imported>Serols: Reverted edits by 2402:3A80:863:CB54:9B6:B9AC:A2FC:516B (talk) (HG) (3.4.10)

2021-08-17T15:52:24Z

Reverted edits by 2402:3A80:863:CB54:9B6:B9AC:A2FC:516B (talk) (HG) (3.4.10)

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
'''Saikia''' was a [[Paik system|Paik officer]] of the [[Ahom Army|Ahom militia]] under the [[Ahom Kingdom]] 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> There was a similar office in the [[Kamata kingdom|Koch kingdom]] as well. Today, this name is used by many as a surname, and this name does not indicate ethnic identity. 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]]'' (in charge of a thousand ''paiks'').

==Etymology==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2018}}
The word Saikia, ({{lang-as|শইকীয়া}} {{lang|as-Latn|Xôykiya}}) ([[Ahom language]] - Ru-Pak) ({{IPA-as|xɔʏkija}}) is a derivative of the Assamese word - ''Xô'', meaning 'one hundred - 100'. It was a military title given to the officials of the [[Ahom Dynasty|Ahom]] monarchy.

==Historical Usage==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2018}}
The [[Ahom Kingdom]] of medieval Assam used the [[Paik system]], 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'' (commander of 6000 paiks) or ''Rajkhowa'' (governor of a territory who could command 2000 to 3000 paiks).
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.

==Current Usage==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2018}}
Over the years, the usage of this title has ceased to be a professional or military title. The surname is now common to [[Hindu]]s in Assam. Among the Hindus, the surname is mostly written by
[[Chutia people|Chutia]], [[Kalita (caste)|Kalita]], [[Koch people|Koch]], [[Sonowal Kacharis]] and [[Thengal Kacharis]].

==Notable people==


*[[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.
*[[Hiteswar Saikia]] - Politician, Chief Minister of Assam from 1983 to 1985 and 1991–1996.
*[[Mrinal Saikia]], Indian politician
*[[Nagen Saikia]] - Writer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Assam}}

[[Category:Indian surnames]]
[[Category:Assamese-language surnames]]
[[Category:Ahom kingdom]]

Saikia - Revision history

imported>Serols: Reverted edits by 2402:3A80:863:CB54:9B6:B9AC:A2FC:516B (talk) (HG) (3.4.10)