What is Posa system

The “posa” system in Ahom Assam, a unique practice from the pre-colonial era, involved the Ahom kings giving hill tribes the right to collect payments from certain villages in the foothills. In return, these tribes acknowledged the Ahom’s rule and paid an annual tribute.

Key Points:

• The Ahom kingdom, which ruled over the Brahmaputra Valley in present-day Assam for nearly 600 years, had a unique administrative system, including the “posa” system.
• King Pratap Singha (1603-1641) granted the Nishis the right of posa, meaning the right to receive payments from certain villages in the foothills.
• In return for this right, the hill tribes were obligated to acknowledge the suzerainty of the Ahom King and pay an annual tribute consisting of goods produced in their respective hill areas.
• Katakis were appointed to facilitate the collection of these payments.

Significance:

The posa system illustrates the complicated ties between the Ahom rulers and the hill tribes, shedding light on the Ahoms’ dominance over the frontier regions and their skill in harnessing resources from the hills.