Saikia

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}} '''Saikia''' was a Paik officer of the Ahom militia who led a hundred ''paiks''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kakoty |first1=Sanjeeb |title=Technology, Production And Social Formation In The Evolution Of The Ahom State |date=2003 |publisher=Regency Publications |isbn=9788187498735 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6DtuAAAAMAAJ&q=Technology,+Production+And+Social+Formation+In+The+Evolution+Of+The+Ahom+State |language=en}}</ref> The Koch kingdom had a similar system in place. As it was a purely administrative position, the title holder could belong to diverse ethnic groups or religions. Today, this title is used as a surname by Assamese people of various ethnic origins.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g9MVAQAAMAAJ&q=hazarika+kaibarta |title=People of India: India's communities |date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-563354-2 |language=en}}</ref> The post of ''Saikia'' in the Paik system was higher in rank to the ''Bora'' (in charge of 20 ''paiks'') but lower in rank to the ''Hazarika'' (in charge of a thousand ''paiks'').

==Etymology== The word Saikia is a derivative of the Assamese word - ''Xô'', meaning 'one hundred - 100'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Priya Devi |first=Juri |title=DERIVATION OF QUANTITATIVE WORDS IN ASSAMESE LANGUAGE: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY |url=https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2010478.pdf}}</ref> The original Tai-Ahom name of the position was ''ru-pāk'' which later was translated as 'Saikia' in Assamese.{{Cn|date=May 2024}}

==Historical usage==

Among other ethnic groups, there is mention of ''Chutia Saikias'' in several instances of Buranjis. For instance, during the revolt of 1775, ten Chutia Saikias were involved along with a Nara chief of Khamjang (Kachin state of Myanmar).<ref>Barua, Gopalchandra, ''Ahom Buranji'', p. 331.</ref> After the fall of the Chutia kingdom, Saikias were also appointed among Chutia blacksmiths and other guilds to look after the works.<ref>{{harvcol|Sarma|1993|p=287}} Dewanar Atla: "Suhungmung or Swarganarayan, after defeating Dhirnarayana and his minister Kasitora, received a number of ''Dola'', ''Kali''..''Hiloi'' and gunpowder(''Kalai-khar''). Besides these, he also made a number of blacksmiths (''Komar'') prisoners, settled them either at Bosa (in present-day Jorhat district) or Ujjoni regions and ordered them to make iron implements and weapons (Dah, Katari, Hiloi, Bortop). A section of them were appointed as Saikias and Hazarikas to look after the works. It was only during the time of Suhungmung that the guild of blacksmiths and its trade started in Assam (Ahom kingdom). There were three thousand blacksmiths during this period."</ref> Apart from these, during the Moamoria rebellion, the rebels also appointed Saikias among themselves.<ref>Barua, Gopalchandra, ''Ahom Buranji'', p. 303</ref>

==Current usage== Over the years, the usage of this title has ceased to be a professional or military title. The Ahom paik titles were conferred by the king regardless of the ethnicity, caste or religion of the officer. Hence, the descendents of these officers now use it as a surname. Some communities which use this title are- Sutiya, Koch, Sonowal Kacharis, Thengal Kacharis and Kalitas etc. <ref>{{cite book |last1=Kakoty |first1=Sanjeeb |title=Technology, Production And Social Formation In The Evolution Of The Ahom State |date=2003 |publisher=Regency Publications |isbn=9788187498735 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6DtuAAAAMAAJ&q=Technology,+Production+And+Social+Formation+In+The+Evolution+Of+The+Ahom+State |language=en}}</ref>

==Notable people==   * Anjana Saikia - sportwomen * Ankush Saikia - novelist, editor, and former journalist * Anupam Saikia - mathematician * Baneswar Saikia - politician of Revolutionary Communist Party of India * Bhabendra Nath Saikia - physicist, novelist, film director. * Binoy Kumar Saikia - scientist * Debabrata Saikia - politician * Devajit Saikia- Indian advocate, former first class cricketer, cricket administrator. * Dilip Saikia - politician * Hemoprova Saikia - politician * Hiteswar Saikia - politician, Chief Minister of Assam from 1983 to 1985 and 1991–1996. * Kuladhar Saikia- * Mrinal Saikia - Indian politician * Nagen Saikia - author * Nayanmoni Saikia- athlete * Sarat Saikia, politician * Yasmin Saikia - author

==References== {{Reflist}}

===Works cited=== * {{Citation |last=Sarma |first=Benudhar |title=Maniram Dewan |publisher=Manuh Prakashan |place=Guwahati |year=1993}}

Category:Surnames of Indian origin Category:Assamese-language surnames Category:Ahom kingdom