Patra Mantri
Also called: Burhagohain, Borgohain · Topic: Regional Resistance: Rajputs, Ahoms, Sikhs · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Patra Mantri was the council of the five great ministers of the Ahom kingdom of Assam. Three of them held the high Gohain titles: the Burhagohain, the Borgohain and the Borpatrogohain. The Borpatrogohain post was added later. Two more posts were added later still: the Borbarua and the Borphukan. The council advised the king and led forces in war. The Gohains could also shape who became king, and could even remove one. This shows that Ahom royal power was shared with powerful noble families.
Example
Lachit Borphukan, who defeated the Mughals at Saraighat in 1671, held the Borphukan post. The Borphukan was the Ahom commander and governor in lower Assam, the region around Guwahati.
Don't confuse with
- Paik system: the Patra Mantri was a council at the top of the state. The paik system was the duty of every able-bodied man to give labour or military service in return for land rights.