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{{Infobox military person
| name = Momai Tamuli Borbarua
| death_date = 1650
| birth_name = Sukuti
| allegiance = [[Ahom kingdom]]
| branch = [[Ahom Army]]
| serviceyears = ?-1650
| rank = [[Borbarua]]
| battles = [[Battle of Duimunsila]]
| children = [[Lachit Borphukan]]<br>[[Laluksola Borphukan]]<br>Pakhori Gabhuru<br>4 more
| relations =
}}

'''Momai Tamuli Borbarua''' (?–1650) also known by his birth name '''Sukuti''' was an able [[Ahom kingdom|Ahom]] general, statesman, and noble and the first incumbent to the office of the [[Borbarua]]. He is popularly known for systemizing the [[paik system]] and for being the father of Ahom commander-in-chief [[Lachit Borphukan]].

== Biography ==
Momai Tamuli rose out of humble origins, working as a gardener and rendering his service as a bondsman to his master. Impressed by his performance as a gardener, Ahom king [[Pratap Singha]] released him from his bondage and appointed him as ''Bortamuli''. He continued to serve under various royal offices till he was promoted to the office of [[Borbarua]]. <ref>{{Harvcol|Gogoi|2002|p=119}}</ref>

Under the support of [[Pratap Singha]], Momai Tamuli Borbaura systemized the [[Paik system|paik system]] in 1609, which was the machinery of the Ahom state, and established model villages.<ref>{{Harvcol|Gogoi|2002|p=29}}</ref> In the paik system every adult male between the age group (15–50) had to compulsory had to render his service for the state. Momai Tamuli made it compulsory for every adult to make a bamboo basket and to spin a certain quantity of thread. <ref>{{Harvcol|Kalita|2020|p=939}}</ref>

=== Mughal affairs ===
In 1638, Momai Tamuli commanded the Ahom forces against the Mughals, and in the battle of Duimunsila, the Mughals suffered a huge setback and they retreated back to [[Guwahati]]. Nevertheless, the long protracted wars between both had depleted the state resources and manpower of both the governments came to the conclusion of a pacific settlement. And in 1639, Momai Tamuli Borbarua signed the [[Treaty of Asurar Ali]] with Mughal commander Allah yar Khan, which fixed the boundary between the both at [[Bornadi River|Barnadi]] on the north bank and ''Asurar Ali'' on the south bank of [[Brahmaputra River|Brahmaputra]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sarkar|1992|p=164}}</ref> The period following the treaty is marked by diplomatic correspondence between Assamese chief secretary Momai Tamuli and Mughal faujdar Allah Yar Khan.<ref>"The two showed gestures of peace and exchanged presents through respective envoys. Notwithstanding continual diplomatic quarrels and friction on certain matters, no attempt was made by either party to settle these by resort to arms, perhaps because both were exhausted..." {{Harvcol|Sarkar|1992|p=166}}</ref>

==== Ahom-Mughal relations (1639-1645) ====
In 1641, Momai Tamuli Borbarua flatly refused the suggestion of a trade convention between Assam and [[Mughal empire]] as proposed by Allah Yar Khan. He also refused to make an inquiry into a case of murder committed by the hill tribes on the members of the Mughal [[Khedda|khedda]] party.<ref>"Instead of taking any action against the culprits, the Barbarua severely snubbed his Mughal counterparts that the Mughals persisted in violating the Assam frontier and capture elephants in the Darrang wils notwithstanding his own warnings...."{{Harvcol|Sarkar|1992|p=166}}</ref>

In 1640, Momai Tamuli Borbarua requested the Mughal faujdar to repatriate an Ahom official who while touring entered Sarania hills (Mughal territories). In 1643, 63 Mughal traders and officials were confined by the Ahoms on the account of straying into Darrang. In November 1645, 107 Mughal sepoys illegally entered Darrang and advanced up to Singri in the Ahom territory with the pretext of catching elephants. This was protested by the Ahom frontier officer but was later killed following a scuffle. These sepoys were imprisoned by the angry Momai Tamuli Borbarua. The Mughal faujdar pleaded for their release but the latter refused. <ref>"The faujdar deputed the son of Masum Khan and Raguri Choudhury to intercede with the Barbarua to plead for their freedom. But the latter adamantly refused, as they were guilty of twofold crime, illegal entry into Assam and murdering an Assamese officer on duty. Convinced of justice of the charge, the faujdar did not press"{{Harvcol|Sarkar|1992|p=167}}</ref> Other than that there was a frequent violation of personal freedom of subjects by both the sides.

Momai Tamuli had seven issues, including his youngest son [[Lachit Borphukan]] and he died in 1650.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Citation |last=Sarkar |first=J. N. |contribution=THE MONARCHY AT ITS ZENITH|editor-last=Barpujari |editor-first=H. K. |title=The Comprehensive History of Assam |volume=2 |pages=257–85 |publisher=Assam Publication Board |place=Guwahati |year=1992}}
* {{Citation| surname=Gogoi | given=Jahnabi | title=Agrarian system of medieval Assam | publisher=Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi | year=2002}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Kalita |first1=Krishna |title=A STUDY ON THE ECONOMIC ASPECT OF THE AHOM KINGDOM OF ASSAM FROM THE BACKGROUND OF THE PAIK SYSTEM |journal=International Journal of Management (IJM) |date=2020 |volume=11 |issue=8 |pages=937-940}}

[[Category:1650 deaths]]
[[Category:People of the Ahom kingdom]]
[[Category:17th-century births]]
[[Category:Ahom kingdom]]

Momai Tamuli Borbarua - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article