Sukapha

Su-Ka-Pha was the founder of the Ahom kingdom in the Brahmaputra
Valley of Assam. Sukapha was that brave and courageous prince and dignitary who
enlightened every parts of his kingdom. Sukapha’s administration was the torch bearer of
good administration in Ahom dynasty. His governance not only influenced on the Ahom
Empire but also other small empires of Assam, then known as Kamrup. Sukapha took
conciliatory measures to all indigenous people, united them for creating better and prosperous
administration in Assam. He maintained good relation with the tribal people. He encouraged
inter-caste marriages among the different castes.

Relation with the nearby kingdoms and tribal people:

Sukapha sent a series of
campaigns to the neighbouring countries which were ruled at that time by the Chutias, the
Morans, the Borahis, the Nagas, the Kacharis and the most powerful kingdom of the region,
Kamrup. After having conquered the countries of the Chutias, the Kacharis and the Kamata
king, Sukapha allowed them to remain as they were in the past on condition of offering
tribute. The Borahi king Badancha and the Moran king Thakumtha acknowledged the
supremacy of the Ahom king and regularly supplied him thenceforward with the various
products of the jungles, elephants, dye, honey and mats, Sukapha wisely adopted facilitatory
measures towards those people and by treating them as equals and encouraging intermarriage, he united them into one nation.
Practically Sukapha conquered the whole of upper Assam the tract south-west of the
Chutias and the east of the Kacharis to the Patkai Range at the border of upper Burma and
founded his capital Charaideo, in the modern district of Sibsagar. He had also conquered all
the countries on the way from upper Burma to the eastern border of upper Assam and
appointed his nobles to rule over those regions. He made friendship with his brother rulers in
his ancestral home in upper Burma, and sent those presents of gold & silver.

As a nation builder or a good administrator:

Sukapha adopted facilitatory
measures towards the indigenous peoples of Assam by showing respect to their sentiments
and culture. He was reasonable to all people. He did not fight against the people who
acknowledged his supremacy. Sukapha was not a raider, like many other invaders of India.
Pillage and loot were unknown to his military career. It was never found his intention to
plunder but to rule. From that expedition we know that he was a brave nation builder. He
placed one of his nobles to administer each of the conquered countries on his way to Assam

According to the necessity of the situation, he could be cruel or kind. To deal with the
hostile Nagas of the Patkai, Sukapha became so cruel that they never dared rebellion a second time, not to speak of during his life time. It should be noted here that Sukapha assimilated
with all the conquered people and considered the newly founded regime as his own land.
To make the Ahom kingdom powerful and permanent he undertook conciliatory steps
towards the neighbouring kings, on condition of tribute. He appointed Katakis in the vassal
kingdom to maintain good relation which was most essential for the foundation, growth &
prosperity of his newly established regime. Sukapha appointed two chiefs, Buragohain and
Borgohain as his assistants, who exercised enormous power in all the affairs of the state, next
to the king.