of medieval Assam depended. In this system, adult and able males, called ''paiks'' were obligated to render service to the state and form its militia ...

, a form of corvee labour In this system, a Paik (one soldier) was the tiniest unit of the Ahom military system. A ''Saikia'' was the commanding officer of 100 such paiks. The appointment of a ''Saikia'' was the responsibility of his ''

Phukan Phukan or Phookan or Phukon ( as, ফুকন) is a surname of assamese origin and a Paik officer. Now the descendants' clans use it as a surname. This is usually used among the people of Assamese Hindu origin and Assamese Brahmins and ahoms. N ...

'' or ''Rajkhowa'' (governor of a territory). The paiks had the right to reject a Saikia and request another officer of their choice. Appointments were made irrespective of the paik's religion or ethnicity. Among other ethnic groups, there is mention of ''Chutia Saikias'' in several instances of

Buranji Buranjis (Ahom language: ''ancient writings'') are a class of historical chronicles and manuscripts associated with the Ahom kingdom written initially in Ahom Language and later in Assamese language as well. The Buranjis are an example of histor ...

s. For instance, during the revolt of 1775, ten Chutia Saikias were involved along with a

Nara The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an " independent federal agency of the United States government within the executive branch", charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It i ...

chief of Khamjang (

Kachin state Kachin State ( my, ကချင်ပြည်နယ်; Kachin: ), also known by the endonym Kachinland, is the northernmost state of Myanmar. It is bordered by China to the north and east (Tibet and Yunnan, specifically and respectively); Sh ...

). After the fall of the

Chutia kingdom The Chutia Kingdom (also Sadiya) was a late medieval state that developed around Sadiya in present Assam and adjoining areas in Arunachal Pradesh."(T)he Chutiyas seem to have assumed political power in Sadiya and contiguous areas falling ...

, Saikias were also appointed among Chutia blacksmiths and other guilds to look after the works. Apart from these, during the

Moamoria rebellion The Moamoria rebellion (1769–1805) was the 18th century uprising in Ahom kingdom of present-day Assam that began as power struggle between the Moamorias (''Mataks''), the adherents of the Moamara Sattra, and the Ahom kings. This uprising s ...

, the rebels also appointed Saikias among themselves.Barua, Gopalchandra, ''Ahom Buranji,p. 303

Current Usage

Over the years, the usage of this title has ceased to be a professional or military title. The surname is now common to

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

s in Assam. Among the Hindus, the surname is mostly written by Sutiya, Kalita, Koch, Sonowal Kacharis and Thengal Kacharis.

Notable people

Ankush Saikia Ankush Saikia (born 1975 in Tezpur, Assam) is an Indian author. He grew up in Madison, Wisconsin; Assam; and Shillong, Meghalaya. Saikia has previously worked as a journalist at ''India Today'', ''indiaabroad.com'', and ''Express India'', and as ...

- Novelist, editor, and former journalist *

Anupam Saikia Anupam Saikia is an Indian mathematician and at present professor in the Department of Mathematics at IIT Guwahati, India. He is known for his work related to arithmetic number theory, in particular applications to Iwasawa theory, Iwasawa The ...

- Mathematician *

Baneswar Saikia Born in Nagaon, on 8 October 1931, Baneswar Saikia ( Assamese: বাণেশ্বৰ শইকীয়া) is an Indian communist politician. He belongs to Revolutionary Communist Party of India. He joined the party in 1947, when he was in ...

- Politician of Revolutionary Communist Party of India *

Bhabendra Nath Saikia Bhabendra Nath Saikia (20 February 1932 – 13 August 2003) was a novelist, short-story writer, Editor and a Film director from Assam, India. Dr. Saikia received his doctorate in physics from the University of London. He began his career as a ...

- Physicist, Novelist, Film director. *

Hiteswar Saikia Hiteswar Saikia (3 October 1936 – 22 April 1996) was the chief minister of Assam for two terms, first from 28 February 1983 to 23 December 1985 and then from 30 June 1991 to 22 April 1996. Family and education Hiteswar Saikia was born on 3 ...

- Politician, Chief Minister of Assam from 1983 to 1985 and 1991–1996. *

Mrinal Saikia Mrinal Saikia (born July 28, 1966 in Golaghat, Assam) is a Bharatiya Janata Party politician from Assam. He has been elected in Assam Legislative Assembly The Assam Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Indian state of ...

, Indian politician *

Nagen Saikia Nagen Saikia ( as, নগেন শইকীয়া; born 11 February 1939) is an Indian writer. He was formerly a professor of Dibrugarh University. Saikia had also been a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1986-1992 and was the vice-chairman of ...

- Writer

References

Works cited

* {{Assam Indian surnames Assamese-language surnames Ahom kingdom