Social and Economic life of Ancient Kamarupa

Time Period:

• Ancient Kamarupa roughly corresponds to present-day Assam and parts of North Bengal and Bhutan, flourishing from the 4th to 12th centuries CE.
• Major dynasties: Varman (4th–7th CE), Mlechchha (7th–9th CE), Pala (9th–12th CE).

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SOCIAL LIFE

1. Social Stratification:

• Varna System was prevalent, though not as rigid as in mainland India.
• Four varnas existed, but tribal elements (like Bodo-Kachari, Koch, Mech, etc.) coexisted with mainstream society.
• Intermingling of Aryan and non-Aryan traditions was common.

2. Caste and Occupation:

• Brahmanas enjoyed high status, received land grants, and were involved in priestly and scholarly duties.
• Kshatriyas mainly comprised ruling families and military officials.
• Vaishyas and Shudras engaged in trade, agriculture, and manual labor.
• Tribal communities often existed outside the varna framework but played important roles in agrarian and social life.

3. Position of Women:

• Women held a respectable position, though patriarchal norms dominated.
• References to learned women and royal women participating in administration exist.
• Widow remarriage was allowed in tribal communities.
• Dowry system was prevalent, but not universal.

4. Religion and Culture:

• Hinduism (especially Shaivism and Vaishnavism) dominated, with tantric practices also prevalent.
• Buddhism and Animism were practiced in certain regions.
• Religious tolerance was a hallmark.
• Sacrifices and rituals were common, especially during royal ceremonies.
• Temples and sacred groves played a central role in social cohesion.

5. Education and Literature:

• Brahmanas imparted education; Sanskrit was the dominant scholarly language.
• Copper plate inscriptions and buranjis (chronicles) provide literary evidence.
• Existence of gurukulas and scholars like Ratnapala and Bhaskaravarman’s court poets shows emphasis on learning.

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ECONOMIC LIFE

1. Agriculture:

• Primary occupation of the people.
• Crops: Rice (staple), barley, sugarcane, pulses, mustard.
• Fertile plains of Brahmaputra and irrigation from rivers made agriculture productive.
• Land grants (agraharas) to Brahmanas and temples helped expand agriculture.

2. Land Revenue and Taxation:

• Land revenue was the primary source of state income.
• Taxes were paid in cash or kind.
• Common taxes: Bali, Bhaga, Kara.
• Epigraphic records (e.g., copper plates of Bhaskaravarman) mention land measurement and classification systems.

3. Trade and Commerce:

• Internal and limited external trade flourished.
• Items traded: Silk, ivory, betel-nuts, lac, rice, oil, gold, horses.
• Trade routes connected Kamarupa with Magadha, Bengal, and China.
• Riverine transport on Brahmaputra and its tributaries aided trade.
• Existence of markets (hat) and merchant guilds.

4. Crafts and Industries:

• Skilled in weaving, ivory carving, metalwork, pottery.
• Women were particularly involved in weaving and textile production.
• Goldsmiths, blacksmiths, carpenters, and potters were key artisan groups.

5. Currency and Coinage:

• Use of metallic coins (mainly copper and silver).
• References to “dramma” coins under Varman rulers.
• Also practiced barter system, especially in rural and tribal economies.

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Sources of Information

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1. Epigraphic Evidence:
   • Copper plate inscriptions (e.g., Dubi, Nidhanpur plates).
   • Land grant records describe economic and social transactions.
2. Literary Sources:
   • Accounts of Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) during Bhaskaravarman’s reign.
   • Buranjis and Puranic references.
3. Archaeological Sites:
   • Ruins at Tezpur, Guwahati, Sualkuchi, Madan Kamdev, etc.
   • Temple architecture and sculpture reveal cultural and economic aspects.

Summary

• Ancient Kamarupa had a composite culture, with a mix of Aryan and tribal traditions.
• Society was stratified but flexible, with significant contributions from tribal groups.
• Economy was agrarian-based, supported by crafts, trade, and river transport.
• Religion, education, and land grants shaped both economic and social institutions.